Payton Thorne gets benched at Auburn

I always love following former Michigan State football player’s careers after they leave East Lansing, especially those that found success while at MSU. Payton Thorne is one of those players who had some great moments at Michigan State, but his time definitely ran out with the program. Thorne felt this as well and that’s why he left the program after the 2022 season and shockingly transferred to Auburn.

I hate to be negative about a player, but that decision seemed wild to me because I don’t think anyone thought he was good enough to play at an SEC school. But that’s where Thorne ended up.

Thorne was the starter last year with the Tigers in 2023 but failed to have that remarkable of a season. He threw the ball for 1,755 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during the 2023 season. Not bad by any means but definitely not the level of play Auburn was hoping for.

Fast forward to this season and Thorne was named the starter again entering the 2024 season. Auburn dominated an overmatched week one opponent, but week two was a different story. Auburn lost to Cal, a game nobody thought Cal would win, with Thorne throwing four interceptions. That’s not what you want to see.

After that debacle in week two, Thorne has reportedly been benched and is being replaced by redshirt freshman quarterback Hank Brown.

This news doesn’t make me happy, but I can’t say I’m all that surprised. Thorne had a magical season as the starter in 2021, but we found out quickly how that was the product of having three NFL wide receivers and Kenneth Walker to help him out. Once the 2022 season rolled around he struggled a lot and wasn’t able to survive as starter that season.

Auburn fans were excited to get Thorne ahead of the 2023 season, but they quickly learned what Michigan State fans did during 2022 being that Thorne isn’t a Power Four starting caliber player.

Even though Thorne’s career didn’t pan out, I’ll always have fond memories of him from the 2021 season. Sure other players had a lot more to do with that team’s success, but Thorne still deserves a lot of credit. That year he set the single season passing touchdowns record at Michigan State, so he should always be remembered by MSU fans for the good that he brought to the program.

Who knows if he’ll get another chance at Auburn, but considering this is his last year of eligibility I really hope that he does.