QB1 for 2026

Who is QB1 in 2026?

  • Rocco

  • Manske

  • Moberly

  • Outside hire


Results are only viewable after voting.
Nice try to cover your ass. Kid just led a team to an 8-4 record and a winning Big 12 record and you can’t wait to pile on him because 8-4 isn’t up to your standards. You’re either a Hawkeye, Big Red or just woefully out of touch. I’m sure CMC has you on speed dial for consultation.

You ok?
 
If some of you think this is a “below average” WR group, you have a very short memory.

Below average in terms of Higgins and Noel, sure. The previous fifty years or so of Cyclone wideouts? Nah.

And Rocco’s injury(s?) and communication issues with new faces didn’t help any.

Still wasn’t on the same page with at least one pass today.
The previous 50 year thing isn’t relevant anymore. Played 12 games & from memory it doesn’t seem like a stretch to think that over half the teams had more reliable receivers than we did. I’d say our tight ends as a group were better than every team we played.
 
The trouble with QB is within the NIL world framework, it's a value proposition. How much money do you think Rocco's gameplay is worth? That's the real question. Would you give him $2M, $3M, whatever the number is to stay, or would you let him walk if he asked for a huge raise to stay and put that same money elsewhere on the roster? Buy in another competitor? Maybe he doesn't ask and it's not a problem. Who knows at this point.

I tend to think this is the future of the position, though. You can't always put a pricetag on leadership, but you can try to put one on stats and results. Here's the money going into the QB position, what numbers are we getting out of it? How do they compare to others?
Good post... I think this is the question in these times.
 
Rocco’s been dealing with a shoulder injury most of the conference season. Pretty sure he’s wearing a brace.

Today in his post-game interview, Rocco appeared to be wearing "extra armor" around his torso.

Could be someone here will know if this was the usual gear or something more.
 
To be clear, I believe it SHOULD and WILL be Rocco. And probably no way Campbell would ever move someone ahead of him. But the 2nd half of the season was as bad from an ISU QB as we've seen in some time. Add on the wild card of the transfer portal. I was curious where the fan base stood, but it sounds like most people have their heads on straight.

I'm betting on Senior Superiority.

But it is difficult to judge in one sense, Rocco in his three starting years is 26-13, at Iowa State it don't get better than that.

Yet, his performance stats aren't the best. I'll wager (with myself) Rocco is poised for a break-out final season.

ESPN:
 
The previous 50 year thing isn’t relevant anymore. Played 12 games & from memory it doesn’t seem like a stretch to think that over half the teams had more reliable receivers than we did. I’d say our tight ends as a group were better than every team we played.
Oh no, it’s not a stretch to think that.

The stretch is for someone to think that they’re actually right.

And you judge against yourself and your own history, not others.

Wow, we’re way below tOSU’s average wideout corps. Who could have seen that one coming?

This wideout is above anything at ISU prior to the last two years.
 
I don’t know. There have been some really dumb threads on CF. But it is certainly in the discussion.

There’s a lot that can happen during an offseason. Maybe Rocco gets gangrene in his throwing arm and it has to be amputated? That would be a scenario that maybe we’d look to the backup I guess.

But, which arm? It's important.
 
Now that the season is over, do we think there's any chance anyone other than Rocco is QB1 next year? I am still a huge believer in Rocco, but this 2nd half of the season definitely raises questions.
Better question is can Iowa State find wide receivers who won’t drop the ball
 
After a down year performance-wise, and now only having one year of eligibility left, I would guess the demand for Rocco in the transfer market will be less than it was last year.

Sure. But, what is the value on his savvy, his leadership? He's a winner.
 
Why do you need a link when you have eyes?

Probably he's looking for a medical link to support your contention.

For me, it is beyond belief that CMC, and given protocols and liability and wishing to do the best for the young men for whom you are responsible, would play someone who was susceptible to such human danger.

So he asks, I think, as do I, and many others here, I would guess, ask you if your contention has any basis in medical reality?

What do you know that others do not know?
 
Probably he's looking for a medical link to support your contention.

For me, it is beyond belief that CMC, and given protocols and liability and wishing to do the best for the young men for whom you are responsible, would play someone who was susceptible to such human danger.

So he asks, I think, as do I, and many others here, I would guess, ask you if your contention has any basis in medical reality?

What do you know that others do not know?

I saw a hard hit to the QB involving the head during the Cincinnati game, and the QB coming right back in and playing very off for the next four games. This is not rocket science.