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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
Payton Thorne has won the Auburn starting quarterback job, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State, beat out Robby Ashford and will start for the Tigers in their Sept. 2 opener against UMass. Coach Hugh Freeze has talked to the quarterbacks to inform them of the decision and is expected to make an official announcement later Thursday.
Thorne was a two-year starter at Michigan State, and sources told ESPN that his leadership and efficiency throwing the ball were big factors in his winning the job at Auburn after arriving on campus in June. Ashford, who transferred from Oregon following the 2021 season, was Auburn’s starter for most of last season and played in all 12 games. He’s a dynamic runner who finished with 707 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, but passed for just seven touchdowns and threw seven interceptions. He will continue to compete for the job.
Auburn finished 119th nationally in passing offense last season (172.7 yards per game), and improving the passing game was a main priority for Freeze in taking over in his first season as the Tigers’ coach.
Thorne, entering his fifth season of college football, had his best season with Michigan State in 2021 when he passed for 3,240 yards and 27 touchdowns in helping lead the Spartans to an 11-win season in Mel Tucker’s first year as coach. Thorne entered his name into the transfer portal following spring practice earlier this year. He was competing for the Michigan State starting job with sophomore Noah Kim.
Auburn has shuffled through quarterbacks the last few years. Bo Nix, now a Heisman Trophy candidate at Oregon, was Auburn’s starter from 2019-21, but was briefly benched in 2021 and then returned as the starter before having his 2021 season cut short by an ankle injury and then leaving for Oregon. TJ Finley, who started his career at LSU, was Auburn’s starter to open the 2022 season before giving way to Ashford. Finley has since transferred to Texas State.
AuburnUndercover.com was the first to report Thursday that Thorne was expected to be the starter.