Rocco Becht leaves Ames as one of the most productive QBs in Iowa State history. Is Happy Valley his next stop? (Syndication: The Ames Tribune)
Former Iowa State starting quarterback Rocco Becht is set to enter the transfer portal when it opens in January, according to a report Saturday from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Becht spent the past three years as the starting quarterback for the Cyclones under head coach Matt Campbell before Campbell left for Happy Valley earlier this month.
Will the senior quarterback follow his coach to Penn State this offseason or explore his options elsewhere?
Portal Shockwave: Rocco Becht Officially Moves on from Iowa State
Rocco Becht is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Iowa State history. Over four seasons in Ames (three seasons as a starter), Becht has racked up 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns over 42 career games.
Becht has one season remaining of college eligibility and will enter the transfer portal to find a new home to play his final year.
Earlier this month, Thamel reported that Becht underwent a successful surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder. Becht suffered the injury during the 2025 season, affecting his performance in the second half of the Cyclones season. Thamel further reported that Becht is expected to make a full recovery in the coming months and should be fully healthy for the 2026 season.
The Happy Valley Pipeline: Will Becht Join Campbell at Penn State?
Campbell and Penn State are still working on roster retention and filling out Campbell’s staff for 2026.
Earlier this month, Penn State announced that former Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser would follow Campbell to Penn State, which could be a point of emphasis in recruiting Becht in the transfer portal.
Penn State’s starting quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was also non-committal when discussing his plans for 2026 earlier this week, noting he would decide on his future after the Nittany Lions’ Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Clemson
Campbell and Mouser must now weigh the options between working to retain Grunkemeyer, who still has three years of eligibility remaining, or whether to pursue the familiar option Becht out of the transfer portal for his final college season.
Who Leads the Nittany Lions? Ranking Matt Campbell’s 3 Best QB Options for Penn State in 2026
Loved this story? Get all our Penn State football coverage and insider updates first. Join our FREE newsletter — your front-row seat to the Lions.
- Rocco Becht Enters Transfer Portal, Will he Follow Campbell to Penn State? - December 20, 2025
- Penn State Targeting D’Anton Lynn for defensive coordinator, per Report - December 18, 2025
- Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer Breaks Silence on Matt Campbell, Mulls His Future - December 17, 2025
About the Author
