Becht Named To Manning Award Watch List

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State redshirt senior quarterback Rocco Becht was named to the Manning Award watch list on Monday.

 

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ postseason performances in its balloting. The winner will again be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the postseason.

 

Rocco Becht · R-Sr. · QB · 6-1 · 210 · Wesley Chapel, Fla. · Wiregrass Ranch · Iowa State

• Also on the Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Maxwell Award watch lists.
• Was named to the Manning Award, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists in 2025.
• Named an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee.
• Selected All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024 and was Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2023.
• Earned second-team Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic.
• Named CSC Academic All-District in 2023 and 2024.
• Started 39 games and earned 26 wins at Iowa State, while leading seven game-winning drives.
• Ranks Top 10 all-time at Iowa State in consecutive games with a passing touchdown (22; 1^st), passing touchdowns (64; 2^nd), 300+ yard passing games (6; 2^nd), completions (714; 3^rd), passing attempts (1,177; 3^rd), passing yards (9,274; 3^rd), passing efficiency (140.2; 3^rd), completion percentage (60.6; 4^th), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (19; t-1^st), touchdowns responsible for (83; 2^nd) and total offense (9,773; 3^rd).
• Ended the 2025 season as one of nine FBS quarterbacks with 9,200+ career passing yards and 64+ career passing touchdowns and one of six FBS quarterbacks with 64+ career passing touchdowns and 19+ career rushing touchdowns.
• In 2025, completed 205-of-339 passes for 2,584 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 116 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

 

The finalists for the Manning Award will be selected prior to the postseason and the winner will be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.

 

Nittany Lions On Award Watch Lists

Ryan Barker - Groza

Rocco Becht - Davey O’Brien, Manning, Maxwell, Unitas

Benjamin Brahmer - Lombardi, Mackey

Gabe Burkle - Mackey

Jeremiah Cooper - Bednarik, Comeback POY

Cooper Cousins - Wuerffel Trophy

Kooper Ebel - Butkus

Max Granville - Comeback POY

Carson Hansen - Doak Walker

James Peoples - Doak Walker

Brock Riker - Rimington Trophy

Tony Rojas - Comeback POY, Lott IMPACT Trophy

Blaise Sokach-Minnick - Mannelly

Siale Taupaki - Polynesian POY

 

For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2026 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.GoPSUsports.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.