Jake Retzlaff led BYU to a 41-13 victory over Southern Illinois in their season opener, throwing for 348 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Retzlaff's journey to the starting quarterback position, marked by perseverance, culminated in a competitive fall camp battle against Gerry Bohanon. Despite the absence of wide receiver Darius Lassiter due to an NCAA issue, BYU's offense amassed 529 yards. Key contributions came from LJ Martin and Chase Roberts, showcasing the team's depth. BYU's performance set a positive tone for their 2024 season in the Big 12.