Payton Thorne will look at opportunities to play elsewhere after 4 years at Michigan State. Multiple outlets are reporting that Thorne has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.

A 2-year starter, Thorne has thrown for just under 6,500 yards (6,494) and 49 touchdowns in 3 seasons. MSU considered Thorne a redshirt senior for 2023, though the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver means 2020 does not count against his eligibility, allowing him to potentially return in 2024 for a 6th year.

Thorne played 4 games in 2020, making his first start on Dec. 12 against Penn State. For 2021 and ’22 he was the Spartans’ starting QB all season and a team captain.

In 2021, Thorne threw 27 TD passes, a single-season school record, as MSU went 11-2, winning a New Year’s Six bowl. He completed 60% of his passes for 3,233 yards, the most productive season of his career.

Michigan State was just 5-7 in the 2022 season. Thorne was 242-of-387 passing (62.5% complete) for 2,679 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this past season.

The Spartans wrapped up spring practice earlier this month. MSU held an open practice in lieu of a traditional spring game. After the final practice, head coach Mel Tucker indicated that it was a 2-man battle for the starting quarterback job between Thorne and Noah Kim.