PAYTON THORNE NEWS

No. 10 Penn St to test No. 22 Auburn's defense in 'Whiteout'

No. 22 Auburn at No. 10 Penn State is the game of the week in the Big Ten

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oregon's CJ Verdell, Arkansas running backs highlight Saturday's top performers

Fans were treated to some impressive individual performances on a busy college football Saturday. Here are the best.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

College Football Today: Oregon's Verdell runs for 3 TDs

College Football Today: C

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Thorne passes for 4 TDs, Michigan State rolls Youngstown St

Payton Thorne threw for four touchdowns, including two long strikes to Jayden Reed, and ran for another score as Michigan State rolled to a 42-14 victory over Youngstown State

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ok against Northwestern Thorne completed 15 of 25 passes for one touchdown in Friday's 38-21 win over Northwestern.

Impact Michigan State leaned heavily on running back Kenneth Walker, so Thorne didn't have too much opportunity to put up big numbers. The Michigan State quarterback's potential is most likely severely capped by Walker's ability to pick up most of Michigan State's yards on the ground.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

New Michigan State football starting QB Payton Thorne gives himself an 'OK' grade The Michigan State Spartans got an efficient performance from sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne Friday night at Northwestern.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Quarterback Payton Thorne avoids errors, shows he earns the starting job “I just was able to put my head down and go to work,” Thorne said. “And, fortunately, the coaches saw something in me that that they thought...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Walker runs for 264 yards as Spartans beat Wildcats 38-21

Kenneth Walker III ran for a career-high 264 yards and a personal-best four touchdowns in an impressive debut with his new team, and Michigan State beat Northwestern 38-21 in the s...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Payton Thorne wins starting Quarterback job Redshirt sophomore Payton Thorne was named the starting quarterback by head coach Mel Tucker today, minutes before the season opener on the...

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Michigan State's Payton Thorne starting at QB in opener at Northwestern Redshirt sophomore gets the nod over Temple transfer Anthony Russo

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Officially starting Thorne will officially start at quarterback in Friday's season opener against Northwestern, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Thorne got the starting nod over Anthony Russo. MSU waited until minutes before kickoff to finally make the decision official in an act of gamesmanship.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes first-team reps Thorne is taking the first-team warmup reps prior to Friday's matchup with Northwestern, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Michigan State has been exercising gamesmanship in the lead up to Friday's season opener by not announcing their starting quarterback. Thorne's first-team reps over Anthony Russo seems to indicate he will get the nod under center.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Michigan State QB competition: Making the case for Payton Thorne, Anthony Russo It’s now Friday, the day of Michigan State's season opener versus Northwestern, and time is up on the Spartans' QB competition.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Northwestern seeks payback against Michigan State in opener

Northwestern hopes to get some payback against Michigan State

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michigan State leaves Northwestern guessing as it prepares

Michigan State coach Mel Tucker won't say who is starting at quarterback Friday night at Northwestern

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russo or Thorne to start at QB for MSU? Tucker won't say publicly Graduate transfer Anthony Russo and third-year sophomore Payton Thorne have been locked in a tight battle since spring, and throughout the p...

AUGUST 31, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Not first QB for team drills Thorne was the first-team QB early in practice but it was Anthony Russo, leading the first-team offense in team drills, Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal reports.

Impact Thorne and Russo still appear to be in an ongoing battle for the starting quarterback job. While Thorne was first to take the field under center in early practice drills, he ceded the first reps with the first-team offense in full 11-on-11 drills and Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press notes that Russo was working with the second-team wideouts in drills while Russo was with the first-string guys. It may be best to stand pat in regards to the competition until more information surfaces.

AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Working with first-team offense Thorne was the first quarterback under center with the first-team offense during practice, though there were subs going in and out, Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Solari didn't specify if Thorne was moving in and out of the quarterback spot with the first-team offense, but it appears that he was at least the first quarterback under center during team drills. An official announcement of the starter for the Sept. 3 opener versus Northwestern figures to come at some point over the next week or so.

AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tucker has 20 transfers to help Michigan State's turnaround

Mel Tucker is entering his second season at Michigan State

AUGUST 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MSU football practice video: Payton Thorne, Anthony Russo run the Spartans' offense MSU quarterbacks Payton Thorne and Anthony Russo run MSU’s offense in drills on Wednesday, Aug. 11, while Connor Heyward works with the togh...

AUGUST 11, 2021 • LANSINGSTATEJOURNAL.COM

Michigan State football: Anthony Russo, Payton Thorne on QB battle Anthony Russo and Payton Thorne, competing to be Michigan State football's next starting quarterback, discuss preaseason camp Thursday, Aug....

AUGUST 8, 2021 • FREEP.COM

LOOK: New MSU RB Kenneth Walker working out with Payton Thorne and Jayden Reed in Illinois New MSU RB Kenneth Walker working out with Payton Thorne and Jayden Reed in Illinois

JULY 8, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Mel Tucker breaks down Michigan State's quarterback competition between Anthony Russo and Payton Thorne Michigan State made a big move at the quarterback position this offseason when they landed Temple graduate transfer Anthony Russo. A former...

MAY 15, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Ohio State among 5 Big Ten teams auditioning quarterbacks

Nine of the 14 Big Ten football teams appear set at quarterback heading into the fall

APRIL 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MSU's Payton Thorne on QB competition: 'All of us had pretty good springs' Quarterbacks Payton Thorne and Anthony Russo each connected with Jayden Reed for deep touchdown passes in MSU's spring game at Spartan Stadi...

APRIL 25, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM