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 given annually to the best quarterback in college football.

Becht, who is also on the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, will begin his second season at the helm of the Cyclone offense in 2024. He was the 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and was named a second-team Freshman All-American by The Athletic last year.

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 scored 26 total touchdowns (23 passing, three rushing), the second most in a single season in school history. He has won 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 on August 31 against FCS No. 22 North Dakota.