LSU Football: QB TJ Finley trending toward rival SEC program

Earlier this month, LSU football quarterback TJ Finley entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.

The move didn’t come as much of a surprise.

LSU had four quarterbacks battling for the starting job during spring practice. It was inevitable that at least one of those quarterbacks would hit the portal.

Now that Finley is on his way out of Baton Rouge, the big question is where will the Louisiana native land?

Finley made it clear last week that he’d prefer to stay in the SEC.

“If I can go to another SEC school, I think that will help me in the NFL draft when a coach is looking at my stats,” said Finley during an appearance on the Jordy Culotta Show.

LSU football could lose TJ Finley to an SEC West rival

It appears that Finley could end up playing for one of LSU’s biggest rivals.

The former three-star recruit told 247Sports’ Keith Niebuhr this week that he’s been in constant communication with Auburn.

Bo Nix is expected to start for Auburn in 2021, but Finley believes he can compete for the starting job.

“There is an opportunity there,” said Finley. “A lot of people in the organization there since the new staff got there believe I can come in and compete for the starting job.”

“It ain’t like me going there to be a backup,” added Finley.

Finley is expected to make a decision within the next two weeks. He’s also had communication with Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ohio State, and Penn State.

LSU hosts Auburn on October 2. It would certainly be odd to see Finley on the Auburn sideline after he started five games for LSU in 2020.

But that’s something fans should probably get used to seeing. We’re going to see a lot more situations like this in the coming years in college football, thanks to relaxed transfer rules.