Michigan State Football: 3 takeaways from massive win at No. 24 Miami

1. Payton Thorne thrives in the big moment

Another game, another sparkling performance from Payton Thorne. So far this season, he has led the Spartans to three straight wins and has looked good in each game.

Thorne now has nine touchdowns passes and no interceptions this year and he’s picking up yards with his legs as well, adding a huge 22-yarder in the second half. He has 726 yards on the year and isn’t making any truly bad throws which is all you can ask for from a first-year starting quarterback.

But where he really thrives is when the pressure is the highest like in the fourth quarter when Michigan State had a 24-17 lead and he tossed a 39-yard bomb to Jalen Nailor over the middle of the defense. He knew he could have made a safer throw to keep the clock running, but he decided to take a shot and really put the game out of reach.

I can’t help but be impressed by Thorne so far this season as he went into two hostile environments and played turnover-free football.

If this play continues, he’s going to have an all-time season at Michigan State.