North Carolina’s quarterback situation continues to get more clarity, as the Tar Heels landed Billy Edwards Jr. out of the transfer portal.
Despite adding an experienced option, UNC still plans to give Gio Lopez a real chance to win the starting job, a decision that raises questions about the program’s direction under Bill Belichick. I don’t understand why or how UNC could put him under center next season, unless he looks like Tom Brady in camp.
However, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Lopez remains very much in the mix.
“Gio Lopez, who started 11 games after transferring from South Alabama, is expected to return and compete for North Carolina’s starting job,” Schlabach wrote. “Au’Tori Newkirk is also expected back after attempting six passes in 2025. Quarterback Bryce Baker, the jewel of Belichick’s first recruiting class, and senior Max Johnson have entered the transfer portal. The Tar Heels also signed incoming freshman Travis Burgess of Loganville, Georgia, ESPN’s No. 9-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2026.”
On the one hand, bringing in Edwards suggests that UNC wanted experience and someone who could run this offense.
On the other hand, keeping Lopez squarely in the competition signals that UNC isn’t ready to move on from what he showed last season.
That’s where the questions start. I believe a lot of this has to do with the money he’s received and in a sense, that’s fair.
Still, why keep him if we know what the outlook will look like?
Part of it may be familiarity. Lopez knows the offense, has taken snaps, and gives Belichick an option if things don’t go right for Edwards.
There’s value in that, especially during a weird part of the program.
However, there’s also a sense that UNC is being scared, not fully committing to Edwards, and not doing what’s best for the program.
Belichick is prioritizing competition, and we all knew he would do that.
Either way, the decision to keep giving Lopez chances makes me worried for 2026 and we aren’t even a week into the new year yet. Everything will unfold the way it has to over the next few months.