Michigan State Football: 5 bold predictions for October 2021

Payton Thorne, right, gets the team fired up before Michigan State's football game against Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 050a
Payton Thorne, right, gets the team fired up before Michigan State's football game against Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.210925 Msu Nebraska 050a /
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Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) jogs off the field during the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) jogs off the field during the third quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Payton Thorne has a 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio again

During the preseason, the battle between Payton Thorne and Anthony Russo for the starting job was intense. The coaching staff was torn between a returning player with experience in the system and a Temple transfer who had started for the Owls over three years and had the tools to be a problem for defenses.

The staff went with Thorne and it turned out to be a great decision.

In his first four games of the season, Thorne has 10 touchdowns to just one interception, completing 62 percent of his passes for 909 yards. As a starter, Thorne is now 4-1 (the only loss was to Penn State last season) with 1,234 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just two picks. He makes good decisions and rarely forces anything and that’s why he’s so valuable.

In October, Thorne is going to remain hot, throwing 10 more touchdown passes with just one pick and he’ll be at 20 touchdowns and two interceptions on the year heading into November.

Will he reach 2,000 passing yards before November? I don’t think he’ll quite get there, but he’s going to have another impressive touchdown-to-interception ratio month.