Iowa State University quarterback Rocco Becht has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. The award recognizes the nation’s top upperclassman quarterback scheduled to graduate with their class.
Becht, a graduate of Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, Florida, finished last season with 3,505 passing yards, ranking No. 11 nationally. He also threw for 25 touchdowns and rushed for 318 yards and eight scores. Last year, Iowa State achieved 11 wins—the most in program history—with Becht leading the team to both the Big 12 championship game and a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory over No. 15 Miami.
Throughout the season, Becht engineered four game-winning drives in which Iowa State took the lead with less than two minutes left during games at Iowa, UCF, Utah and against Miami. In his career at Iowa State, he has led five fourth-quarter comeback victories.
He enters the upcoming season holding an active streak of touchdown passes thrown in 18 consecutive games—the longest such streak nationally among returning players. Over the past two years under Becht’s leadership, Iowa State has recorded 18 wins, marking its best stretch in school history. He is also one of only two Cyclones quarterbacks—alongside Brock Purdy—to achieve multiple 3,000-yard passing seasons.
Iowa State will open its 2025 football campaign on Aug. 23 in Dublin, Ireland against Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
