There's no denying how disappointing the 2025 UNC football season was, considering the immense preseason hype Bill Belichick brought ahead of his first year in charge.
North Carolina finished 4-8, only beating two Power Four programs in Syracuse and Stanford. Gio Lopez arrived from South Alabama, giving the Tar Heels a dual-threat quarterback that so many programs covet, but he largely struggled.
Now projected to start for Wake Forest, Lopez will likely run into UNC again at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte later this week.
Wake Forest takes the podium from 1-1:30 p.m., with Lopez joining new teammates Langston Hardy and Davaughn Patterson. Right after the Deacs? Belichick plus North Carolina players Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Christo Kelly and Jordan Shipp.
Lopez only completed four of 10 passes for 69 yards and an interception in his Tar Heel debut, a 48-14 blowout loss to TCU on Labor Day in Kenan Stadium. Lopez responded with a stronger second half of his lone season in Carolina Blue, compiling five consecutive games with 200 passing yards, but never became the consistent difference-maker UNC envisioned.