Auburn QB battle: T.J. Finley earns starting job over Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada

When Auburn opens the season against Mercer on Saturday, junior T.J. Finley will start at quarterback for the Tigers, according to media reports. Finley beat Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada for the job in preseason practices after appearing in nine games for Auburn last season while backing up Bo Nix, who transferred to Oregon last December.

A former three-star prospect in the Class of 2020, Finley began his career at LSU, appearing in five games as a true freshman in 2020, before joining Auburn last season and logging significant playing time. While he initially served as a reliever and change-of-pace option behind Nix, Finley took over starting duties in November once it was learned that Nix needed ankle surgery.

In starts against South Carolina, Alabama and Houston, Finley completed 55.8% of his passes for 552 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Though Auburn lost all three games, Finley was under center for the Tigers’ near-upset of Alabama on Nov. 27.

Finley is the only scholarship quarterback with experience in an Auburn uniform on the roster, but Calzada’s track record as Texas A&M’s starter in the 2021 season made him a legitimate option entering preseason practices. Oregon transfer Robby Ashford, an Alabama native, and four-star true freshman Holden Geriner have also been part of the quarterback equation for Auburn in the preseason.

Here are the takeaways from the announcement as Finley prepares to lead the Auburn offense in a critical 2022 season for the Tigers and Harsin.

Calzada’s injury

Due to an offseason surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, Calzada could not fully participate in Auburn’s spring practice session after transferring from Texas A&M. Still, the former three-star prospect was expected to mount a formidable challenge for the starting job this month.

However, reports from Auburn practice sessions open to media have revealed that Ashford has frequently been seen taking second-team reps behind Finley. While that may come as a surprise to some who remember Calzada’s heroic effort in the Aggies’ upset win over then-No. 1 Alabama last season, it was only because of an injury to Haynes King last season that Calzada assumed the starting job at Texas A&M.

If King had been healthy, Calzada would likely have been relegated to backup duties with the Aggies as well. Though he filled in admirably during an 8-4 campaign for Texas A&M last season,…