With head coach Matt Campbell in charge of Penn State football, Nittany Lions are declaring their intent to leave the program as new staff filters in and, soon, current Iowa State players. With a massive turnover across the team, roster and staff alike, every new addition feels vital. One that Campbell needs to figure out as soon as possible, though, is Penn State's starting quarterback.
Penn State cannot lock itself out of a loaded transfer portal QB market
He has a multitude of options as quarterbacks around the country prepare to enter the Transfer Portal. Another delcared his intent on Saturday, Dec. 20, but is this the golden route Campbell should take?
Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht has one year of eligibility remaining. He announced he's entering the portal when it opens in January. It's not a coincidence that this news comes after Campbell's hiring at Penn State. Becht played under Campbell and quarterbacks coach Jake Waters, who followed the head coach to Happy Valley. The trio is just missing its starting quarterback to follow suit.
Sources: Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has informed the Iowa State coaches that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Becht’s 26 career wins as a starter will be the most of any quarterback in college football in 2026. pic.twitter.com/fwpRaESHbB
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 20, 2025
Quarterback Rocco Becht declares intent to enter the Transfer Portal, giving Matt Campbell a tough decision to make
In 2023 and 2024, Becht passed for over 3,000 yards as a Cyclone (3,120 yards and 3,505 yards, respectively). He also threw for 23 and 25 touchdowns in those two seasons. As a redshirt junior, Becht threw under both of those numbers with 2,584 passing yards for just 16 scores. His completion percentage remained relatively even, bouncing between 60 and 63 percent over the three seasons on average. From 2023-24, he took 15 sacks or less throughout the season while suffering 21 in 2025.
On the ground, his best rushing performance was in 2024 with 98 carries for 318 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 116 rushing yards and eight scores in 2025.
Among returning quarterbacks, Becht ranks top five across the country with 64 passing and 83 total touchdowns. He led Iowa State to 26 wins over the past three seasons.
It's not that Becht is a quarterback that Penn State shouldn't want, but there are a number of interesting players intending on entering the Transfer Portal that are promising to the Nittany Lions in a way Becht can't.
Arizona State's Sam Leavitt, Florida's DJ Lagway, and Nebraska's Dylan Raiola are just a few names among a loaded pool of quarterbacks expected to enter the portal in January. These three all have two years of eligibility remaining. Joining Becht with one season left are Michigan State's junior Aidan Chiles and Missouri's redshirt junior Beau Pribula.
Among those with one year of eligibility left, Becht is arguably the safest option given his familiarity with the staff at Penn State. He's a quarterback Campbell can build his team around at least for one season and give younger players, like incoming freshman quarterback Peyton Falzone, guidance.
The one thing Becht can't give Campbell, though, is longevity. The likelihood of underclassman quarterbacks logging meaningful playing time with a redshirt senior starter is a pipe dream.
The best Becht can give Campbell is college football's version of a one hit wonder, putting together an impressive season that can give Penn State delusional expectations in Campbell's second year and beyond. It's also important to remember that the Nittany Lions' 2026 schedule already gives them a path to the College Football Playoff. Throw an experienced, trustworthy quarterback under center, that goal becomes more attainable.
It's just not sustainable. That's what Campbell needs to think about when looking at his options in the Transfer Portal come January.