Finley homecoming
T.J. Finley could be Auburn’s starting quarterback when he returns to Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
It seemed an improbable scenario with Bo Nix in his third season as Auburn’s starter and Finley the backup after transferring from LSU, but things changed drastically last week when Auburn needed a late rally to beat Georgia State 34-24.
With Nix struggling in the passing game, Auburn Coach Bryan Harsin replaced him with Finley, who then led a gamewinning, 98-yard drive capped by his 10-yard touchdown pass to Shedrick Jackson with 45 seconds left and a two-point conversion that put the Tigers ahead 27-24.
Smoke Monday then had a 36-yard interception return for the final 10-point margin.
“It’s my homecoming, and I look forward to it,” Finley said about the Auburn-LSU game according to Al.com. “I just can’t wait to enjoy 100,000 in Tiger Stadium, and whether I’m starting or not, I just want to be part of the team and help the team win in any way possible.”
Harsin hasn’t named a starter and doesn’t figure to tip his hand before the LSU game.
Finley, a sophomore, started five games for LSU last season and passed for 941 yards and five touchdowns. He was 2-3 in his starts with victories over South Carolina and Arkansas.
Max Johnson took over as LSU starter late in the season and Finley decided to transfer.
“T.J. came in there and what a tremendous job he did to win the game,” LSU Coach Ed Orgeron said of Finley’s play against Georgia State. “Made some tremendous plays. As we know, T.J. is a great young man, great young quarterback. He looks like he’s having a lot of success there and we’re happy for him.”
During Orgeron’s Monday news conference, he recalled Finley’s transfer decision.
“First of all, T.J. came and talked to me like a man in my office,” Orgeron said. “He didn’t want to leave, he was crying. LSU meant a lot to him and I knew that, but it was a decision that was made that was best for him and so he left.
“He looks like he’s doing well so we wish him the best, not obviously against us, but hey, T.J.’s always going to be a part of our family.”