Western Kentucky tabs TJ Finley as starter for season opener at Alabama

Former Auburn quarterback tj Finley will get one more shot at beating Alabama this season.

Finley, who played quarterback at Auburn from 2021-22, transferred to Western Kentucky during the offseason after spending the 2023 season at Texas State. Earlier this week, Hilltoppers head coach Tyson Helton named Finley the starting quarterback for their season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer shared his initial assessment of Finley after the announcement.

“He’s got a skill set that you can utilize in a number of different ways,” DeBoer said Monday. “And then, he’s a big son of a gun, so he’s a guy that can fall forward. And if he does, he’s going to go for three or four yards just getting downhill.”

Alabama offensive coordinator, Kane Wommack, played against Finley last season as the head coach of South Alabama. He provided a positive report on Finley following Texas State’s 52-44 win over the Jaguars, in which Finley passed for 368 yards.

“Really impressed with him a year ago,” Wommack said. “He’s got a really good release. He can make all throws. I thought he did a really good job of managing their offense really well. Took what was given early, but can work through a progression. And so, it’ll be interesting to see how Tyson (Helton) and their staff utilizes him.”

Finley, who is playing for his fourth collegiate program, takes over for Austin Reed as Western Kentucky’s top quarterback following a two-year stint that saw him pass for over 8,000 yards and 71 touchdowns. Finley departed Texas State in the offseason following the transfer of former James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud into the program. Finley passed for 3,287 yards and 24 touchdowns during his lone season in San Marcos.

In two previous games against Alabama, Finley has completed 57% of his passes (31-of-54) for 281 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

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