Former SEC QB TJ Finley applying for 7th year, entering transfer portal
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Former SEC QB TJ Finley wants to play college football in 2026.
On Monday, Finley announced on social media that he is applying for additional eligibility and entering the transfer portal. Finley missed much of 2024 due to a season-ending injury and is asking for another season. His eligibility has previously been extended by the COVID year and a traditional redshirt via limited participation.
Finley was a true freshman at LSU in 2020, a season that does not count against his NCAA eligibility due to COVID-19 conditions. Appearing in 5 contests, Finley was 80-of-140 passing (57.1% complete) for 941 yards, 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
After his season at LSU, Finley switched sides in the Tiger Bowl rivalry, heading to The Plains. In 2021, Finley made 9 appearances for Auburn, completing 54.7% of his passes for 827 yards, 6 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Like Auburn’s season, 2022 did not go as planned for Finley. He further extended his eligibility by only playing in 4 games of the ’22 campaign, taking a redshirt. In those 4 appearances, he had just 1 touchdown pass to 4 picks, completing 62.3% of his passes for 431 yards.
After his stop at Auburn, Finley transferred to Texas State. He had a breakout season with the Bobcats in 2023. Playing in 13 games, Finley threw for 3,439 yards while completing 67% of his passes (279-of-414) with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 24-to-8. The QB, then listed at 6-7, 255, also rushed for 5 scores.
Finley landed at Western Kentucky in 2024. He started the first 3 games of the season before being sidelined due to injury early in the third game. In limited action, he was 48-of-75 passing for 490 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Both interceptions came against Alabama, where he turned in an 18-of-31 passing performance for 92 yards.
After WKU, Finley made a brief stop at Tulane. He left the program after an arrest in connection with a stolen car for illegally possessing an item worth more than $25,000. After his Tulane departure, Finley landed at Georgia State.
Finley appeared in 7 games for Georgia State. He threw for 1,244 yards, 6 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in those games, with Georgia State posting a 1-6 record.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
