Jake Retzlaff’s GF Shares Heartfelt Message After QB Leads Tulane to Victory

What a comeback for Jake Retzlaff! The BYU transfer dropped jaws in his Tulane debut, piecing together a 23–3 statement win over Northwestern—the Green Wave’s first victory over a Big Ten squad since 1970. Yeah, fifty-five years. Retzlaff wasted no time either. First drive? Touchdown strike. Then, like a backyard video game highlight, he ripped off a 69-yard sprint to the house. By the end of the day, he piled up 265 total yards—152 passing and 113 rushing—while casually handing Tulane a win they never let go. And right when the final whistle blew, the biggest headline didn’t just come from the field—it came from the heart.

For Retzlaff, it wasn’t just football. It was redemption. After an 11-win season at BYU, the man got slapped with a suspension for violating his school’s honor code, forcing him to transfer. Instead of sulking, he touched down in New Orleans just 38 days ago and immediately became the heartbeat of Jon Sumrall’s squad. “It’s been a long offseason,” Retzlaff admitted. “I’m just so excited to be able to get on this field and play with these guys. I’ve got a great group around me..I’m so fortunate.” His coach had his back too, tossing him flowers post-game: “Big-time performance for a guy who’s been here a whopping 38 days.”

But the real story got sweeter once the clock hit zero. Hours after torching Northwestern, Retzlaff’s girlfriend, Jaelynn Lambert, posted a couple-goals post: “You & Me! Second season cheering on 12 and I couldn’t be more excited, Roll Wave!!” she captioned an Instagram photo of the two smiling after the win. These two have weathered storms that could’ve split plenty of couples, yet here they are, stronger, louder, and cheesing for the world to see.

Retzlaff, not to be outdone in the romance game, fired off his own IG tribute on Jaelynn’s birthday. “Happy Birthday to the one and only @jaelynn.lambert,” he wrote, dropping a photo collage that could pass for a rom-com movie poster. One shot had them holding hands, another had him planting a kiss on her cheek, and yet another showed them barefoot on the beach. If touchdowns win games, these posts win hearts. He even keeps a highlight of her on his IG profile like she’s part of the playbook.

Lambert isn’t just the QB’s sideline supporter either. She’s a baller herself, suiting up for BYU softball as an outfielder. She’s stacked accolades—2018 Rookie of the Year, CIF Southwestern Second Team, multiple Player of the Game nods, plus a spot on the 2021 PGF All-American watch list. Ranked No. 57 nationally by Extra Inning Softball, she’s been doing her thing while staying locked in on her own grind. She’s stayed at BYU despite Jake’s exit, proving she’s committed to her own journey while still being his loudest cheerleader.

Their relationship had its share of turbulence—public scrutiny, allegations, court battles, transfer rumors—all of it could’ve cracked the foundation. Instead, it did the opposite. Every post, every public shout-out just proves they’re running this marathon together. Jake Retzlaff is winning on and off the field. Now, let’s talk about the field.

Tulane’s domination over Northwestern

Tulane didn’t just win—they suffocated Northwestern. Retzlaff’s fireworks started the party, but it was the Green Wave defense that kept the Wildcats buried. Tulane snatched three interceptions early and turned all three into 17 points, highlighted by Retzlaff’s touchdown pass to Justyn Reid in the back of the end zone. By halftime, the Wave had a 20–3 cushion and Jake had already racked up 216 yards of offense, splitting his work almost evenly—112 passing, 104 rushing.

Northwestern never really had a shot. Tulane’s defense forced five turnovers total, including four interceptions and a strip sack. Jahiem Johnson, Kevin Adams III, Javion White, and Jaden Johnson all joined the pick party. Kameron Hamilton stripped the ball once and gave Tulane another short field. When you add in Maurice Turner’s 85 rushing yards and Omari Hayes’ 9 grabs for 74 yards, this wasn’t just a win—it was a flex.

The Wildcats? Man, they looked cooked. Quarterback Preston Stone managed 161 yards but got picked 4 times. Their run game was non-existent—just 76 yards on the ground. Griffin Wilde tried to keep them afloat with six catches for 64 yards, but outside of Luke Akers’ 21-yard field goal in the first quarter, Northwestern never sniffed the end zone again. The Green Wave’s defensive line bullied them, racking up 3 sacks and leaving Stone rattled all night.

Tulane controlled everything. They held the ball for more than 33 minutes, out-gained Northwestern 420-237, and were straight-up surgical on 3rd down defense. Even special teams joined the wave: Valentino Durkin nailed all 3 field goals and two extra points, while punter Alec Clark averaged almost 49 yards per boot, pinning Northwestern deep and killing any chance at momentum. It was a beatdown in every phase.

For Tulane, it was a history check. Their last victory over a Big Ten team came in 1970 against Illinois. Fast forward to 2025, and now they’ve got a quarterback with legs, a defense hunting turnovers like it’s a buffet, and a love story running in the background that fans can’t get enough of.