Former Michigan State football QB loses starting job at Auburn

Former Michigan State football QB1 Payton Thorne has lost his starting job at Auburn after an ugly start to the season.

A couple of former Michigan State football quarterbacks earned starting jobs at their new programs this offseason but one of them is already being replaced following a tough two weeks to open the year.

On Friday, Auburn announced that redshirt freshman Hank Brown would be starting for the Tigers against New Mexico on Saturday.

NEWS: Redshirt freshman QB Hank Brown is slated to start for Auburn against New Mexico, @_JHokanson reports👀https://t.co/sHAijBOm54 pic.twitter.com/Nd5YKZj2Uj

— On3 (@On3sports) September 13, 2024

This is tough news for Payton Thorne who started for Auburn last season and led the Tigers to a surprisingly-solid season. He unfortunately got off to a horrible start at Auburn this season with just 487 yards and five touchdowns to four interceptions. He only completed 56 percent of his passes against Alabama A&M and Cal which aren’t exactly world-beaters. His performance against Cal was the straw that broke the camel’s back as he passed for 165 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions. He completed just 14-of-27 passes in a home loss to the Golden Bears.

Being replaced by a redshirt freshman is not a great look for Thorne, especially since Brown wasn’t the highest-rated quarterback in the 2023 class, ranked the No. 1,447 overall recruit and just the No. 71 passer, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Thorne will have his work cut out for him if he wants to win the starting job back, but all it’ll take is a shaky performance from Brown and the coaching staff will likely give Payton the nod again. His running ability might help him win the job back as he’s rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns through two games. Unfortunately, he has a battle ahead of him.

While Thorne is struggling at Auburn, another former Spartan quarterback is having success in the Power Four. Sam Leavitt has led Arizona State to a 3-0 start and he’s looking like the best former Michigan State quarterback (we all knew this last year).