WKU Football quarterback TJ Finley has been named to the 2024 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Davey O’Brien Foundation on Thursday.
The Davey O’Brien Award, recognized as the nation’s oldest and most prestigious quarterback honor, is awarded annually to the best college quarterback in the country. This year’s watch list includes 36 of the top returning quarterbacks in college football, selected based on past Division I performance and expectations for the 2024 season. Finley, entering his first season at WKU, is one of two Conference USA players on the list.
Finley arrives at WKU after stints at Texas State, Auburn, and LSU. During the 2023 season with Texas State, he earned multiple accolades, including All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention and spots on the Manning Award Watch List and Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List. He was also named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week after leading Texas State to a victory over Baylor in Week 1, and he received two Manning Award Star of the Week honors and a Davey O’Brien Great 8 selection.
In 2023, Finley threw for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns with just eight interceptions, completing 279-of-414 passes while starting all 13 games. He also added 81 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His performance set a Texas State program record for passing yards in a season and ranked him among the nation’s top quarterbacks in several categories, including 17th in passing yards, 23rd in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns, and 16th in completion percentage. He led Texas State to the 15th-best offense in the country and the program’s first-ever win over a Power Five team, as well as their first bowl victory.
Before Texas State, Finley spent three seasons at LSU and Auburn, where he started 11 games and appeared in 18. He threw for 2,199 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding two rushing scores.
This summer, Finley has also been named to the Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist, the Maxwell Award Watch List, and the Walter Camp 2024 Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Oct. 22, followed by the announcement of the 35-player Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2024 on Oct. 29. Fan voting will play a role in selecting semifinalists, finalists, and the eventual winner, who will be announced live on ESPN on Dec. 12 during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
WKU will kick off the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, with a 6 p.m. CT game at Alabama. The Hilltoppers’ home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m. CT against Eastern Kentucky, followed by the start of CUSA play at Middle Tennessee on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. CT.
