No. 13 Penn State football is 3-0 to start the 2026 season, which means quarterback Rocco Becht has 29 wins under his belt in the NCAA. He transferred from Iowa State after the 2025 season, coming to Happy Valley with 26 victories to his name across four seasons, which was the most wins an active starting quarterback had to start the 2026 season.
How his play transferred over to the Big Ten from the Big 12 has yet to be fully tested, though he's had a great start to the year in non-conference play. Wisconsin is the first in-conference matchup the Nittany Lions have with kickoff slated for 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 26.
As Becht and the rest of Penn State's squad prepare for Big Ten competition, he looks to continue improving on and adding to his early successes. Becht currently has a 70.3 completion rate on 45-of-64 completed passes for 751 yards, nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He has a total QBR, per ESPN, of 68.9 and a passer rating of 215.0.
Despite having a hot start to the season, only one statistic matters in his eyes when it comes down to game day:
"Wins," Becht said as reported by Daniel Gallen of Lions247. "That's all I care about. I've played this game long enough to know that you don't have to have all the completion percentages, the passing yards and touchdowns to be a great quarterback in this league and in the NFL. I think for me, I'm just trying to go out there and do everything that I possibly can to go win the game."
Rocco Becht's perspective on winning is the attitude Penn State needs in its locker room
Becht's individual performance, of course, is a big factor in determining the outcome of the game. However, having this selfless perspective means he isn't making decisions that make his personal stats look better. He's making smart choices that revolve around the Nittany Lions coming off the field with another win on their record. If that means he hands the ball off to whoever is sharing the offensive backfield with him, that's exactly what he'll do even if it makes his passing stats look bleak.
That attitude is important, and it's not just important for his growth in this game and eventually getting to the next level in the NFL.
It's something that resonates with the team long-term. Having a leader who cares about the success of the team as a whole and not putting anything at risk for the sake of one person looking better is a mindset that passes down to other quarterbacks and leaders in the room. It's something that makes the locker room respect its starting quarterback, uniting the team even more.
After a 2025 season with a lost locker room, Becht's leadership with head coach Matt Campbell feels more and more vital every day. Wins yield further success, and not just for the current team. It sets the program up for success down the line, even when Becht departs. Wins are what gets the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff; they're what catches recruits' attention; and they're what Penn State is looking for with Campbell.
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