UNC dealt with ineffective quarterback play throughout its 2025 season, with Gio Lopez never getting comfortable in Bill Belichick's first offense.
Lopez didn't surpass 200 yards in a game until late October, when he threw for 208 yards in a 1-point overtime loss to Virginia. Transferring to ACC rival Wake Forest last offseason, Lopez left North Carolina with a hole at its most important position.
During the Tar Heels' 15-10 upset of TCU on Saturday to open its 2026 season, Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. quickly proved himself as a massive upgrade over Lopez.
On UNC's opening drive, Edwards completed passes of 20 and 35 yards to Jelani Thurman. North Carolina ended that drive with a field goal, but Edwards showcased a quick ability to remain
composed and read all his options, compared to getting tunnel vision and running when pass protection breaks down.
Edwards fared well in play-action, with a late RPO to help ice the win standing out. Edwards ran a couple times, but unlike Lopez, relied more on his arm to make big plays.
Billy Edwards is a MASSIVE upgrade over Gio Lopez at quarterback.#UNCFootball offense moved the football much more in the first half, out-gaining #TCU 197-160.#GoHeels #CollegeFootball #AerLingusCFBClassic
— Tar Heels Wire (@tarheelswire) August 29, 2026
Edwards ended his Saturday with 232 passing yards, completing 16 passes to seven different pass-catchers, with a game-high five to WR1 Jordan Shipp (71 yards). Lopez's 2025 season-best came during a Halloween win at Syracuse, when he reached 216 passing yards.
It took Edwards one game to surpass the 200-yard mark in 2026, something it took Lopez six games to do in 2025. Edwards entered Chapel Hill with four seasons of Power Four experience, while Lopez entered Chapel Hill not playing Power Four football before.
Edwards' next chance to shine comes Saturday, September 12 at 12 p.m. during the Tar Heels' home opener vs. ETSU. UNC got a massive quarterback upgrade for 2026, with Edwards showing just a few plays into Saturday's upset.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC showcases sizable QB upgrade during Saturday upset of TCU
