Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne is facing backlash from angry sports bettors after a disappointing performance in a loss to California. Thorne was intercepted four times in the 21-14 upset loss and has since received negative feedback from fans on social media and even through Venmo requests for money lost in bets.
The NCAA has highlighted the issue of abusive messages from those with betting interests towards high-profile athletes. One study found that one in three athletes received abusive messages during the NCAA basketball tournaments related to betting. The NCAA has been advocating for states with legal sports wagering to ban prop bets on college athletes.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has not ruled out benching Thorne for their upcoming game against New Mexico, considering the option of replacing him with backup Hank Brown. Freeze emphasized the importance of carrying over strong performance from practice into games, acknowledging Thorne’s inconsistent play despite showing potential in the past.
Thorne has thrown for 487 yards and five touchdowns in the first two games of the season but will need to improve his performance against New Mexico to regain the trust of both fans and coach Freeze. The quarterback situation at Auburn remains uncertain, with Thorne’s starting position potentially on the line in the upcoming game.
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