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Campbell Stands Behind Rocco Becht, But Can Penn State's Offense Find Answers

Campbell Stands Behind Rocco Becht, But Can Penn State's Offense Find Answers

By: Landyn Empet | SportzWire | October 22, 2026

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State football entered the 2026 season with high expectations under new head coach Matt Campbell, but seven games into the year, the Nittany Lions find themselves searching for answers.

Following four straight Big Ten losses, Penn State sits at 3-4 overall and 0-4 in conference play. Much of the attention has turned toward starting quarterback Rocco Becht, whose struggles have raised questions about whether a change at quarterback could help turn the season around.

Despite the growing criticism, Campbell has made it clear that he is sticking with his starting quarterback.

"We have complete faith in Rocco," Campbell told reporters during his October 20 press conference.

A Strong Start Turns Into Conference Struggles

Becht started the season strong, helping Penn State win its first three games against Marshall, Temple and Buffalo.

During those victories, the Iowa State transfer threw for 751 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. His early success gave Penn State fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the team's offense.

However, things have changed since the start of Big Ten play.

Over the last four games, Becht has thrown for 913 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions. His completion percentage has also dropped from 70.3% during nonconference play to 59.6% against Big Ten opponents.

Those numbers have become a concern for a Penn State offense that has struggled to put points on the board consistently.

The most recent example came during Penn State's 21-18 loss to Michigan on October 17.

Becht completed 28 of 44 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown, but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Michigan scored a touchdown following each of those three turnovers, accounting for all 21 of the Wolverines' points.

While Becht helped Penn State fight back late in the fourth quarter, the mistakes proved too costly to overcome.

Is Becht the Only Problem?

Although Becht has made mistakes, Penn State's offensive struggles go beyond its quarterback.

Against Michigan, the Nittany Lions managed just 65 rushing yards on 30 attempts, averaging 2.2 yards per carry.

Without a consistent running game, Penn State has struggled to create a balanced offense, putting additional pressure on Becht to make plays through the air.

The passing game has also dealt with the absence of wide receiver Koby Howard, who has not played since Penn State's September 19 victory over Buffalo.

There have been some bright spots, including wide receiver Chase Sowell, who finished the Michigan game with 11 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown.

Sowell's performance showed that Penn State still has the talent to move the ball through the air. However, finding that success consistently has been a challenge.

While changing quarterbacks could provide a different look for the offense, it would not automatically fix the problems surrounding the position.

Could Alex Manske Be the Answer?

With Becht struggling against conference opponents, attention has also shifted toward backup quarterback Alex Manske.

The 'redshirt' freshman followed Campbell from Iowa State and has appeared in three games this season. Manske has completed nine passes for 102 yards, but has yet to take a snap against a Big Ten opponent.

During his October 20 media availability, Campbell acknowledged that Manske is continuing to develop and has missed valuable practice time over the past two seasons.

Campbell expressed confidence in Manske's future but made it clear that the team is not planning a quarterback change right now.

"His time will come," Campbell said.

While some fans may want to see what the young quarterback can do, Campbell appears more comfortable relying on Becht's experience as Penn State works through its struggles.

What Comes Next for Penn State?

With five regular season games remaining, Penn State has little room for error if it hopes to become bowl eligible.

The Nittany Lions will have a bye week before returning to Beaver Stadium on October 31 to face Purdue.

That extra week gives Campbell and his coaching staff an opportunity to review the team's offensive problems and make adjustments before the final stretch of the season.

For Becht, the upcoming matchup will be another opportunity to prove that he can lead Penn State to victories against Big Ten competition.

His ability to protect the football, make better decisions and find consistency in the passing game will be important if Penn State hopes to end its losing streak.

There is no question that Becht has struggled during conference play, but placing all the blame on the quarterback would overlook several other issues within Penn State's offense.

Campbell has made his decision to stick with Becht. Now, the pressure is on the quarterback and the entire offense to show that the decision can lead to wins.

With the season beginning to slip away, Penn State needs answers, and it needs them soon.