Former Auburn football QB looking to transfer to fourth team in five seasons

Former Texas State, LSU, and most notably, Auburn football quarterback TJ Finley will be looking for his fourth team in five seasons at the collegiate level, announcing on January 16 his intentions to enter the transfer portal.

"Texas State quarterback TJ Finley plans to enter the transfer portal, he tells On3," On3's Pete Nakos wrote. "As a grad transfer with two years of eligibility remaining, he was one of the top quarterbacks in the Group of Five this season."

Finley had the perhaps greatest season of any Texas State football player in school history; amassing 3,439 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions while leading the Bobcats to a 45-21 First Responder Bowl victory over Rice.

Finley feels like a Power Five quarterback, and there figures to be a school out there eager to give him a shot at winning their starting job. Ahead of the 2023 season, Ohio State had interest in Finley. Those from the Buckeye State would've likely preferred Finley to Kyle McCord, though it's unclear if Ohio State would still have interest after adding Kansas State's Will Howard.

Former Auburn football QB TJ Finley was expected to return to Texas State

A lot changed in the past two weeks for Finley, who appeared set to return to Texas State. Per G5 Football Daily, the quarterback had announced his return via social media.

"After guiding Texas State to an eight-win season and a victory in the First Responder Bowl, Bobcats quarterback T.J. Finley announced on X that he will return for another season in San Marcos," the site's staff wrote.

NIL money was likely the problem for Finley and Texas State, as it was with Quinshon Judkins at Ole Miss -- his offensive linemen were not happy making so little compared to the running back -- and across the country in countless other scenarios.