LSU Football: TJ Finley is heading to the Auburn Tigers

Former LSU football quarterback TJ Finley announced on Monday that he’s transferring to the Auburn Tigers (via Twitter).

Finley, a former three-star recruit from Ponchatoula, LA, signed with LSU during the 2020 recruiting cycle.

The 6-foot-6 quarterback started five games for LSU as a true freshman last season after starter Myles Brennan was sidelined due to an abdomen injury.

Finley passed for 941 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions in those five games.

LSU’s record in Finley’s starts was 2-3. True freshman Max Johnson started the final two games of the season and led LSU to big wins over Florida and Ole Miss.

Why did TJ Finley leave LSU football?

It was inevitable that LSU would lose a quarterback this offseason, thanks to a four-man quarterback battle that didn’t have a clear leader.

Finley always seemed like the most obvious choice to leave. Redshirt senior Myles Brennan and Johnson appear to be the front runners in this battle. Neither of them are just going to give up on the opportunity to start at LSU.

And true freshman Garrett Nussmeier, who could be the most talented quarterback on the roster, has a bright future ahead of him in Baton Rouge.

Finley was the odd man out. Transferring now allows Finley to find a new home and compete for the starting job at Auburn this fall.

The only hold-up for Finley could be the SEC’s intraconference transfer rule.

However, that’s expected to be resolved this summer. And the expectation is that intraconference transfers will be allowed to play immediately.

Auburn and LSU will play in Baton Rouge on October 2. That game will be a lot more interesting if Finley is starting for Auburn.