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Michigan State football QB battle still on, but will be decided in camp before final week

INDIANAPOLIS — With all of the changes to Michigan State’s roster during the offseason, the biggest question of the spring will still be unanswered when preseason camp begins: Who will be the Spartans’ starting quarterback when they travel to Northwestern on Sept. 3 to open the season?

“I feel good about the competition that we have,” coach Mel Tucker said Friday during the Big Ten media days. “It's open, it's an open competition. We have capable quarterbacks that all have different skill sets. But it's going to be competitive.”

Tucker did not tip his hand as to whether sophomore Payton Thorne or Temple graduate transfer Anthony Russo might have the edge to replace 2020 starter Rocky Lombardi, who transferred to Northern Illinois.