Michigan State Football: 3 hot takes from impressive win at Northwestern

Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Kenneth Walker III (9) and quarterback Payton Thorne (10) react after a play against the Northwestern Wildcats during the fourth quarter at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 3, 2021; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) celebrates their victory with fans after the game at Ryan Field. The Michigan State Spartans won 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Payton Thorne feels like the answer

Payton Thorne had a really solid game throughout and some fans were surprised to see him come out of the huddle as QB1 to kick off the season.

There were some off-target throws down the field but other than that, he looked like a great choice to lead the way for the Spartans. He completed 60 percent of his throws and didn’t need to do too much, finishing with 185 yards and a touchdown. He put some fantastic touch on all of his throws and even made some eye-opening sideline tosses to Jayden Reed early and Tre Mosley (whose one-handed catch deserves more love) late.

Thorne showed his mobility as well, keeping some plays alive and finishing with 28 yards on five carries. He had a good feel for pressure in the pocket and showed really good awareness when evading it. He never looked uncomfortable and confidence was high all game.

Overall, it seems like he’s the answer to the offense’s problems from a year ago along with the next guy we’ll talk about on these hot takes. He seems like the right guy to lead this offense from irrelevance to the top half of the Big Ten.

I came away impressed by his performance and think he’s the perfect QB1.

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