After winning two straight games, North Carolina went to Orlando looking to secure its first Power Four victory over UCF. But the Tar Heels offense struggled, including starting quarterback Gio Lopez.
Matters got worse for Lopez, who left the game in the third quarter with a right leg injury. He was brought to the medical tent and, after evaluation, was placed on a cart. With a towel draped over his head, Lopez was taken to the North Carolina locker room.
Senior quarterback Max Johnson replaced Lopez for the Tar Heels. Here are the latest updates on North Carolina’s signal caller and his status.
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Gio Lopez injury update
In the third quarter of the Tar Heels' game against UCF, Lopez injured his right leg after converting a fourth down on a one-yard run. He left the game and went straight to the medical tent.
At the tent, Lopez was picked up by a cart, with a towel draped over his head. The Carolina quarterback was unable to put any pressure on his leg.
This is Gio Lopez in the passenger seat. Head down with a towel draped over him. Doesn’t look good for #UNC’s starter. pic.twitter.com/gVzFa0O0Fy
— Noah Weiskopf (@NoahWeiskopf) September 20, 2025
Lopez was 11-for-14 for 87 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions before exiting the game Saturday.
Gio Lopez has been transported from the medical tent to the locker room via a golf cart. The quarterback was unable to put any weight on his left leg and buried his towel-draped head in his hands, once he sat down in the cart.
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) September 20, 2025
Lopez left the game with 6:34 remaining in the 3rd…
The quarterback has had a rough start to the 2025 season, which included him exiting the team's opening game against TCU in the third quarter with a back injury. He returned to play in the Tar Heels' wins against Charlotte and Richmond.
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Who is UNC's backup quarterback?
Carolina's backup quarterback is Max Johnson, who transferred to the Tar Heels in 2024. In his first start for North Carolina, Johnson suffered a broken leg that sidelined him for the entire season — an injury so severe he nearly lost the leg.
He returned this season but lost the quarterback battle to Gio Lopez. This is his second appearance of the year after also relieving Lopez against TCU.
It produced one of college football's best moments from Week 1, when Johnson’s first touchdown pass went to his brother, Jake.
A year after nearly losing his leg, Max Johnson threw a touchdown pass to his brother Jake
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 2, 2025
This is what it’s all about
pic.twitter.com/dCRJj50TYT
Before he came to Carolina, Johnson started games for LSU in 2020 and 2021 and Texas A&M in 2022 and 2023. He threw for over 5,900 yards and 47 touchdowns in four seasons before transferring to the Tar Heels.
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