Matt Campbell has his quarterback. Again.
Former Iowa State QB Rocco Becht made it official Sunday afternoon that he’s headed to Penn State for his final year of college football.
The Florida native announced he was leaving Ames in December before an official transfer portal entry on January 2. He was a three-year starter under Matt Campbell at Iowa State and was considered a top-25 transfer portal target by 247Sports.
Becht was a three-star QB in the 2022 recruiting class and spent all four of his collegiate years as a Cyclone. He amassed 9,274 passing yards and 64 passing TDs during his time and led his team to a Big 12 Championship appearance in 2024.
This move seemed all but confirmed once Penn State’s incumbent QB, Ethan Grunkemeyer, entered the portal following the Pinstripe Bowl. Grunkemeyer was very efficient down the stretch and certainly would have been an excellent candidate to be the Nittany Lions’ starter in 2026.
Campbell is now lined up for one last ride with his long-time quarterback, with whom he has plenty of rapport and familiarity. While the thought of Grunk’s upside is hard to let go, this seems like the right move as Campbell bridges the gap between the cultures of the “old” and “new” Penn State program.
Learn more about Rocco Becht with Landon Tengwall’s breakdown below:
