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Michigan State Football: 3 bold predictions vs. Penn State in Week 15

By Connor Muldowney

Payton Thorne, Michigan State football (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Payton Thorne, Michigan State football (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State’s Payton Thorne before the game against Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State’s Payton Thorne before the game against Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. /

2. Payton Thorne starts, throws for 250

I’m all about the optimism with these bolds and that’s because what I saw from Payton Thorne against Ohio State was exciting. He did come in against a defense that may not have been as focused while up big, but he played well and looked sharp in place of Rocky Lombardi.

Thorne has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season, but he ran for one against the Buckeyes, showing flashes of a young Brian Lewerke. Even the former quarterback said that Thorne reminds him of a younger version of himself — that should make fans very happy. A young, healthy Lewerke was one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten in 2017.

A young Lewerke also seemed to always play well against Penn State and Thorne will follow those footsteps, getting the start and playing well against the Nittany Lions.

Thorne has 257 yards on a 57 percent completion rate on the year and he’ll surpass that on Saturday afternoon in Happy Valley with 265 yards and his first career touchdown pass.

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