Payton Thorne, quarterback for Auburn, following a difficult game against Cal.

When Auburn traveled to Berkeley for a rare late-night SEC-Pac-12 showdown against the California Golden Bears, few expected a showcase of offensive firepower. But even fewer could have foreseen just how much Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne would struggle in a game that turned into a gritty, disjointed battle of survival. Thorne’s performance wasn’t pretty—at times it was downright concerning—but it ultimately ended in a 14-10 Tigers victory that may prove more valuable in the long run than any blowout win.

The game served as a defining early moment for Thorne’s Auburn tenure, not because of flashy stats or clutch throws, but because of how he endured. It was a night where everything looked hard, nothing came easy, and yet the team found a way.

Payton Thorne’s stat line against Cal was far from impressive: 9-of-14 passing for just 94 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was sacked three times and rarely looked comfortable in the pocket. Auburn’s offense struggled mightily to find rhythm, producing only 230 total yards and converting just 3-of-9 third-down opportunities. Thorne, who transferred from Michigan State during the offseason, looked like a quarterback still learning the system, unsure of his reads, and lacking chemistry with his receivers.

It wasn’t supposed to be this difficult—not for a two-year starter from the Big Ten expected to bring stability to a rebuilding Auburn offense under Hugh Freeze. But that’s the challenge of adapting to a new environment. The Tigers needed Thorne to be a steadying presence, and though he didn’t provide that in a traditional sense, he still left the field with a win.

“I know it wasn’t pretty,” Thorne said after the game. “I’m not satisfied with how I played. But I’m proud of how we fought. Winning on the road in a different time zone, against a tough defense, that says something about this team.”

Thorne’s uneven performance underscores the complexities of transitioning to a new offensive system in the SEC. At Michigan State, he operated in a pro-style scheme that relied heavily on structured route trees and play-action. Freeze’s offense demands a quicker tempo, greater improvisation, and deeper trust between quarterback and receiver. So far, Thorne appears to be in the midst of a steep learning curve.

Compounding the challenge is Auburn’s wide receiver corps, which remains a work in progress. Drops, poor route execution, and lack of separation plagued the Tigers against Cal. Rivaldo Fairweather, the tight end who caught Thorne’s lone touchdown pass, was the lone bright spot in the passing game. His contested grab in the third quarter saved the Tigers from falling behind for good.

“Rivaldo’s a playmaker. I trust him,” Thorne said. “We need more guys to step up like that. But I also need to get better at putting the ball in better spots.”

Freeze didn’t sugarcoat the offensive struggles. “We’ve got a long way to go,” he said in his postgame press conference. “I’m not discouraged, but we’ve got to be better. That starts with me and the coaches, and it includes Payton too. He’s got to settle in and be more decisive.”

Despite the offensive woes, Thorne displayed a quality that can’t be measured in passing yards or completion percentage: mental toughness. He didn’t unravel. He didn’t sulk on the sideline or throw teammates under the bus. He kept battling, even when the boos rained down and the offense stalled repeatedly. In a game where points were hard to come by, Thorne managed the offense well enough to avoid critical mistakes in the second half and orchestrated the game-winning touchdown drive.

That drive—a nine-play, 69-yard march capped by Fairweather’s touchdown—was Thorne at his best. He completed three passes on the drive, avoided pressure, and made decisive reads. It was a flash of what Auburn hopes to see more consistently.

“Payton showed some guts,” said offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery. “That drive, he trusted the process. It was good to see him stay composed and take what the defense gave him. That’s what veteran quarterbacks do.”

Auburn’s defense deserves most of the credit for keeping the Tigers alive while the offense sputtered. The Tigers forced four turnovers—including a game-sealing interception with under a minute left—and held Cal to 273 total yards. The defensive front created pressure, the secondary made plays, and linebackers flew to the ball. For Thorne and the offense, that support was critical.

“Our defense carried us tonight,” Thorne admitted. “They gave us chance after chance. That kind of performance builds trust in the locker room. Now it’s on us on offense to hold up our end.”

The game also marked Auburn’s first trip to California since 2002, a long cross-country journey with all the accompanying challenges—late-night start, different climate, hostile crowd. It would have been easy for a young team to fold, but they didn’t. And for Thorne, that kind of resilience is the foundation he hopes to build on.

Thorne knows the leash isn’t infinite. Auburn’s quarterback room includes dynamic dual-threat Robby Ashford, who continues to be utilized in short-yardage and red zone packages. Freshman Holden Geriner, a former four-star recruit, also lurks in the background. With SEC play on the horizon, Freeze will need more from his quarterback—and fast.

So far, Thorne has done just enough to keep the job. But fans are already questioning whether that will be good enough against conference opponents. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with games looming against Texas A&M, Georgia, and LSU. Thorne must take a leap forward—especially in pushing the ball downfield and avoiding costly turnovers.

“The potential is there,” Freeze said. “Payton’s got the experience. He’s smart. He just needs more reps in our system and to trust what he sees.”

Thorne echoed that sentiment. “I’ve been in tough spots before. This isn’t new to me. The best way to get better is to learn from it and keep working. I believe in myself, and I believe in this offense.”

Auburn football is in the midst of a rebuild under Hugh Freeze, and in many ways, Payton Thorne represents that transition. He’s a stopgap quarterback with starting experience but limited time in the system. He’s been brought in not to be a superstar, but to provide leadership, composure, and enough production to win games while the foundation is being laid for the future.

His performance against Cal wasn’t memorable in a traditional sense, but it was instructive. It showed that even in a sloppy, mistake-filled game, Auburn’s offense can find just enough rhythm to survive. It showed that Thorne, while imperfect, won’t shrink in adversity. And it showed that for all the problems the Tigers need to fix, they have a quarterback willing to shoulder the burden.

The message from Freeze to his quarterback was simple after the game: “Keep your head up. We’ll get there.”

To take the next step, Thorne will need to address several key areas:

1. Pocket Presence – He looked jittery under pressure, often missing opportunities by bailing too early.
2. Downfield Accuracy – Auburn had receivers open on a few occasions, but Thorne either didn’t see them or failed to deliver.
3. Timing and Chemistry – The passing game still looks like a group of strangers learning to work together. That needs to change quickly.
4. Third-Down Efficiency – The Tigers must improve their third-down execution, particularly in manageable situations.

Each of these is fixable. The question is how long it will take and whether Thorne can find his rhythm before Auburn enters the teeth of SEC play.

Payton Thorne’s outing against Cal won’t earn a spot in any Auburn highlight reels. But it was a game that revealed the grit and perseverance Freeze values. It was ugly, yes—but it was also a win. And for a quarterback learning a new system, leading a new team, and trying to live up to expectations, that’s a place to start.

If Thorne can build from the adversity in Berkeley, this game might serve as a turning point. If not, his grip on the starting job may loosen in the weeks to come. Either way, one truth remains: Auburn’s path forward is tied to Thorne’s growth—and that journey is only beginning.