The North Carolina Tar Heels have officially named their starting QB for 2025. After the team literally cycled through options following Drake Maye's departure for the NFL, Bill Belichick reportedly handpicked Gio Lopez from South Alabama to come in via the transfer portal.
He had to win the job, though, and it took some time, but Lopez was officially named the starter for Belichick's first-ever college season on Wednesday. He had 25 total touchdowns last season before transferring after spring ball.
The UNC Tar Heels have had a surprising amount of strong college QBs over the last few years with Mitch Trubisky and then, a bit later, Sam Howell followed up by Drake Maye. Maye ended up as the third overall pick in the NFL draft in 2024.
But after that, it was no man's land. The Tar Heels paired those QBs with awful defenses, but that's something Belichick should be able to fix. What he was going to have a harder time with was nailing the QB since UNC didn't really have one.
However, in finding perhaps a diamond in the rough in the portal, the legendary coach might've nailed that position, too. It could be the saving grace for Belichick's first year in college.