Penn State football's 2026 college football season is eight Saturdays away with its Week 1 game slated for Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET against Marshall. There's a lot of anticipation brewing for Matt Campbell's debut season as the Nittany Lions' new head coach, and with a roster packed with Iowa State transfers, it's expected for Campbell to start off on the right foot.
Quarterback Rocco Becht is among those transfers. The senior spent the last four seasons as a Cyclone, playing in 42 games. He averaged a 60.7 completion rate while at Iowa State, completing 714-of-1,177 passes for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns.
Becht's 2025 season saw a slight dip in performance in terms of passing yards (3,505 in 2024 to 2,584 in 2025) and touchdowns (25 in 2024 to 16 in 2025), but he still enters the 2026 season as college football's most experienced quarterback.
With unknown depth in Penn State's quarterback room and former Nittany Lion backup Ethan Grunkemeyer off to Virginia Tech with former head coach James Franklin, there's no better starter for the blue and white than Becht. Even if Grunkemeyer was still at Penn State and/or the quarterback depth was impressive, Campbell knows Becht is his guy.
Coming from the Big 12, though, there are some questions as to how Becht will perform, especially after last season season where he had less production than in 2023 and 2024.
Ari Wasserman of On3 curated a Top 10 list of quarterbacks in the Big 10. Putting small uncertainties aside, Becht is still underrated despite the talent around him in the conference and slight uncertainties. Wasserman ranked the new Nittany Lion at No. 6.
Top 10 Big Ten QBs entering 2026🎯
— On3 (@On3) July 7, 2026
(via @AriWasserman) https://t.co/wAgd8mqnAY pic.twitter.com/uZfMRm23vY
On3 ranks Penn State's Rocco Becht as the No. 6 quarterback in the Big Ten
It's important to remember that Becht wasn't 100 percent healthy for Iowa State in 2025. He was relatively consistent (and had slight improvement) from 2023 to 2024, so his limitations last season due to persistent shoulder injuries can be pointed to as the culprit.
Entering the 2026 season, Becht is projected to be one of the top newcomers. Billy Tucker made a list of 100 new players at their respective programs, and the new Penn Stater slotted in at No. 6.
Experience matters, and Becht has exactly that. On top of playing time in general, he has experience with his skill players. Senior wide receiver Chase Sowell, junior wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, redshirt senior tight end Gabe Burkle, senior tight end Benjamin Brahmer, redshirt sophomore tight end Cooper Alexander, and senior running back Carson Hansen all followed Campbell to Happy Valley as well.
Familiarity and comfortability matters. Following his recovery, Becht should have no lingering health issues limiting him in 2026 either. So, it's hard to believe Becht won't capitalize on the weapons around him, especially with a lighter schedule he's facing. It's hard to believe five other quarterbacks in the conference will all outperform Becht.
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