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The Charlotte defense is exactly what UNC needs to settle any QB debate

When the UNC Tar Heels face the Charlotte 49ers in Week 2, the debate between Max Johnson and Gio Lopez should officially be settled.
BySam Fariss|
Aug 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Max Johnson (14) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Aug 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Max Johnson (14) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. | Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Last week wasn't what Tar Heel Nation had in mind when they were looking forward to Bill Belichick's debut as the UNC football head coach.

With a 48-14 loss in their back pockets, the North Carolina Tar Heels are desperate to turn things around in Week 2 when they face the Charlotte 49ers.

While both teams are heading into the matchup with 0-1 records, Charlotte's defense is exactly what UNC needs to settle its biggest debate: which quarterback should be QB1?

In Week 1, Belichick played both Gio Lopez and Max Johnson, opting to give Lopez the nod as QB1 against the TCU Horned Frogs. However, Lopez completed just 40 percent of his pass attempts for a minimal 69 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception.

While Johnson didn't shatter any records once he entered the game, following an apparent injury suffered by Lopez, he did complete nearly 82 percent of his passes for 103 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions.

Which QB will start for UNC vs. Charlotte?

While Belichick has yet to announce if Johnson will supplant Lopez as the starting quarterback, the 49ers' defense should make it clear which QB is the better option.

In its season opener against the App State Mountaineers, Charlotte gave up a jaw-dropping 404 passing yards for three touchdowns. The 49ers' defensive secondary had just three pass deflections, and the team only earned one sack in the game.

Simply put, Charlotte's defense isn't anything to write home about. However, the lack of defensive dominance should give both Lopez and Johnson opportunities to restart their season on a clean slate, as well as allowing them to truly show off their skill sets on a level playing field.

As of now, the Tar Heels (led by Johnson and/or Lopez) are massive favorites to take down the 49ers, but a lot was expected of them in Week 1 as well. So, time will only tell which team will come out on top and which quarterback will sit atop the throne.

UNC and Charlotte are scheduled to play on Saturday, Sept. 6, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on ESPN+.

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