Auburn QB Thorne Faces Backlash from Angry Bettors After Loss
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Auburn QB Thorne Says Angry Bettors Sent Him Venmo Requests After Loss
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has taken heat from a different source after struggling in a loss to California: Angry sports bettors. Thorne said on The Next Round podcast Tuesday that he has heard from some fans in person and on social media while others "hit you up on Venmo, all types of stuff." "They're definitely not sending cash," said Thorne, who was intercepted four times in the 21-14 upset loss on Saturday. "It's funny, when they lose money, they want the money back, but when they win money on the parley, no one's ever saying they want to pay the money." Thorne went 14-of-27 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown against Cal. One of his four picks led to the Golden Bears go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter. The NCAA said in May that one in three high-profile athletes received abusive message from those with betting interests, citing a study by artificial intelligence service Signify Group during the NCAA men's and women's basketball tourneys. Signify found that during the tournaments athletes received more than 540 abusive messages related to betting. Out of 1,000 Division I basketball players, 280 coaches and 120 NCAA game officials, more than 54,000 posts or comments were flagged and 4,000 were confirmed as abusive or threatening. The NCAA has pushed for states with legal wagering on sporting events to ban prop bets on college athletes. Prop bets -- short for proposition bets -- allow gamblers to wager on statistics a player will accumulate during a game rather than the final score. As for Thorne, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze didn't rule out replacing him as the starter with backup Hank Brown against New Mexico on Saturday. Freeze said Tuesday he didn't like benching players who were consistently the best in practice, but that he would make a decision later in the week. "Having said that, you know, you have to carry that over into the games," Freeze said. "You have to. I did witness (Thorne) play really, really good football in some big games last year. We've also witnessed the opposite of that in some games." Thorne has thrown for 487 yards and five touchdowns through two games. He is also second on the team with 92 rushing yards, including two scores. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Auburn QB Thorne says angry bettors sent him Venmo requests after loss
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has taken heat from a different source after struggling in a loss to California: Angry sports bettors Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has taken heat from a different source after struggling in a loss to California: Angry sports bettors. Thorne said on The Next Round podcast Tuesday that he has heard from some fans in person and on social media while others "hit you up on Venmo, all types of stuff." "They're definitely not sending cash," said Thorne, who was intercepted four times in the 21-14 upset loss on Saturday. "It's funny, when they lose money, they want the money back, but when they win money on the parley, no one's ever saying they want to pay the money." Thorne went 14-of-27 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown against Cal. One of his four picks led to the Golden Bears go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter. The NCAA said in May that one in three high-profile athletes received abusive message from those with betting interests, citing a study by artificial intelligence service Signify Group during the NCAA men's and women's basketball tourneys. Signify found that during the tournaments athletes received more than 540 abusive messages related to betting. Out of 1,000 Division I basketball players, 280 coaches and 120 NCAA game officials, more than 54,000 posts or comments were flagged and 4,000 were confirmed as abusive or threatening. The NCAA has pushed for states with legal wagering on sporting events to ban prop bets on college athletes. Prop bets -- short for proposition bets -- allow gamblers to wager on statistics a player will accumulate during a game rather than the final score. As for Thorne, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze didn't rule out replacing him as the starter with backup Hank Brown against New Mexico on Saturday. Freeze said Tuesday he didn't like benching players who were consistently the best in practice, but that he would make a decision later in the week. "Having said that, you know, you have to carry that over into the games," Freeze said. "You have to. I did witness (Thorne) play really, really good football in some big games last year. We've also witnessed the opposite of that in some games." Thorne has thrown for 487 yards and five touchdowns through two games. He is also second on the team with 92 rushing yards, including two scores. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
[3]
Auburn QB Thorne says angry bettors sent him Venmo requests after loss
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has taken heat from a different source after struggling in a loss to California: Angry sports bettors. Thorne said on The Next Round podcast Tuesday that he has heard from some fans in person and on social media while others "hit you up on Venmo, all types of stuff." "They're definitely not sending cash," said Thorne, who was intercepted four times in the 21-14 upset loss on Saturday. "It's funny, when they lose money, they want the money back, but when they win money on the parley, no one's ever saying they want to pay the money." Thorne went 14-of-27 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown against Cal. One of his four picks led to the Golden Bears go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter. The NCAA said in May that one in three high-profile athletes received abusive message from those with betting interests, citing a study by artificial intelligence service Signify Group during the NCAA men's and women's basketball tourneys. Signify found that during the tournaments athletes received more than 540 abusive messages related to betting. Out of 1,000 Division I basketball players, 280 coaches and 120 NCAA game officials, more than 54,000 posts or comments were flagged and 4,000 were confirmed as abusive or threatening. The NCAA has pushed for states with legal wagering on sporting events to ban prop bets on college athletes. Prop bets -- short for proposition bets -- allow gamblers to wager on statistics a player will accumulate during a game rather than the final score. As for Thorne, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze didn't rule out replacing him as the starter with backup Hank Brown against New Mexico on Saturday. Freeze said Tuesday he didn't like benching players who were consistently the best in practice, but that he would make a decision later in the week. "Having said that, you know, you have to carry that over into the games," Freeze said. "You have to. I did witness (Thorne) play really, really good football in some big games last year. We've also witnessed the opposite of that in some games." Thorne has thrown for 487 yards and five touchdowns through two games. He is also second on the team with 92 rushing yards, including two scores.
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Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne received Venmo requests from disgruntled sports bettors following the team's loss to Texas A&M. The incident highlights the growing intersection of college sports and gambling.
Auburn QB Targeted by Frustrated Bettors
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne found himself in an unexpected situation following his team's 27-10 loss to Texas A&M on September 23. The player revealed that he received numerous Venmo requests from angry sports bettors who had wagered on the game
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. This incident sheds light on the growing intersection between college sports and the burgeoning gambling industry.The Venmo Backlash
Thorne, speaking to reporters, described the influx of Venmo requests as "kind of funny." He mentioned that while he didn't accept any of the requests, the amounts ranged from $1 to $5
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. The quarterback's experience underscores the immediate and personal nature of fan reactions in the digital age, especially when financial stakes are involved.Broader Implications for College Sports
This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing trend in college athletics. As sports betting becomes more widespread and accessible, student-athletes are increasingly exposed to direct feedback—and sometimes backlash—from bettors. The situation raises concerns about the potential impact on players' mental health and the overall integrity of college sports
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.NCAA's Stance on Gambling
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has long maintained a strict stance against sports betting involving college athletics. However, the landscape is rapidly changing with the legalization of sports betting in many states. The NCAA faces the challenge of protecting student-athletes while navigating this new reality
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Player and Coach Responses
Thorne's reaction to the Venmo requests was notably composed. He stated, "I got a couple Venmo requests from people," and added, "I denied all of them"
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. This mature response highlights the additional pressures faced by student-athletes in the age of easily accessible personal information and digital payment platforms.The Future of College Sports and Betting
As sports betting continues to intertwine with college athletics, institutions, governing bodies, and lawmakers face the challenge of protecting young athletes while maintaining the integrity of the games. The incident involving Thorne serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive policies and education programs to address the evolving landscape of sports and gambling
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