TJ Finley not traveling with Auburn to Mississippi State

When Auburn arrives at Mississippi State this week, it will be without TJ Finley. He won’t make the trip to Starkville for the game, Auburn Live’s Justin Hokanson first reported Friday.

Finley’s future at Auburn is also up in the air. Auburn Live has more on the situation here.

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Finley started Auburn’s first two games of the season, but went down with a shoulder injury against Penn State and returned against Ole Miss Oct. 15. Last week against Arkansas, Robby Ashford got the start at quarterback.

In four games this season, Finley has thrown for 431 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions while also contributing 33 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Last year, Finley took over for Bo Nix as the starting quarterback after Nix’s injury, throwing for 827 yards and six touchdowns in his first season after transferring from LSU.

Auburn fired Harsin earlier this week after a 3-5 start to the year, just before naming Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen as the new AD. Running backs coach and former Tigers great Carnell “Cadillac” Williams is taking over as interim head coach and will make his debut during Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs.

Cadillac Williams shares how Auburn staff found out about Bryan Harsin firing, interim tag

Monday was a whirlwind day for Auburn. The Tigers not only were in the process of hiring a new athletic director, but also fired football coach Bryan Harsin and named Carnell “Cadillac” Williams as the interim.

Auburn sent out a press release announcing Harsin’s firing around noon CT Oct. 31. Based on the timeline Williams provided Wednesday, that was shortly after the staff found out. Once the staff found out about the decision, Williams met with interim athletic director Rich McGlynn, who informed him about the decision to name him the interim head coach.

“We found out probably around 11:30,” Williams said. “Then, everything kind of hit the fan from there. Yeah, around 11:30 … the staff and I found out.”