Taking a Saturday off from covering Auburn football back in 2021, I was at a friend’s daughter’s wedding in Montgomery, watching the ending of the Tigers’ game against Georgia State. Unbelievably, Auburn was a 4th-down conversion away from losing to the Panthers in Bryan Harsin’s first season.
Bo Nix had struggled all game, eventually being replaced at quarterback. The quarterback led Auburn down the field, finding a receiver open for a touchdown on 4th down to end the upset threat.
That quarterback, T.J. Finley, is still looking to play college football again in 2026.
Death. Taxes. TJ Finely has entered the transfer portal. pic.twitter.com/kuPFKAgoHX
— Patrick Bingham (@PatrickABingham) December 15, 2025
Ironically enough, Finiely spent his (let’s count them together) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, SIXTH season of college football with the Panthers in Atlanta, appearing in seven games while completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 1,244 yards and six touchdowns to seven interceptions.
TJ Finley seeking his sixth school in seven seasons
Basically, it was the same Finley that fans had seen at previous stops at LSU, Auburn, Texas State and Western Kentucky. This matches up in ridiculousness with Cameron Rising at Utah or, let’s say, Chad Baker-Mazara still playing basketball all these years later. Except those two are, shall we say, valuable to a team, not another quarterback looking for greener pastures when all of the sod has been worn out.
Granted, we are used to seeing this in college athletics now, as players are seen more as employees than student-athletes. Luke Deal spent six seasons at Auburn, providing the Tigers with needed blocking and leadership. Brandon Frazier, also a 2020 recruit like Finley, was on Auburn’s roster this season at tight end.
No longer is four-and-out a thing. In fact, it seems players are either one-and-out or playing college ball for closer to a decade. With all of the mismanagement by the NCAA, players (and more importantly, their agents) have learned how to take advantage of the system.
Maybe what Finley needs after six years is a seventh year to break out. I doubt it, but crazier things have happened. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to see if I have any eligibility left at the ripe age of 44.