Jake Retzlaff’s Girlfriend Returns to Old BYU Ways While Tulane QB Prepares Alone for Big Test

“I am so fortunate,” Jake Retzlaff said after Tulane’s Week 1 over Northwestern. His gratitude wasn’t just about football. Last year, there was a moment, born from the BYU scandal, that dragged him into headlines no athlete wants. It was uncomfortable, and it hung around longer than it deserved. He kept his head down, stayed respectful, and went back to work. That chapter also reintroduced the public to his girlfriend, Jaelynn Lambert.

Lambert has remained a grounding presence. Now, she has added a small, human note to the week’s noise. She shared a short story of herself throwing a softball, with the caption “good to be back!” Lambert has been part of the BYU women’s softball team, and the clip looked like old form returning on cue. The throw was smooth. Retzlaff and Lambert have never shied away from celebrating each other publicly, whether through social media posts or quiet moments, and that balance appears to have helped both reset after challenging times.

Jake Retzlaff chose a new program, a new playbook, and a new standard of daily work. Lambert leans into what she knows and loves. As an outfielder for the BYU Cougars, she has been making her mark for years. Back in 2018, she broke out as Rookie of the Year, while also collecting CIF Southwestern Second Team All League recognition and three separate Player of the Game honors. Her trajectory only climbed from there. By 2021, Lambert had earned a spot on the PGF All-American watch list and was ranked No. 57 in the Extra Inning Softball Top 100, cementing her place among the most promising young talents in the sport.

Now it is Duke, and the test is real. Manny Diaz has that defense disciplined, fast, and on time with its pressure. The Blue Devils disguise coverage, win with pursuit angles, and rarely beat themselves. Tulane must handle first down, protect the edges, and keep the calls honest with tempo and formations. Darian Mensah is really good. If Retzlaff manages the rush, takes the profit throws, and sprinkles in timely shots, Tulane will move the chains. 

Tulane hosts Duke in a tight matchup

Tulane hosts Duke at Yulman Stadium on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with a narrow line leaning Green Wave at -1.5 signaling a tight margin expected. The setup fits a possession game: Tulane enters 2-0 and Duke 1-1, with both sides still shaping early-season identities against a step-up opponent. This matchup tilts on who controls pace and field position, because neither side has separated enough on paper to survive a sloppy middle eight. Expect a measured script early and a premium on first-down success to keep manageable distances and protect the launch point.

Duke’s 2025 passing efficiency travels, and it starts with Darian Mensah’s clean early ledger: 50-of-68 for 723 yards with a 5:1 TD-to-INT through two games. That production pairs with chunk potential from Cooper Barkate, who has 9 catches for 205 yards, making perimeter tackling and leverage discipline non‑negotiable for the Green Wave. Even in a balanced plan, the Blue Devils can steal drive starters on the ground, highlighted by A. Castle’s 7 carries for 80 yards as a change‑up that punishes light boxes. If Tulane concedes explosives to the boundary, Duke’s play-action menu grows and third downs get shorter, amplifying Mensah’s rhythm throws.

Tulane’s answer is layered around Jake Retzlaff’s dual-threat utility, which has already yielded 277 passing yards on 31-of-55 with 2 TD and another 177 rushing yards on 23 carries with 2 scores. That profile stresses rules, flattens edge rush, and can turn protections into movement targets rather than static spots, especially if the quick game marries with designed QB keepers. If Tulane stays in phase and avoids obvious passing downs, Retzlaff’s mobility plus a balanced script can squeeze possessions and set up a fourth‑quarter, one‑score finish. In a game priced as near even, the cleaner red-zone trip count and the steadier hands on third-and-medium should separate the winner late.