# Penn State QB Rocco Becht Stays Starter Despite Three Turnovers

> Penn State coach Matt Campbell says QB Rocco Becht remains starter after three turnovers against Michigan, with backup Alex Manske not ready to play.
- Title: Penn State QB Rocco Becht Stays Starter Despite Three…
- Summary: Penn State coach Matt Campbell says QB Rocco Becht remains starter after three turnovers against Michigan, with backup Alex Manske not ready to play. Penn…
- Keywords: penn state, matt campbell, rocco becht, alex manske, nfl, big ten, quarterback, beaver stadium, halloween game, sports, Penn, State
- Source: Penn State Nittany Lions On SI — https://si.com/college/pennstate/football/why-penn-state-matt-campbell-wont-replace-quarterback-rocco-becht
- Published: 2026-10-20T19:22:08+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: penn state, matt campbell, rocco becht, alex manske, nfl, big ten, quarterback, beaver stadium, halloween game, sports
## Penn State coach Matt Campbell defends Rocco Becht
Penn State football coach Matt Campbell defended quarterback Rocco Becht on Tuesday, saying the fifth-year senior remains his starter despite a three-turnover performance against Michigan.
## Campbell: Rocco Becht plays good football
Campbell said Rocco has continued to play good football, with moments he would love to have back, but that’s part of the game.
## Campbell: Thin margin of error
Campbell said Penn State’s margin of error is thin, requiring effort from all levels to fill that gap.
## Campbell: Alex Manske not ready to start
Campbell said backup quarterback Alex Manske isn’t ready to become starter yet, though he has a bright future.
## Becht’s performance against Michigan
Becht committed three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) that Michigan turned into all 21 of their points.
## Becht’s Big Ten stats
In Penn State’s four Big Ten losses, Becht has completed 59.6 percent of passes with three touchdowns and five interceptions.
## Becht’s conference rating
Becht’s conference-play quarterback rating of 112.05 ranks 14th among Big Ten quarterbacks.
## Campbell: Manske’s medical history
Manske underwent open-heart surgery on March 16, missing spring drills and not throwing again until mid-June.
## Manske’s playing time
Manske played 45 snaps in Penn State’s three non-conference games, going 9-for-14 for 102 yards.
## Manske’s missed opportunities
Manske missed spring drills at Iowa State before his 2025 freshman season with an elbow injury.
## Campbell: Manske’s growth
Campbell said Manske has missed a lot of time in the last two years and every practice rep is valuable for his growth.
## Penn State calls Manske future QB
Penn State’s coaching staff calls Manske the program’s quarterback of the future with elite arm talent.
## Campbell: Manske still has distance
Campbell cautioned Manske still has some distance to cover before he can start for Penn State.
## Penn State hosts Purdue on Halloween
After its bye week, Penn State will host Purdue on Halloween for a 4:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Beaver Stadium.
## Key takeaway

Penn State will keep QB Rocco Becht as starter despite three turnovers against Michigan, with backup QB Alex Manske not ready for the season.