Iowa State football eyes new era with quarterback transfer and receiver battle

Quarterback Rocco Becht, the former Iowa State starter who led the Cyclones to multiple bowl games, will join Penn State as the consensus QB1 for the 2026 season after head coach Matt Campbell departed for Penn State and 23 Cyclones transferred.

At the same time, Iowa State’s 2026 offense features a contest at wide receiver as junior Omari Hayes, who posted solid production at Florida Atlantic and Tulane, and senior Cody Jackson, who accumulated significant yardage after stints at Oklahoma and Tarleton State, vie for the WR1 role. Analysts favor Hayes for his consistent high‑level output, while Jackson has impressed in spring practice under coach Jimmy Rogers.