Evanston, Ill. — After a position battle that began in the spring and lasted throughout preseason camp, Michigan State coach Mel Tucker finally revealed his starting quarterback just minutes before the Spartans’ season-opener at Northwestern.
On his pregame radio show, Tucker said third-year sophomore Payton Thorne would get the start ahead of graduate transfer Anthony Russo.
Thorne started once last year, throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Penn State. It seemed like plenty of momentum to become the starter as Rocky Lombardi entered the transfer portal. But soon after the season ended, Russo committed to MSU.