Payton Thorne reveals fans are Venmo requesting him to get money back on bets
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne threw four interceptions to just one touchdown in a frustrating 21-14 loss to visiting California inside Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Several days later, during a Tuesday appearance on “The Next Round,” Thorne revealed fans are requesting money from him via Venmo to recoup lost bets on Auburn.
“Obviously everyone says just don’t listen to it and all that. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done because, in today’s world, they come at you from all different angles,” Thorne said. “You hear it verbally. That’s probably the least one. But, just walking down the street, you hear it sometimes. And then, obviously the social media, they hit you on Venmo, all types of stuff.
“You just have to block it out. You have to go back to where your foundation is in your life. And for me, that’s my faith and my family,” Thorne continued. “So just doing that, but also just keeping the focus on what’s next. Like I said, there’s nothing we can do about Saturday, but I can handle today.”
The New Round hosts immediately followed up on Thorne’s comments about Venmo, one of them wrongly assuming fans were sending Thorne money, not requesting it. Payton Thorne quickly set the record straight.
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“They’re definitely not sending cash,” Thorne said. “It’s funny. When they lose money, they want their money back but when they win money on a parlay, no one’s ever sent me any of the money.”
In the loss to California, Thorne completed 14-of-his-27 pass attempts for 165 yards and a touchdown. In turn, he threw four interceptions and was sacked three times. Thorne’s lackluster performance was a far cry from his Week 1 showing in Auburn’s 73-3 win over Alabama A&M.
In the victory, Thorne erupted for 322 passing yards and four touchdowns, without throwing a single interception. Thorne even got involved in the ground game, recording four carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Despite Thorne’s underwhelming showing on Saturday, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze still believes in him.
“It’s really hard to not play a young man, whether it’s Payton or whoever, that consistently is the best performer in practice over and over and over again… However, you have to carry that over in games,” Freeze said.