Michigan State QB Payton Thorne enters transfer portal

Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne has entered the transfer portal after two seasons as the Spartans’ starting quarterback.

He is entering the portal as a graduate transfer and will be a redshirt senior in 2023.

Thorne has thrown for 6,494 yards, 49 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in his Michigan State career. The 2021 season was his first as the starter, and Thorne showed a ton of promise, throwing 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with 3,233 yards.

He played through some injuries in 2022 and threw for 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with 2,679 yards as Michigan State went 5-7 overall, including losses to Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.

Despite being the starter the past few seasons, Thorne was in a quarterback battle for the No. 1 spot this offseason with Noah Kim, a redshirt junior from Virginia. Kim has primarily been a backup, but with the inconsistency on offense during the 2022 season, coach Mel Tucker was looking for someone to take the starting job.

Michigan State still has Kim on the roster, as well as redshirt freshman Katin Houser, a four-star prospect in the 2022 class.

Because Thorne is a graduate transfer, he will be eligible immediately at his next destination. It is late in the transfer process, however, as Sunday is the final day for nongraduate transfers to enter the portal before the transfer window closes.

He will have competition for another landing spot as well, as Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson and Purdue quarterback Brady Allen recently entered the portal.