Former UNC QB Gio Lopez lands at a rival ACC school via transfer portal
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Gio Lopez left UNC via portal and signed with Wake Forest for next season.
- Lopez started 11 games in 2025, threw 1,747 yards, 10 TDs and rushed 133 yards.
- Lopez won't face UNC next season; ACC nine-game schedule omits Wake.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez has landed with the Demon Deacons.
After multiple reports, including from On3 and CBS, stated Monday afternoon that Lopez intended to enter the portal, he was quickly picked up in the portal, with Wake Forest announcing on Wednesday night they had signed the lefty for the upcoming season.
About two weeks earlier, had Lopez announced through his agent that he planned to return to North Carolina. The Tar Heels have added transfer quarterbacks Billy Edwards and Miles O’Neill for next season.
A South Alabama transfer, Lopez started 11 games for the Tar Heels in 2025. He completed 65.1% of his passes for 1,747 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added 133 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns on 83 carries.
He played at South Alabama in 2023 and 2024. As a starter in 2024, he threw for 2,559 yards and completed 66% of his throws. He threw 18 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
Lopez will not have a chance to play against UNC in the regular season next fall, however. With the ACC transitioning to a nine-game conference schedule, Wake Forest and UNC are not scheduled to play.
When Wake and UNC played last season, Lopez completed 21 of 36 passes for 201 yards in a 28-12 Demon Deacons’ win on Nov. 15.
Next season at Wake, Lopez is lined up to replace Robby Ashford, who completed his eligibility by quarterbacking the Demon Deacons to a 9-4 record in coach Jake Dickert’s first season. Ashford was named the Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP after throwing for 303 yards and three touchdowns in Wake’s 43-29 win over Mississippi State at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium last Friday.
