Auburn football: TJ Finley talks facing his former LSU teammates

Auburn football does not have an official QB1 heading into Saturday’s game versus the LSU Tigers, but according to LSU transfer TJ Finley both he and Nix are prepared to play. The Tigers hit the road this weekend for their first SEC matchup amid a quarterback controversy that more or less exploded last weekend when Nix exited the Georgia State game and Finley led Auburn to a tough victory.

Though first-year head coach Bryan Harsin has been very secretive about who he plans to start this weekend, everyone has their own opinion. Many think that Nix came out of the game due to some sort of shoulder injury and think he deserves another chance at QB1. After all, this is Nix’s third year as the starter and he has played in Death Valley before.

However, many others think that Nix has had plenty of time for improvement and it’s Finley’s turn to take the wheel. Those that support Finley believe he is the best chance for Auburn football to actually win games. It is widely believed that was Auburn facing any other opponent but LSU this weekend Finley would get the start, but it’s not an easy thing to get your first career start in orange and blue versus the defense that used to be your teammates.

According to Finley, he’s ready to play in Tiger Stadium again whether he is the starter or the backup. For him, there are few disadvantages to playing against his former teammates due to the experience he’s garnered on the Plains, per Nathan King:

"“I’m a more experienced quarterback, so it’s harder to put the pieces together for them,” Finley said. “I’m a year older and I know a lot more than I did last year.”"

LSU’s defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is new to the Bayou this season, but Finley believes he still has a pretty good idea of how the LSU Tigers will be preparing:

"“I know their tendencies, I know what they like to do, I know how they do it,” Finley said. “I was around Daronte Jones when he came in. I know a little bit of his defense and he wants to run, mainly.”"

Finley has also said that he and Nix are supporting each other and are both doing their best to put the team in the best position to win. According to Finley, whether or not this is his chance to start for the Tigers, his plan is to stay ready.