Neither the LSU football team nor TJ Finley himself wanted to see a Tigers QB searching for a new college football home.
Finley participated in LSU's spring game, part of what Tigers coach Ed Orgeron at the time said to be a four-way competition along with freshman Garrett Nussmeier, sophomore Max Johnson and junior Myles Brennan.
Johnson and Brennan emerged as the clear front-runner in that game. There were tears in the Ponchatoula native's eyes when he walked into Orgeron's office to let him know he'd be entering the NCAA transfer portal, the coach said.

"LSU meant a lot to him, I knew that. It was a decision that was made that was best for him, so he left. He looks like he’s doing well," Orgeron said while previewing the matchup this week. "So, hey, we wish him the best, not obviously against us. TJ’s always going to be a part of our family."
Finley ultimately remained a Tiger while landing at another Southeastern Conference program in Auburn, taking center stage with a wild comeback and desperation touchdown on a 4th-down play to stave off a massive Georgia State upset following the benching of starter Bo Nix.
After a broken arm ended the Brennan-Johnson QB battle before it began, LSU's sophomore has led the Tigers to three straight wins after an opening loss to UCLA. But things had every opportunity to play out differently. It was Finley who won an initial battle between himself and Johnson to step in for an injured Brennan in the 2020 season. He led an inspired victory over South Carolina in his first start, but struggled in the next few games. One of those starts came in a 48-11 loss to the Auburn team he now plays for.
Finley eventually gave way to Johnson, who led an upset victory over Florida and set records in the finale victory over Ole Miss. It's the second time in three weeks LSU's coach will go against a quarterback he knows very well, two weeks ago matching up with his son, Cody, the starting QB for McNeese State.
“Listen, my son’s a quarterback," Orgeron said. "I understand. Only one can play. It’s tough. You have a lot of great young men and sometimes the competition is [really tight.]."
While a reunion is guaranteed, a faceoff is not. Despite Nix's benching and Finley's performance, Auburn coach Bryan Harsin wouldn't commit to a starter as of Monday. There doesn't appear to be much of an incentive for him to do so -- at least publicly -- until the last possible moment, leaving LSU in the precarious situation of having to prepare for multiple quarterbacks.
Fortunately for LSU, they've already matched up with Nix as a starter twice. And, for obvious reasons, they're pretty familiar with Finley should he get the starting nod in Tiger Stadium this weekend.
“You just have to have a plan. ... Obviously we know very well how TJ throws the ball, which is excellent. He has a cannon for an arm," Orgeron said. "And we know Bo’s throwing style. So I think it’s more or less what type of passing game they’re going to have with both of those guys. I think that’s the big difference.”