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Bright future? Payton Thorne set a Michigan State record in his first start at QB
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Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne was excellent in the Spartans’ 39-25 loss to Penn State on Saturday afternoon.
He completed 22-of-39 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns against the Nittany Lions. All three of those scores came in the first half.
Thorne’s 325 yards broke multiple program records. It’s the most yardage for a freshman quarterback at Michigan State. It’s also a new record for yardage by a quarterback in a debut game.
Payton Thorne's 325 yards set a new MSU freshman QB record yards and broke the Spartans' first-game starter record of 324 yards set by Ed Smith in 1978.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 12, 2020
Year check: Ed Smith’s 324 came in 1976 vs. NC State. https://t.co/VfmCDelBZw
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 13, 2020
Michigan State moves to 2-5 on the season with the loss.
The Spartans will find out their Week 9 opponent on Sunday. If Thorne can replicate his performance next week, it could give Mel Tucker something to consider over the offseason.
Throne was a 3-star quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.
Starting quarterback Rocky Lombardi was injured for this game and did not play. Tucker declined to provide a specific update after the game.
Tucker said “I really haven’t been told anything” about next week’s opponent/location of game. Also said QB Rocky Lombardi “will be ready when he’s ready” as an injury update.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) December 12, 2020
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.