UNC QB depth chart: How Gio Lopez beat out Max Johnson as Bill Belichick's starting quarterback in 2025

In football, few things are more important than the relationship between a head coach and his starting quarterback.

As the North Carolina Tar Heels begin their first season under legendary head coach Bill Belichick, that coach-QB relationship is a unique one, as the six-time Super Bowl champion coach once worked with one of the greatest to play the position. Now, Belichick will attempt to forge that level of relationship with Gio Lopez, the redshirt sophomore that has been named QB1 for UNC this season.

Lopez was a big get for the Heels out of the transfer portal this spring, and he'll officially begin his career in Carolina Blue when his team hosts TCU to close out Week 1 of the college football season on Sept. 1. 

Here's everything to know about the QB battle in Chapel Hill, N.C., and why Lopez ended up on top.

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UNC QB depth chart

The Tar Heels carry six quarterbacks on their roster, with three of note in the battle to be named the starter. Ultimately, Lopez earned the nod, beating out Bryce Baker and Max Johnson.

Lopez is a dual-threat QB who is listed at 6 feet and 203 pounds. His style of play will have a great influence on UNC's playbook under offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens.

In early August, Kitchens had this to say of Lopez: "Well, Gio, you know, he was a good football player at the University of South Alabama, and made a lot of big-time plays for them. They were successful as a team.

"Ultimately, you know, the quarterback is a lot like the head coach. You know, he gets blamed and credited for a lot of things. … He was successful at Alabama and made plays, got the ball to guys that could make plays. And that's everything you look for in a quarterback."

1. Gio Lopez

Lopez is a redshirt sophomore from Madison, Ala. He joined the Tar Heels after spending the first two years of his college career at South Alabama.

Lopez finished with 2,559 yards in the air and 18 passing touchdowns to just five interceptions in his one season as the Jaguars' starter. He also ran for 465 yards and added seven touchdowns.

Lopez was one of the top QBs in the spring transfer portal and joined UNC on a reported two-year, $4 million contract. Per ESPN, Lopez was in discussion with Georgia and LSU with a chance to earn a starting spot in 2026, but Belichick and the Heels offered an opportunity to start right away.

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2. Max Johnson

Johnson is a sixth-year senior who has also made stops at LSU and Texas A&M during his college career. He's the son of Super Bowl-winning QB Brad Johnson. His brother, Jeff, is a tight end on this year's Carolina team.

Johnson has played sparingly throughout his college career, with his most notable season coming as a sophomore at LSU in 2021. That year, he appeared in 12 games and completed 225 of 373 pass attempts for 2,814 yards and 27 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. He appeared in only one game for UNC in 2024.

3. Bryce Baker

Baker is a freshman from Kernersville, N.C., and was a four-star prospect in the high school class of 2025.

As a recruit, Baker was the fifth-ranked prospect in the state of North Carolina and the 12th-best QB in the nation, per 247Sports. The 6-foot-3 signal-caller chose UNC over offers from Florida, Louisville, Maryland, Penn State and Wake Forest, among others. 

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Gio Lopez stats

Lopez has compiled impressive stats through his first two seasons of college football.

His seven rushing touchdowns in the 2024 season were tied for 11th in the Sun Belt Conference, while he also had the second-highest completion percentage in the conference at 66.0 percent.