Both West Virginia and BYU enter the 2025 season with significant question marks at the quarterback position, a situation that could prove costly in the highly competitive Big 12. While both coaching staffs express confidence, the lack of a clear, proven starter is a major concern.
West Virginia's Quarterback CarouselWest Virginia's quarterback situation is a true position battle. Head coach Rich Rodriguez has been open about the competition between three players with college experience.
Nicco Marchiol: The returning starter who led the Mountaineers to some key wins in 2024.
Jaylen Henderson: A transfer from Texas A&M who saw some success there but didn't play in 2024.
Max Brown: A transfer from Charlotte who is also vying for the job.
While Rodriguez has said he "has three guys who could win in the Big 12," the lack of a named starter heading into fall camp creates uncertainty. Fans worry that rotating quarterbacks or having an inexperienced player take the reins could lead to inconsistent offensive production, which would be disastrous in a league full of veteran signal-callers. The constant shuffling in the quarterback room and the lack of a defined leader could hinder offensive continuity and chemistry.
BYU's Unexpected Void
BYU's situation is even more precarious after the unexpected departure of quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who led them to an 11-2 record and an Alamo Bowl win in 2024. His transfer has left a major void, and the Cougars are now scrambling to find a replacement.
The quarterback battle in Provo is between a trio of players, none of whom have started a significant number of games at the Power Four level:
McCae Hillstead: A transfer from Utah State who showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman but had durability concerns.
Treyson Bourguet: A transfer from Western Michigan who has a strong arm but is still getting comfortable with the system.
Bear Bachmeier: A talented true freshman transfer from Stanford who has the highest upside but the steepest learning curve.
While all three players are talented, none have the on-field experience or the command of the offense that Retzlaff brought. Their Week Zero opener against Portland State is not a difficult matchup, but it won't prepare them for the challenge of a Big 12 schedule. This lack of a clear leader at quarterback could be a significant weakness for a BYU team that has been predicted to contend for the conference title.
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