Penn State football’s Rocco Becht was ranked as the No. 27 quarterback heading into the 2026 season, per NCAAF Nation.

Ranking the Top #FBS Quarterbacks heading into the 2026 Season

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— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) April 13, 2026

While rankings don’t determine how well a player performs, they still could be seen as misleading. The debate could be made that Becht is currently being overlooked, especially if quarterbacks from the University of Delaware and Texas State are projected to have a better season.

This isn’t taking shots at any specific team, but a quarterback like Becht, who is coming into a playoff-winning program, surrounded by the highest level of talent, should be considered as a threat.

During his time at Iowa State, Becht threw for 9,274 passing yards, 64 passing touchdowns, and was picked off 27 times. He also ran for 499 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, showing he can be a threat through the air and on the ground. 

While his best season was in his junior campaign, Becht still led the Cyclones to eight wins in 2025, throwing for 2,584 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions — even through multiple injuries. 

Becht has great accuracy and has shown the capabilities to be a leader on and off the field. There are plenty of talented quarterbacks on the list, and I’m not personally upset at other athletes or NCAAF, nor do I really let ranking affect my opinion and what I believe to happen.

With that being said, the resources and experience Becht has been given here at Penn State, it’s hard to imagine him being underrated heading into this season. With many Iowa State players following Matt Campbell to Happy Valley, Becht has strong chemistry with his teammates. 

Penn State also has strong players returning this year. With all the talent, new coaches, and gritty playstyle, the Nittany Lions’ quarterback should be seen as a threat.

Put some respect on QB1!