Penn State Player To Be Excited About in 2026: QB Rocco Becht

Oct 25, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) celebrates after a Cyclone touchdown against the BYU Cougars at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images | Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Rocco Becht redshirted in 2022 after playing in three games, then emerged as Iowa State’s starting quarterback in 2023. In his redshirt freshman debut, he completed 63% of his passes for 3,120 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions and three rushing scores, earning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. He led the Cyclones to a 7-6 record and the Liberty Bowl.

Becht’s 2024 season was his most productive, as he threw for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns while completing 59% of his passes and adding eight rushing scores. Iowa State went 11-3, reaching the Big 12 title game and winning the Pop-Tarts Bowl, giving the Cyclones their first double-digit win season in school history.

A challenging 2025 campaign followed, in which Becht battled injuries to both shoulders and completed 61% of his passes for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Over his three-year Iowa State career, Becht completed 714 of 1,177 passes (60.7%) for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns with 27 interceptions. He entered the transfer portal with 26 career wins as a starting quarterback, the most of any active FBS quarterback at the time, and committed to Penn State in January 2026.

Now, as a Nittany Lion, Becth is poised to finish his career on a high note. Taking the best pieces from the Iowa State offense, and pairing them with a talented roster at Penn State, the expectation is for Becht to take the next step in his development, as well as to serve as the stabilizing force that allows the new staff to get off on the right foot in State College.

We’ll get to see the first step in that process sooner rather than later, as Becht is set to participate in Blue and White activities on April 25th.