Former Auburn QB T.J. Finley transferring to Western Kentucky, which opens 2024 at Alabama

By Creg Stephenson T. J. Finley is headed to his fourth school in five years, having announced Monday he will transfer to Western Kentucky.

Finley, who played the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Auburn and spent 2023 at Texas State, has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He threw for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Bobcats this past season, leading them to an 8-5 record and their first bowl victory. The 6-foot-7, 255-pound Finley passed for 941 yards and five touchdowns in five games as a true freshman at LSU in 2020.

He started five games in 2021 at Auburn amid injuries to Bo Nix, passing for 827 yards and six touchdowns with one interception. Finley started Auburn’s 2022 season opener vs. Mercer after Nix transferred to Oregon, but came off the bench behind Robby Ashford in the next three games before sitting out the rest of the season and taking a redshirt year.

He started all 13 games at Texas State this past season, but re-entered the portal last week after the Bobcats signed former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura. Western Kentucky, a member of Conference USA, opens the 2024 season at Alabama on Aug. 31 in a game that will mark Kalen DeBoer’s debut as Crimson Tide head coach.

Finley started the 2021 Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium, nearly leading Auburn to a massive upset of Alabama before the Tigers lost 24-22 in four overtimes. Western Kentucky is looking to replace two-year starter Austin Reed, who is out of eligibility after combining for 8,086 yards and 71 touchdowns passing for the Hilltoppers in 2022 and 2023. .