The UNC football program's offense was one of the worst in all of college football during the 2025 season, and a lot of the blame went toward offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and the brutal quarterback play from Gio Lopez and Max Johnson.
Kitchens was removed as the program's offensive coordinator, and Johnson already announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. Lopez, who certainly didn't live up to expectations in his first season at North Carolina, was a guy whose future in Chapel Hill was uncertain.
Well, now we have some clarity on the situation.
Gio Lopez expected to return
Pete Nakos of On3 confirmed that Lopez is expected to return to North Carolina for the 2026 season.
North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez is expected to return to Chapel Hill in 2026, sources tell @On3sports.https://t.co/E4Gzm0BupS pic.twitter.com/zbP1QiUtCi
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 23, 2025
Will Lopez be QB1?
During his first season at UNC, Lopez wasn't able to put up the type of numbers he did during his prior season at South Alabama.
The left-handed throwing quarterback threw for 1,747 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, as his playing time was impacted due to injury.
After suffering a gruesome-looking injury in the season finale, Lopez's health has not really been addressed by the program. While it should be expected that he'll compete for the starting quarterback job, it isn't a guarantee that he'll be handed the job outright. Expect Bill Belichick and the UNC football program's staff to bring in a transfer to compete for the gig.
Give Lopez credit
In today's college football landscape, Lopez could've easily decided to leave UNC after a rough first season on campus.
Let's face it: Lopez drew a lot of heat for the UNC football program's offensive inconsistencies (all of which weren't solely on him), as it's certain that he heard a lot of criticism from fans of the program.
However, Lopez isn't running away as others would. He seems to be fully committed to North Carolina and his goal of making a positive impact on the UNC football program, as you have to give him credit for sticking it out and trying to make the best of the situation at hand.