With a Career-High 4 TD Passes, Penn State QB Rocco Becht Shows He’s the Real Deal

Penn State’s Rocco Becht made his 40th start as a college quarterback on Saturday in Beaver Stadium. No one playing in the FBS season has more — and that would include any NFL rookies who got cut and might be trying to come back to play for LSU.

In his 39 prior games as a starter — all at Iowa State under Matt Campbell — Becht never had more than three TD passes in a game. Saturday, in his first game in a Penn State uniform, he one-upped himself.

Becht only played the first two quarters, plus the Nittany Lions’ first possession of the second half. But, in that time he made short work of an over-matched Marshall defense and threw four touchdowns to four different receivers — former Cyclones teammates Brett Eskildsen (25 yards), Zay Robinson (39) and Benjamin Brahmer (8), and his new go-to guy, Koby Howard (42).

Becht played with the poise, patience and savvy of a veteran just two months shy of his 23rd birthday. Never panicked, threw zero interceptions and took just one sack, for five yards. Then did the post-game presser with a smile, while giving props to his receivers, his offensive line, his play-caller Taylor Mouser and Campbell (this is their fifth season together). He’s the kind of quarterback you want to bring home to momma. #Drama-free.

“We have a quarterback who’s played extensively,” said Campbell, who earned his first victory as a Penn State head coach with a 45-0 beatdown of Marshall. “He has the ability to take what the defense gives him.

“Rocco was really efficient in terms of getting 8, 9 [Marshall] guys in the box and a lot of pressure. For Rocco to handle that and distribute the ball…sometimes being a great quarterback is like being a great point guard.., You have to be a great distributor of where the ball needs to go. I thought Rocco was outstanding today from the beginning.”

In the game’s first 36 minutes and 16 seconds, Becht completed 13 of 18 passes for 271 yards. Becht was consistent from beginning to end: He completed six of his first eight passes, and completed seven of his last eight passes. With Becht in control, the Nittany Lions’ offense scored on five of their seven possessions, on drives of 30, 62, 66, 87 and 74 yards.

Becht, one of four PSU game captains against Marshall, is just as impressive off the field. Just ask Howard — who spent time in California with Becht this summer throwing football, then roomed with the quarterback during summer camp. I did.

“I think Rocco’s a great leader,” said Howard, who caught six passes for 161 yards and a TD. “He makes sure everybody’s good. It isn’t all about him. It’s all about the team. He’s a really great teammate.”

And roommate. “Some roomies snore or something like that,” said Howard after the game. “He doesn’t do none of that. We just watched film and went to sleep.”

Becht returned the compliments. “Kobe comes to work every day and I’ve been saying that for the past six months. He showed what he can do today. We’re gonna get that guy the ball.”

While Becht’s four TD passes were his single-game best, his performance was not an outlier. At Iowa State he had seven games where he threw for three touchdowns. And while Becht’s 72.2% completion rate against Marshall was impressive, he’s had seven games better than that as well. (Career best: 95%, 19 of 20, vs. South Dakota last season).

And while 271 yards in a bit more than a half of football, is a strong number, it doesn’t even make Becht’s top 10 at Iowa State. He threw for 446 yards against Memphis in 2023, and 383 yards vs. Kansas in 2024.

The second half of the 2025 season in Ames, Becht played with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, and last December he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

On Saturday, in his first appearance in Beaver Stadium, he showed that Becht is Back. And, maybe, better than ever.