Michigan State football: Spartans finally find a QB with Payton Thorne

Michigan State football may have its answer at quarterback after all in Payton Thorne.

Though Michigan State football did not win on Saturday, Payton Thorne shined at quarterback.

The Michigan State Spartans fell to 2-5 on the coronavirus-shortened season after succumbing to Penn State Nittany Lions over in Happy Valley, 39-24. While it has been a difficult year for Michigan State, at least the Spartans have found their quarterback of the future in Payton Thorne. He just had his best game of his college career on Saturday afternoon vs. Penn State on the road.

Mel Tucker has his Spartans team trending in the right direction towards 2021

Thorne completed 22-of-39 passes for 325 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Those were career-highs in completions, attempts, yardage and touchdowns. With Penn State playing considerably better after its terrible 0-5 start, this was a performance Mel Tucker and his program can build on heading into next season. Michigan State could be back to good before too long here.

Keep in mind that Tucker left the Colorado Buffaloes extremely late into the cycle, as long-time Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio abruptly retired upon his retention bonus check clearing in his bank account. Factor in the pandemic and it was not going to be an easy year for Tucker and the Spartans in his first year in East Lansing. For now, he can rest easy knowing that Thorne is his guy.

An offseason worth of work will do wonders for Thorne and the Spartans’ passing attack for 2021.

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