Former Tulane transfer quarterback TJ Finley has found a new home. The veteran signal-caller has committed to Georgia State, marking the sixth stop in what has been one of the more winding quarterback careers in recent college football memory.
Finley entered the transfer portal in April after a short stint at Tulane. Though he joined the Green Wave in December, he never took a snap for the program. His time there ended almost as quickly as it began, as he sought yet another opportunity to finish out his college career.
This move continues a remarkable journey for Finley, who began his career at LSU in 2020. As a true freshman during the COVID-shortened season, he was thrown into the spotlight, starting five games for the Tigers. He showed flashes of promise, completing 80-of-140 passes for 941 yards and five touchdowns, though he also threw five interceptions.
After one year in Baton Rouge, Finley transferred to Auburn, where he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Over two years with the Tigers, he appeared in 13 games with six starts, tallying 1,258 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions. Despite gaining SEC experience, he never quite locked down the starting role.
Seeking a fresh start, Finley headed to Texas State in 2023 — and it proved to be the breakout season of his career. As the Bobcats’ starter, he thrived, completing 67.4% of his passes for a program-record 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. His performance earned him All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention honors, as well as recognition on Phil Steele’s All-Sun Belt Fourth Team. For the first time, Finley looked like a quarterback who had truly found his footing.
Still, he chose to transfer once again after the 2023 season, this time to Western Kentucky. His run there was cut short, however, by injury. He started the Hilltoppers’ first three games of 2024, throwing for 490 yards and a touchdown, before being sidelined for the rest of the season.
Now, Georgia State offers yet another fresh start. The Panthers are in desperate need of stability at quarterback after their season-opening 63–7 loss to Ole Miss. In that game, quarterbacks Christian Veillieux and Cameran Brown combined for just 69 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception — numbers that underscore how badly the offense needs a spark.
For Finley, Georgia State represents both another chance and perhaps his final chapter in college football. He brings with him a wealth of experience across the SEC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA, as well as the mental toughness that comes with navigating constant transitions. If he can recapture the form he displayed at Texas State, he could immediately elevate the Panthers’ offense.
As of now, it’s unclear when Finley will make his debut in a Georgia State uniform. The Panthers are set to face Memphis on September 6 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and fans will be watching closely to see if Finley takes the field.
From LSU to Auburn, Texas State to Western Kentucky, and now Georgia State, TJ Finley’s journey has been anything but ordinary. But in a college football landscape defined by the transfer portal and NIL, his story might just be the ultimate example of a modern-day quarterback navigating free agency.
