While Rocco Becht’s recent performance including four interceptions over his last three games has been frustrating, it is not the time for Iowa State to bench him for backup Alex Manske. This impatience violates a core principle of team management: the grass is not always greener. Manske, a promising true freshman and Elite 11 finalist, has minimal college experience, and inserting him now risks a sharp decline in overall play as the system is forced to adapt to an inexperienced leader. The primary issues are systemic, not singular. Firstly, the team's offensive scheme appears to be failing Becht. Analysts note that overly conservative play-calling has hampered momentum, forcing Becht to make plays under immense pressure when the offense stalls on high-leverage third downs. Secondly, his receiving corps has not provided the necessary consistency, with reports noting an "epidemic of self-inflicted wounds," including drops and penalties. Becht cannot be expected to succeed if his system and supporting cast are unreliable. Becht's true value lies in his proven leadership and clutch history; his struggles are a symptom of collective execution issues. Replacing him now would be a reactionary move that ignores the deeper problems. Iowa State’s season may be tough, but stability at quarterback is essential for development, and Becht offers the highest ceiling for a late-season turnaround. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! DoorDash With DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18. SupplyHouse Join the free TradeMaster program today and score serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit SupplyHouse.com to sign up for free and use promo code SHCOLLEGE5 for 5% off your first order. Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Football season is around the corner, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
