Michigan State Football: 3 things that deserve more credit from win over Michigan

1. Payton Thorne’s clutch throws

Payton Thorne did not have his best game on Saturday and that much was evident early on. First, there was the arm punt that gave Michigan the ball deep in their own territory after he threw into double coverage and was picked off. And then there was the batted ball that was picked off shortly after that led to another Michigan score.

Thorne had two interceptions in the first quarter and he only had four all season entering the game. It wasn’t a great look.

And then Kenneth Walker III stole the show with a couple of touchdowns to give Michigan State a 14-13 lead. The Heisman hopeful running back added three more touchdowns and everyone just assumed it was only him doing the damage to the Michigan defense. But Thorne actually played well after those picks and made some incredibly clutch throws.

There was the calm, cool, and collected throw under pressure on fourth down in the first half to Jalen Nailor which set up a short touchdown run for Walker on the next play.

That throw was better when you slow it down and watch what was in Thorne’s face in a huge situation and he remained patient and waited to Nailor to leak open down the middle of the field.

And there were the two two-point conversion throws that were right on the money. The first to Tre Mosley was very Connor Cook-esque and the second to Jayden Reed was a perfect fade route in a spot only his receiver could come down with it.

But before that game-tying two-point conversion throw that was sheer perfection, there was his best toss of the game to Reed on a fourth-and-four with the Spartans down 30-14. He needed to make a play to keep Michigan State in the game and he hit Reed for 28 yards with a beautiful throw that set up a score.

I mean, that ball placement couldn’t have been any better.

We talk all about Walker III’s big day, and deservedly so, but Thorne rebounded from a rough start to have a solid game and keep Michigan State in the game.