Matt Campbell isn’t ready to make a quarterback switch, even after another painful result left Penn State staring at a four-game losing streak in Big Ten play.
Following Saturday afternoon’s 21-18 loss at Michigan Stadium, Campbell was asked directly whether he had considered replacing Rocco Becht after the starter’s three turnovers helped lead to all three Michigan touchdowns. Campbell didn’t leave much room for doubt.
"He's got to be better. He will continue to grow and be better, but no, there's never been a consideration from my end," Campbell said in his postgame press conference when asked if he has given any thought to relieving Becht of the starting job.
Penn State’s season has been sliding in the wrong direction for weeks, and the latest setback came in a building that has long been a nightmare for the Nittany Lions, no matter who is under center or on the sideline. But this loss put the focus squarely on Campbell and Becht, especially with the bye week now arriving and a road trip to Washington still looming in early November.
Even so, Becht is not being singled out as the only issue. He has had his turnovers, and they have been costly, but he is also operating behind an offense that has no real running threat and without top wide receiver Koby Howard. The problems have been broad, and the offense has been stuck in a rough stretch that goes far beyond one quarterback.
That said, the alternative options are thin. Connor Barry, a Division III transfer, is the only other upperclassman on the depth chart, but he is viewed as the third-string quarterback. If Becht were to be replaced, the next man in line would be Alex Manske, another Iowa State transfer who appeared in three games for Campbell at Iowa State last season and has played in three games this season for Penn State.
Neither option looks like a clean fix for an offense carrying plenty of baggage. And that’s part of the bind Campbell is in right now.
There has been some speculation that he may be leaning too heavily on familiar Iowa State players who followed him to Penn State, including in the running game with Carson Hansen, who has struggled to get going this season. But Campbell’s stance remains the same: Becht is still the best choice he has.
At least for now.
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 State's 2027 QB Plan Just Took An Early Hit
Penn States 2027 quarterback class has already taken a major early turn, with Will Wood backing off his commitment and choosing Boston College instead. The 3-star passer from Xaverian Brothers High in Massachusetts had been the lone quarterback pledge in the Nittany Lions next cycle, giving the staff an early answer at the position before this latest change reshaped the picture.
Wood pointed to being closer to home and the chance to play for Boston College coach Bill OBrien as key parts of his decision, a reminder that recruiting battles often shift long before signing day. For Penn State, the loss leaves a glaring hole in a class that had counted on one quarterback to anchor it, and it now forces the staff to reset its approach with one of the cycles more closely watched prospects. [Read more 🡒]