Auburn football: Who the starting QB is if the season started today

There’s room for things to change drastically between now and then for Auburn football, as well as the other 128 Division I FBS programs competing for, at minimum, a chance for a bowl game come holiday season 2022/23.

That said, the QB battle does appear to be set in stone. At least this spring ahead of A-Day.

T.J. Finley continues to hold the lead to be the starting signal-caller for the Tigers as they begin their quest for redemption in the Bryan Harsin era on September 3rd against Mercer in their 2022 opener.

Finley, the first QB to reach the Plains that Harsin recruited himself, would be the starter if the season started today. With a catch:

"The Tigers would likely go with T.J. Finley as the starting quarterback if the season started today. Of course, the season won’t begin until September, and it’s possible Texas A&M transfer Zac Calzada could win the job."

Zach Calzada is the wildcard in the Auburn football QB room

Holden Geriner’s time is still years away from coming. Robby Ashford doesn’t seem like the kind of guy Bryan Harsin would entrust the offense with from the jump due to his skillset.

Zach Calzada has done what Harsin hasn’t (beat Alabama) that will engrain him to the Plains forever. He also hasn’t caused heartbreak to a fanbase that has been let down in soul-crushing ways time and again across all sports.

Finley’s winless slate as a starter in 2021 will stick with fans, especially if the same mistakes–we’re talking dropping snaps and badly overthrowing–reoccur in his third SEC season. That said, it’s premature to talk about it now.

Finley came into collegiate sports at a wildly weird time, and is getting used to an entirely new culture in Alabama relative to his home town of Ruston, Louisiana. From all reports this spring, he has made improvements and is ready to lead.

But Calzada looms large as his potential replacement if he slips up.