Rocco Becht

AMES — Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht was named to the Manning Award watch list, marking yet another preseason nod for the Cyclone signal caller. The Manning Award is given annually to the best quarterback in college football.

Becht is one of seven Big 12 quarterbacks on the 27-player watch list.

Becht was among the top arms in the country last season with 3,505 passing yards, which ranked No. 11 nationally. He threw for 25 touchdowns and added 318 yards and eight scores on the ground.

Becht’s on-field play directly translated to the win column as he led Iowa State to its winningest season in program history. The Cyclones won 11 games, made a Big 12 title game appearance and earned a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory over No. 15 Miami last season.

The Wesley Chapel, Fla. native was at his best when it mattered the most, leading Iowa State on four game-winning drives where ISU took the lead with under two minutes remaining in the game. In his career, Becht has led the Cyclones to five wins in which ISU trailed in the fourth quarter.

Becht has thrown a touchdown pass in a school-record 18 consecutive games, the nation’s longest active streak entering the 2025 season.

Becht has quarterbacked the Cyclones through one of the most fruitful periods in program history, having helped Iowa State to 18 wins over the last two seasons, the best two-year stretch in ISU history. He is one of two quarterbacks in Iowa State history with multiple 3,000-yard passing seasons (Brock Purdy).