Baylor names Dequan Finn starting quarterback

Baylor has named Dequan Finn its starting quarterback for its Week 1 matchup against Tarleton State, per On3’s Pete Nakos. Finn transferred to Baylor this offseason after a standout 2023 campaign at Toledo.

Finn led the Rockets to the MAC Championship Game last season, where Toledo fell to Miami (OH) in a heated battle. Over the course of the 2023 season, he amassed 2,657 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Finn’s arm wasn’t his only threat. He also added 563 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns on 123 carries. In five seasons at Toledo, Finn accounted for 88 total touchdowns. Finn was the No. 13 quarterback available in the transfer portal, according to On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

Finn’s main competition for the QB1 title was redshirt junior Sawyer Robertson, who made four starts for the Bears last season. Last week, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda revealed how tight the battle for the starting spot was.

“It’s a close competition; guys are battling,” Aranda said. “The things that Sawyer [Robertson] did today were the leadership and the poise in the pocket. There are times when Sawyer’s back there and there’s a nervous energy about him.

“Today, he was really calm and poised and made some throws where he stepped into it; it was impressive. [Finn] was able to see edge pressure and get us out of it and get us into something else, and that was good to see him do that.”

Evidently, Finn narrowly edged out his competition. The veteran QB will face immense pressure to succeed. Baylor went 3-9 last season and posted a 2-7 mark in conference play.

On3’s Cody Bellaire explained earlier this month why he believes Finn could have an excellent season at Baylor.

“The have been three really good quarterbacks who have played for Baylor, that have gone on now to be potential starters or current starters at other schools at the Power Four level,” Bellaire pointed out, in reference to Blake Shapen (Mississippi State), Kyron Drones (Virginia Tech) and Gerry Bohannon (BYU). 

“I still think Dequan Finn might be the best one of the bunch,” Bellaire added. “To your point Andy, is he good enough to save Aranda’s job? I want to say maybe, he just might be.”

Finn will make his debut for the Bears when they square off against Tarleton State at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.