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BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff celebrates after the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff throws a pass during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff runs the ball up the field during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff throws a pass during the Big12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Marci Harris, Special to the Herald

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BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff avoids a tackle during the Big12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Marci Harris, Special to the Herald

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Just looking at the stats for BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff in Friday’s 38-35 win over Oklahoma State at LaVell Edwards Stadium won’t exactly wow anyone.

Retzlaff competed 13 of 26 passes for 218 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Cowboys. He also had nine carries for 81 yard and another score.

But his clutch showing down the stretch to lead the Cougars down the field in the final minute to get the thrilling, come-from-behind victory was enough to get some national attention.

The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, named Retzlaff one of its eight quarterback Stars of the Week on Monday, while he was also named to the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 list for Week 8. In addition, Retzlaff was also added to the official Davey O’Brien Award Midseason Watch List on Monday by the Davey O’Brien Foundation.

So how does Retzlaff feel about these accolades?

The answer to that question is he feels pretty much the same way as he has felt about any individual or team recognition BYU has received this year.

“It’s all gravy, to be honest,” Retzlaff said during Monday’s press teleconference. “You need to keep the main thing the main thing, no matter what. It’s all cool and it’s all fun.

“All it’s going to do is build up the BYU football brand more and I’m just excited for us to be able to put on our game at that level of attention. I know our guys are ready for it. Whenever something gets posted, I’m excited for it.”

He added that he knows how fleeting accolades can be. Retzlaff still has a screenshot of Pro Football Focus’s preseason Big 12 quarterback rankings that had him at the bottom.

On the season, Retzlaff has competed 121 of 205 passes for 1,644 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is also the Cougars’ leading rusher through seven games with 49 carries for 265 yards and two additional scores.

He just wants BYU to continue to take care of business where it matters most: on the scoreboard.

“In no way are we done,” Retzlaff said. “We’re excited to keep this thing rolling.”

But Retzlaff’s coaches and teammates have seen just how big of an impact the junior is having on the team and university, both on and off the field.

“Jake’s a stud,” Cougar junior kicker Will Ferrin said. “Jake and I came into the program at the same time, and we did our study hall hours. The first thing I noticed about him is that everyone wants to talk to Jake, everyone wants to have a conversation with him. He’s not better than anyone on the team, like he is friends with everyone. Everyone’s excited about him, and friends with him.”

Ferrin talked about how Retzlaff was one of the football players who was always at the Cougar softball games, cheering on that Cougar squad.

“That’s probably the best representation of Jake that I’ve seen, where he would go to the softball games and then before you knew it there was a group of 15-plys guys at those softball games,” Ferring said. “We were all just cheering and having fun. He’s kind of the head of that and that’s probably the funnest part about Jake.”

But for the guys who have been around Retzlaff, his on-field determination and success are what they’ve come to expect.

“I feel like he did it all the time in practice, so it’s really nothing surprising to us,” Cougar sophomore running back LJ Martin said. “I’ve seen the work he puts in.”

Retzlaff and the rest of the BYU squad knows that if they keep succeeding, the amount of attention will continue to increase. If they lose, the criticism will increase. He said they need to be ready for it all.

“Whether it’s being hyped up or whether it’s being the underdog, we know that the only people who knew what we were going to do this season is us,” Retzlaff said. “Regardless of what it is, we’re just going to go out there and still have the mentality to prove people wrong, being the underdog this week or being the favorite. Every win we get this year is still proving people wrong. So that’s what we’re kind of rolling with.”