By Lorenzo J Reyna
North Carolina football will run out of the Kenan Memorial Stadium tunnel for its most scrutinized season ever. Bill Belichick now leads the Tar Heels out.
The legendary head coach and eight-time Super Bowl winner stunned the world by accepting UNC鈥檚 position. Giving the CFB realm a try. Belichick already has delivered rough and high moments.
The former involves his widely publicized relationship with Jordon Hudson. With a disastrous CBS Morning News interview involving her.
But the high moments involve the college football recruiting wins he鈥檚 gathered. Including recently grabbing ex-Alabama commit Jamarrion Gordon. He鈥檚 put together the nation鈥檚 18th ranked 2026 class per 247Sports.
Yet how many wins can Belichick鈥檚 first Heels team collect? Time for some way-too-early bold predictions. Starting with who we believe becomes Belichick鈥檚 opening day starting quarterback.
Gio Lopez will handle North Carolina QB1 duties early
漏 Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Belichick brings experience and a past 3,000-yard passer into Chapel Hill. Gio Lopez arrives via South Alabama, choosing UNC back on April 17.
This rules out returner Max Johnson for the opener against TCU. Johnson鈥檚 health is still too be determined. That鈥檚 why Lopez earns the nod.
Johnson is coming back from a severe leg injury that wiped out his 2024 campaign. Belichick shared a promising update on Johnson, though, in June. The 鈥24 opening day starter is further along his rehab.
Lopez, though, brings two advantages that point to him handling the bulk of the starting duties. He鈥檚 a dual-threat passer who opens up the offense constructed by Freddie Kitchens. Plus, he鈥檚 realistically Belichick鈥檚 first QB arrival 鈥 giving him the potential to lead his team right away.
Belichick also likely doesn鈥檛 want to chance Johnson鈥檚 leg right off the bat against the Horned Frogs. But this leads to the next prediction.
Belichick will have an early QB dilemma
漏 Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Johnson is fighting tooth and nail to return to the huddle. The sixth-year senior won鈥檛 want to spend his entire comeback journey on the sidelines.
UNC finds itself in a QB battle early. Something Belichick seen before during his New England Patriots days post Tom Brady.
Belichick likely uses the first four games to gain a feel of who leads this offense. Or turns to the UCF road contest to name his permanent starter.
Regardless, he must decide before Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson pulls into Chapel Hill.
Heavy dose of this North Carolina playmaker is needed
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The incoming head coach would鈥檝e loved turning to Omarion Hampton. But he opted for the 2025 NFL Draft.
UNC opens up backfield competition for the fall. The rest of the skills group present multiple new faces. All three leading wideouts are off to the league.
Javarius Green will need to grow fast under Belichick for this offense. The freshman is already a contender for kickoff return duties. Belichick is familiar with his father Willie 鈥 who played for the Denver Broncos鈥 back-to-back title teams of the late 1990s.
UNC needs his speed to excite a curious fan base on how Belichick鈥檚 first team will fare.
Belichick gets rough intro into college football
漏 Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The CBS interview looks like a prelude of things to come on Belichick鈥檚 side.
It鈥檚 not just his coaching style for CFB kids that鈥檒l get closely monitored. But his composure too, amid all the distractions and criticism surrounding him.
He and UNC must know fan bases will attempt to get into his head. Likely way worse than 鈥淏ills Mafia鈥 and the New York Jets home crowd. He鈥檒l especially see memes and signs created for Hudson to distract him. Outside of his polarizing relationship, Belichick must figure out his QB immediately.
Fortunately the three toughest games of TCU, Clemson and Duke are in Chapel Hill. But fans will turn on Belichick quick if Charlotte and Richmond stun the 鈥楬eels. Five wins is the ceiling here for his first Tar Heels team.