Gio Lopez discusses being named the UNC football program's starting quarterback

Lopez seems more than ready for this new challenge of leading the Tar Heels offense this season.
UNC quarterback Gio Lopez will start for the Tar Heels in Week 1 against TCU.
UNC quarterback Gio Lopez will start for the Tar Heels in Week 1 against TCU. | Rodd Baxley/The Fayetteville Observer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gio Lopez- QB1.

It's official: Lopez has won the UNC football program's starting quarterback job. He will be under-center when the Tar Heels host TCU on Monday night to kick off the 2025 season.

Bill Belichick confirmed the news on Wednesday afternoon during his media session, noting that his starting quarterback has made a "ton of progress" since arriving in Chapel Hill. Now, Lopez will be tasked with being the first quarterback of the Belichick era, a title that he definitely won't take lightly.

Lopez spoke to the media shortly after Belichick's session, breaking down his thought process when he was told the big news:

“I’m super thankful for the opportunity. Coach told me a little bit before, but nothing too crazy. Just kind of told me I looked good during the fall camp, and told me that I’m gonna take the reins of the offense. Just thankful for the opportunity.

Talking to my dad, it’s like, ‘Man, you’re gonna be Coach Belichick’s first starting quarterback in college.’”

Lopez seems to have become a leader in the locker room as well. Jordan Shipp, a player that has worked closely with him since his arrival to campus, told a funny story about how Lopez earned a nickname "Magic Johnson" for his ability to improvise and make difficult passes seem easy.

Fans of the UNC football program are excited to see what Lopez can do, especially considering what he accomplished a season ago at South Alabama. Now with a legendary head coach and a new-look roster around him, Lopez is officially the guy who will be leading the offense, a unit that aims to score a lot of points this upcoming season.

Monday night's game should give us all an early glimpse of what we can expect from Gio Lopez and the Tar Heels throughout the 2025 season (hopefully Lopez makes some of these improvised plays that have impressed his teammates during training camp!).