Sept. 6, 2025, Ames, Iowa: Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht walks off the field at Jack Trice Stadium after the Cyclones’ 16-13 win over Iowa in the Cy-Hawk game. (Photo by Jacqueline Cordova/Cyclone Fanatic)
Ames, Iowa — The FOX camera person zoomed in on Rocco Becht’s face during the fourth quarter of Iowa State’s 16-13 Cy-Hawk victory at Jack Trice Stadium. One of the talkers mentioned something about how calm, cool and collected Cyclones’ quarterback looked.
Looked?
He was a lot calmer and cooler and collected than all Iowa State fans, combined, while driving his team to what became another game-deciding field goal with just a couple minutes to play in a rivalry that probably doesn’t get as much national attention than it deserves.
You know all about Kyle Konrardy’s 54-yard field goal that was this rivalry’s difference – for the second season in a row. You marveled at the miraculous catch of a tipped pass that tight end Gabe Burkle made. You’ve now heard of defensive end Tamatoa McDonough, after the Yale transfer’s consecutive fourth-quarter sacks against quarterback Mark Gronowski . . .
And maybe, sooner than later, Rocco Becht will start receiving the additional national respect he deserves.
All this junior has done, is lead Iowa State to a 3-0 record – against teams that just might include the toughest trifecta anyone Power 4 team has thus far played.
Kansas State in Ireland.
Check.
Nationally-respected FCS South Dakota.
Check.
The Hawkeyes and Kirk Ferentz, who is just a victory shy of becoming the Big Ten Conference’s winningest coach.
Checkmate.
And you thought last season’s 11-win Iowa State team was good. This team can be better.Saturday marked Rocco’s seventh career fourth-quarter game-winning drive – out of eight opportunities. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 39 games and rushed twice for five yards in plays leading up to Konrardy’s heroics. That’s impressive game-on-the-line stuff.
Becht wasn’t perfect Saturday, but remember, he was playing against one of the nation’s top defenses. All he did, though, was played his usual Mr. Cool role – at a time Iowa State fans may have wondered if their team would find a way to beat the Hawkeyes in Ames for the first time since 2011.
The football version of Cyclone basketball’s Georges Niang or Tyrese Haliburton or Monte Morris? You might be onto something when re-watching the game – and especially with outcome on the line in the fourth quarter.
Becht slid for a first down on a quarterback draw play that was reviewed and upheld. He completed a pass to Burkle that Xavier Townsend tipped. He completed a jump pass to Burkle – and finally, Rocco ran a quarterback draw to the middle of the field to give Konrardy field position for his game-winning boot.
“We’re built for moments like that,” Becht told reporters. “It doesn’t happen without the miraculous catch by Gabe.”
Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser wasn’t just blowing smoke when he made these comments to reporters last week:
“That guy is better when all the air is sucked out of the stadium, everybody can barely see and stand up, and is about to puke,” Mouser said during his weekly presser. “The guy is nails. He’s better with his back against the wall. You always feel you’ve got a chance, with that guy.”
Need a play?
Get the ball to Rocco. Just like on what turned out to be the game-winning drive on a day when the game’s most confident player had another chance to do what he does best . . .
Like when he was 19-for-20 for 278 yards and three TDs against South Dakota. Like when he converted three third downs against Kansas State – like on Cy-Hawk Saturday.
So again, If you said Dom Orange and the defense, and Konrardy, won Saturday’s game — you’d be right.But the reason Iowa State is heading to Arkansas State Saturday with an impressive 3-0 record?
That starts with Rocco.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a past Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at [email protected] or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
