College Football
Rocco Becht and Penn State: A Transfer Portal Connection to Watch
Mike Lipinski has been covering Philadelphia sports since 2005. Previous stops include Section 247 Sports, My MMA News, and more. He has been a part of the Sports Talk Philly team since 2019. He is the editor of Philadelphia Phillies content, co-editor for college football covering mainly the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and dabbles in all other sports. Follow him on social media channels -Twitter & Threads- @TheMikeLipinski
All posts by Mike LipinskiPublished23 Dec 2025
Penn State may soon become a major player in one of the most intriguing quarterback storylines of the transfer portal cycle.
According to The Athletic, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal. If he does, Penn State immediately becomes a school to watch due to new head coach Matt Campbell.
Penn State may soon become a major player in one of the most intriguing quarterback storylines of the transfer portal cycle.
Becht played under Campbell at Iowa State and developed into a productive, experienced starter in the Cyclones’ offense. With Campbell now in Happy Valley, the fit — at least on paper — makes plenty of sense.
Rocco Becht’s Production at Iowa State
Becht leaves Ames with an impressive résumé and three seasons of starting experience:
Career passing yards: 9,274
Career passing touchdowns: 64
Completion percentage: 60.7%
Career passer rating: 140.2
Rushing yards: 499
Rushing touchdowns: 19
Record as starter: 26–13
Year-by-year stats:
2023: 3,120 yards, 23 TDs, 8 INTs
2024: 3,505 yards, 25 TDs, 9 INTs
2025: 2,584 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs
Becht’s numbers reflect consistency, durability, and command of the offense, traits highly valued in the transfer portal and, perhaps, even more by a new head coach.
Why Penn State Makes Sense
The Becht-Penn State buzz centers around familiarity. Campbell recruited and coached Becht at Iowa State, meaning the quarterback already understands his offensive principles, terminology, and expectations. That matters for a program transitioning into a new era.
Penn State’s quarterback room remains in flux following the coaching change, and the portal is expected to play a significant role in shaping the depth chart. Adding a veteran quarterback with Power Five success could accelerate the transition and provide stability early in Campbell’s tenure.
Moving Forward…
Becht has not publicly named favorites, and several Power Five programs are expected to show interest once he officially enters the portal. Still, Penn State stands out as a logical fit due to the coach-quarterback relationship and opportunity to compete for immediate playing time.
As the transfer portal opens and quarterback movement ramps up, Rocco Becht is a name Penn State fans should keep firmly on the radar.
