Power Ranking 2026 Penn State quarterback options following transfers

The Transfer Portal officially opened Jan. 2. Before and upon its commencement, Penn State football received major news on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

Matt Campbell already has his Luke Reynolds transfer portal replacement on deck

The departures span almost all positions for the blue and white, yet the position group most affected by the trend appears to be the most crucial on the field. Three Nittany Lion quarterbacks who were on the roster in 2025 entered the portal: Ethan Grunekemyer, Jaxson Smolik, and Bekkem Kritza. This means head coach Matt Campbell's offense will be run by a passer not currently on the roster as the last two remaining are incoming freshman Peyton Falzone and walk-on Jack Lambert.


With all those potential avenues under center, let's explore the top transfer option passers for Penn State in 2026.

The Real Candidates

All signs indicate a reunion between quarterback Rocco Becht and Campbell in Happy Valley, as the signal caller has already locked in his visit with Penn State.

The addition of Becht would be a significant boost for the Nittany Lions as it would provide an immediate upgrade at quarterback and the quality needed to compete right away in a Big Ten that may become wide open in 2026.

While not a long-term solution with Becht's eligibility expiring after the 2026 season, he provides a high-caliber quarterback. Even coming off a collegiate career low of 16 passing touchdowns in 2025, Becht is a massive investment in a new era. He's a player that can lead on and off the field. Given Penn State's dwindling options with the mass exit to the Transfer Portal, Becht is the Nittany Lions' best path.

Similar to Becht, Alex Manske may head to Happy Valley given the opportunities under center. Also coming from Iowa State, Manske has the longevity aspect that can provide stability for Penn State. Unlike Becht, Manske is only a freshman and will have more time to develop and learn.

Campbell brought in the then-three-star recruit Manske to Iowa State in its 2024 class, besting Texas A&M and Minnesota in the recruiting process.

In his first year of action, Manske saw little time on the field. He only threw for 28 yards on five attempts with four completions. Along with that, he tabbed 33 rushing yards. His only touchdown so far of his collegiate career was on the ground.

The opportunities were limited, which is potentially why he entered the portal, and if he wants the best chances going forward, a reunion with the coach who first believed in him may be in the cards.

Beau Pribula became a fan favorite in his limited time in Happy Valley, which drew interest when news of his entry into the Transfer Portal became known. However, as more news came to light, a reunion between Pribula and Penn State seems unlikely.

In his first season as a starter, Pribula posted mediocre stats while battling a midseason injury, but showed flashes of the quarterback he can be. Ultimately, coaching lost faith, a benching prompted Pribula to transfer, and his options looked bountiful.

For his last season of eligibility, Pribula needs to be in the best situation for him, where he can play the most, both of which aren't guarantees for him at Penn State — and weren't previously.

The teams that can make those promises seem to be leading the pack in recruiting his efforts, including former Penn State head coach James Franklin's Virginia Tech squad, which poached so many players already from the Nittany Lions. If Pribula heads to Blacksburg, it may persuade more former Penn State players to follow.

Long Shot Options

This recruitment could be a complete act of pettiness by the Penn State administration, as it snags Nebraska head coach and former Nittany Lions linebacker Matt Rhule's gem in his recruiting history: Dylan Raiola.

Rhule turned down the Nittany Lions job when it was vacant and parlayed that momentum into a bigger payday. The blue and white picking up Raiola out of the portal, takes a jab at Rhule, even if done unintentionally.

Raiola played fantastically in 2025 and quieted much of the doubt that carried over from his subpar freshman campaign. He’ll likely have a long line of suitors vying for his services, and it’s not out of the question to expect Penn State to be one of them. Both the Nittany Lions and Campbell extended offers to him in high school.

The acquisition of Josh Hoover is likely a long shot for Penn State, but for an administration ready to make a splash, it could be possible.

Hoover is one of the most accomplished and experienced starters in the portal, just what the Nittany Lions may look for in their next signal caller. He's poised for a big NIL payday as well, one that only such a big school can offer.

The quarterback will soon be a starter for a Power Five school, and if not Penn State, it could be another Big Ten program, like Indiana. If the Nittany Lions don’t even attempt pursuing Hoover, they’ll regret it when he’s likely in the conference, torching them.