UNC football names starting quarterback for first game under Bill Belichick
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- Bill Belichick named Gio Lopez UNC's starting quarterback for 2025 opener
- Lopez transferred from South Alabama and signed a two-year $4 million deal
- Lopez brings 2,557 yards, 18 TDs, and top-25 offensive ranking to UNC offense
UNC coach Bill Belichick announced Wednesday that South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez will be the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback when the team faces TCU for the season-opener on Monday.
Lopez committed to UNC in the spring portal window and signed, according to ESPN, a two-year $4 million contract.
“Gio has made a ton of progress,” Belichick said in a Wednesday press conference. “We’ve evaluated things through training camp, and, as now we get ready for TCU, he’ll be our starting quarterback.
“So we’ll give him the majority of reps in practice, and make sure that we get him as much preparation as possible… I feel very comfortable with him and what he’s doing,” Belichick continued. “He’ll get better as we go forward, because we just will. We have a lot of practices in front of us and a lot of games in front of us, and we’ll all learn a lot from those. So I think he’s ready, but I think he’ll be — like everybody — more ready as we go forward.”
The key words, “starting quarterback,” were mumbled so quietly that one reporter later had to clarify with Belichick that he had, in fact, named the starter.
“I thought we just did it,” Belichick responded, a roar of laughter ensuing.
Lopez, a 6-foot, 203-pound dual-threat quarterback is from Madison, Alabama. The redshirt sophomore started in 11 of South Alabama’s 13 games last season. He ranked top-25 nationally in average yards of total offense at 274.7 per game, and finished the season with 2,557 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The signal-caller flashed a wide grin as he spoke to reporters Wednesday afternoon about how he, like his teammates, learned the news earlier that day.
Lopez said his conversation with Belichick was “nothing too crazy.”
“He just kind of told me I looked good during fall camp,” Lopez said. “He told me that I’m gonna get the reins of the offense. I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
After Lopez’s talk with his head coach, the young quarterback immediately called his dad.
Lopez couldn’t contain his smile as he recalled their conversation.
“Calling my dad, it’s like, ‘Man, I’m going to be Coach Belichick’s first starting quarterback at college.’”
This is a developing story and will be updated
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM.