Michigan State football: 3 reasons for optimism after Washington loss

1. Payton Thorne got back on track

This is the most important reason to be optimistic after Saturday’s loss. Payton Thorne got back on track and that’s something that has seemed like exactly what Michigan State had needed through the first two weeks.

Without Jayden Reed and with an offensive line that couldn’t stop anyone, the odds were stacked against Thorne, but he delivered and showed some crazy grit and toughness.

Michigan State needed to see Thorne get back on track because the team wasn’t going to do anything this year if he didn’t look like himself. The offense just wouldn’t be much of anything. But he got back on track against the Huskies and he finally got on the same page with Keon Coleman as the two connected seven times for 116 yards and two scores.

Thorne and Tre Mosley, too, have a solid connection.

Oh, and he used his tight ends quite a bit, completing 11 passes to tight ends for 83 yards.

Thorne was accurate, made great throws (outside of the one pick where he was flushed from the pocket immediately, and he was able to run with the ball. He did this all without his favorite target.

All he needs to do is get on the same page with Germie Bernard and things will be golden.