North Carolina names starting quarterback for TCU game

The North Carolina football program has announced its starting quarterback to open the 2026 college football season.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, UNC has named Billy Edwards Jr. its starting quarterback after he beat out Miles O’Neill. Edwards Jr. will start for UNC in its season opener against TCU, which will take place in Ireland on Aug. 29.

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Where Edwards Jr. transferred from

Edwards Jr. transferred to North Carolina from Wisconsin after the 2025 season. He was Wisconsin’s starter to open the 2025 season, but only appeared in two games due to injury, finishing with 113 passing yards.

Before that, he spent three seasons at Maryland and was the program’s starting quarterback in 2024, when he finished with 2,881 yards through the air, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

The Bill Belichick era

This will be Belichick’s second season as the Tar Heels’ head coach after finishing the 2025 season with a 4-8 record.

It was a really disappointing season for the Tar Heels, but they hope to have a much better year in 2026 after making a splash by hiring Belichick before the 2025 season.

Kickoff for the Tar Heels’ game against the TCU Horned Frogs is set for noon ET on ESPN.

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