Rocco Becht

AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday. The Manning Award is presented annually to the top quarterback in college football.

Becht, also a member of the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, enters his sophomore season at the helm of the Cyclone offense in 2024. He was the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and a second-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic a year ago.

Becht set Iowa State freshman records for completions (231), passing yards (3,120) and passing touchdowns (23). Last season, Becht had the third-most passing touchdowns and fourth-most passing yards among Big 12 quarterbacks.

Becht started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman and accounted for 26 total touchdowns (23 passing, three rushing), the second-most in a single season in school history. He owns two of the five games in school history with at least 300 passing yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game.

The Cyclones open the season August 31 against FCS No. 22 North Dakota.