SAN MARCOS, Texas – After leading Texas State to a double-digit win on the road over Baylor to open the 2023 season, quarterback TJ Finley was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 3, the conference office announced on Monday.
 
Finley, a first-year transfer from Auburn, accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and was 22-of-30 for 298 yards passing in the 42-31 Texas State win on Saturday. He added 18 rushing yards to finish with 316 yards of total offense in his first career start as a Bobcat (12th career start overall).
 
A Ponchatoula, La. native, Finley had touchdown passes of 10, 26 and 27 yards to go with his 16-yard rushing touchdown as the Bobcats finished with 11 plays of 10 yards or more on the ground or 15 yards in the air.
 
Finley and the Bobcats powered Texas State to its first win over a "Power 5" program with the victory against Baylor. The Bobcats also scored their most points in a regulation road game since 2014.
 
Finley is the first Bobcat to win the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Week award since Tyler Vitt in November 2021.
 
Texas State will return to action on Saturday for the I-35 Rivalry matchup at UTSA (2:30 pm, ESPN+). It is the first meeting between the two schools since 2020.