Matt Campbell is running out of time to make the kind of quarterback move that can at least tell him something about the future, but for now he’s staying locked in on Rocco Becht.
After Penn State’s 21-18 loss to Michigan in Week 7, Campbell was asked directly whether there was any point at which he’d go away from Becht at quarterback. He didn’t leave much room for interpretation.
“No,” Campbell said when asked about considering making a change. “Obviously Rocco would be the first guy to say he’s got to do a better job taking care of the football, and obviously it was an emphasis.
But man, how that guy continues to compete and fight and he gave us a chance at the end of the football game. He’s got to be better.
He will be, continue to grow and be better, but now there was never a consideration.”
That answer came after Becht turned in a rough night: 28 completions on 44 attempts for 267 yards and a touchdown, but also two interceptions and a lost fumble. Those three turnovers directly fed all 21 of Michigan’s points.
The frustration is that Campbell has seen enough from this offense to know the current formula isn’t working. Penn State is 0-4 in Big Ten play.
The offensive line can’t be rebuilt in the middle of the season. The running back rotation has already been tested with limited returns from all four backs.
And even with Koby Howard sidelined by injury, the receiver group is being squeezed for all it can give.
Becht is part of the problem, even if he isn’t the only problem. His interceptions against Michigan were the ugly kind - late decisions, forced throws, defenders staring him down. Since the start of Big Ten play, he has five interceptions and only three touchdowns, and Penn State has averaged 18.5 points per game.
That’s why the question wasn’t really about one bad Saturday. It was about whether Campbell would use the bye week to at least explore what redshirt freshman and fellow Iowa State transfer Alex Manske might bring to the table. Instead, he shut the idea down.
Michigan’s own quarterback change only sharpened the point. With Bryce Underwood starting the first half, Michigan was trailing Penn State 3-0.
When backup Tommy Carr took over for the second half, Michigan outscored Penn State 21-15. Kyle Whittingham saw the pressure, saw the struggles, made the switch, and it paid off.
Campbell, by contrast, didn’t sound interested in following that path.
There’s a practical case for seeing what Manske can do before the season gets any messier. If he looks like the answer, Penn State can keep him around cheaply and use its transfer portal resources elsewhere. If he isn’t ready for Big Ten defenses, the staff can go hunting for a veteran later.
But if Becht remains the only option and the staff goes into the offseason with no real read on Manske, then Penn State is guessing. And with the transfer portal looming, that’s the worst place to be.
Campbell and general manager Derek Hoodjer still have a roster to reshape in a major way. The 2026 recruiting class was effectively missed because they arrived after early signing day, and several key players - Becht, Tony Rojas, Audavion Collins, Chase Sowell, and Anthony Donkoh - are in their final season of eligibility or could be heading toward the NFL, in the cases of Rojas and Donkoh.
Maybe some veterans stick around longer than expected. But the quarterback is not coming back, and the season is going nowhere fast. That should make the backup evaluation obvious.
For now, Campbell isn’t buying it.
In Other News...
Penn State Suddenly Has A Quarterback Question It Can't Ignore
Penn States 21-18 loss to Michigan left the Nittany Lions at 3-4 and extended a frustrating slide with four straight Big Ten defeats. Even in a game that again exposed how much work the offense still needs, there were some signs of life through the air, with Chase Sowell giving the passing game a bit of a pulse amid the larger problems.
Rocco Bechts turnovers were a major reason the offense kept stalling, and that puts the quarterback spot squarely in view during the upcoming bye week. Matt Campbell suddenly has a decision to weigh, and with Penn State needing something to change before the season slips further, Alex Manske could get a longer look as the staff searches for a cleaner answer under center. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Stayed In It Until The Offense Unraveled Late
Penn State had enough around it to hang around in Ann Arbor, and for a while the game looked like it might come down to a single late swing. The Nittany Lions got a big day from Chase Sowell, who hauled in 11 catches for 151 yards and a late touchdown, while Tony Rojas anchored the defense with 12 tackles in a hard-fought Big Ten matchup at Michigan Stadium.
The problem came after halftime, when the offense could not keep itself on schedule and Michigan turned the game with three touchdowns in the second half. Rocco Becht's two interceptions and lost fumble proved costly in a 21-18 loss, leaving Penn State with the familiar frustration of a game that was still there to be won before it unraveled late. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States QB Debate Just Got More Tense After Michigan
The quarterback conversation around Penn State is getting louder, but Matt Campbell is not adding to it. After a four-game losing streak and a loss to Michigan that included turnovers from starter Rocco Becht, Campbell said he is not considering a change behind center. The timing has only sharpened the scrutiny, with the offense already dealing with the absence of a key wide receiver and a running game that has not done enough to steady things.
On the depth chart, Iowa State transfer Alex Manske and Division III transfer Connor Barry are the next names in line, but Campbell's stance suggests he still sees Becht as the best option to guide the unit through the rough patch. For now, the debate is less about whether Penn State has alternatives and more about whether the current setup can survive long enough for the offense to find any rhythm. [Read more 🡒]