Payton Thorne earns starting quarterback job at Auburn

Quarterback Payton Thorne has won the starting quarterback job at Auburn, according to a Thursday article from ESPN Senior Writer Chris Low.

Thorne was a two-year starter for the Michigan State Spartans. He transferred to Auburn in May. The former three-star recruit ended the 2022 season with 2,679 passing yards and 19 passing touchdowns. He recorded as many as 323 passing yards during a 39-28 loss to the Washington Huskies.

"The reason Payton is getting the nod is just the leadership ability and understanding of the offense," Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said, via the Associated Press. "He's been in some really good battles, and it just seems like he was more efficient in the decision-making to this point. 

"Not that the others were terrible by any means. It was not just a slam-dunk."

Thorne took sixth place on Michigan State's all-time passing yards list. His passing ability could make him a fantastic fit for an offense that finished with 172.7 passing yards per game, putting it at 119th in the NCAA and dead last in the SEC. Its 24.8 points per game put it on pace with the Missouri Tigers at about ninth in the conference.

Quarterback Robby Ashford will return to Auburn in 2023. He played in 12 games for the Tigers in 2022, recording 1,613 passing yards and 710 rushing yards. Last season, the former Oregon transfer threw for as many as 337 yards in a game against LSU and rushed for as many as 121 yards in a game against Alabama.

"My gut is saying it’s the time to do this, to get us best prepared for the opening of the season," Freeze said. "I’m hoping that all three will handle that news extremely well and continue to work.

"I believe with all my heart Robby Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts this news and continues to work and develops himself, because he might be the most freakish athlete I’ve ever had at quarterback."