Quarterback to Back: Iowa State’s Rocco Becht Looks to Make It 2-0 against Oklahoma State

It would be impossible to predict where Zane Flores is going to be playing in 2026 (Stillwater or elsewhere), but he has one more shot at getting his first Big 12 win with the Cowboys.

Across the field, Iowa State’s Rocco Becht can remember his first Big 12 win, it was against the No. 16 Cowboys, a team that would go on to win five straight and make the Big 12 title game. It’s been a long two years.

Before we get into the matchup on Saturday, let’s take a look at the two passers’ numbers as they enter their final game of the regular season.

As their quarterback has gone, so have the Cyclones.

Becht is coming off his best game of the season, a three-touchdown performance against Kansas. It was the second straight win for the Cyclones following a four-game skid. Before that, they had started 5-0. If they want to end the season on another win streak, it will depend on Becht staying hot.

In wins, Becht is completing 63.4% of his passes and has thrown nine touchdowns to four interceptions. In those losses, he’s down to 58.8% and a 4-to-5 TD/Pick ratio. And that dip in numbers relates directly to whether or not his jersey remains clean. In those four losses, Becht was sacked nine times (2.3 times per game). In Iowa State’s seven wins, he has been sacked 10 times (1.4 per game).

Furthermore, when he faces a clean pocket, his offensive grade according to Pro Football Focus is 84.7 with a passing grade of 85.1. When under pressure, those grades drop to 50.2 and 51.7, respectively. A team’s hopes being tied to QB play is not exactly ground-breaking stuff, but it gives the Pokes a path for success, if they can get pressure on him.

Becht is not exactly a dual-threat QB, but he is more than capable if given an outlet to run. In scramble plays, he’s picked up 117 yards at 5.9 per try, according to PFF. He’s also got eight total rushing TDs with five of those coming off of scramble plays or QB sneaks.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they’ve not been creating a ton of havoc in the backfield this year, but it has been getting better. OSU has two sacks in each of the last two outings, marking the first time the Pokes have logged multiple sacks in back-to-back games this season. On the other hand, Iowa State is coming off its best pass-blocking grade since the start of Big 12 play.

If the Cowboys can find some ways to turn up the pressure on Becht, and keep him contained in the pocket, it will go a long way toward sending their seniors out on a better note and ending a season of transition and turmoil on a more positive note.