Report: UNC Starting QB Gio Lopez Will Enter Transfer Portal

According to Pete Nakos of On3 Sports, Gio Lopez, who started 11 of UNC’s 12 games at quarterback in 2025, will enter the transfer portal.

Lopez’s announcement comes just a day after Carolina reportedly received a commitment from former Maryland and Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards, Jr. out of the transfer portal. Before Edwards’ commitment, Lopez had reportedly been planning to return to Chapel Hill in 2026.

Lopez began his career at South Alabama and put together a productive season as the Jaguars’ starter in 2024, but his numbers dipped drastically after coming to Chapel Hill the next year. Lopez regressed in passing yards (2,559 to 1,747), passing touchdowns (18 to 10), yards per attempt (8.2 to 6.7), passer rating (150.8 to 130.2), rushing yards (463 to 133) and rushing touchdowns (7 to 3). The Tar Heels went just 4-7 in his 11 starts, with Lopez exiting three of those games prematurely due to injury.

UNC ranked 16th out of 17 ACC teams in passing offense in 2025 with just 184 yards per game. The Tar Heels were also 16th in scoring offense (19.3 points per game), while Lopez’s 160 passing yards per game ranked 16th out of all qualified ACC quarterbacks. His 10 passing touchdowns were the fewest among all ACC starters with at least 10 games played.

Lopez is the 25th Tar Heel who has entered his name into the transfer portal. For a full list of all the outgoing players, click here.

Featured image via Associated Press/Adrian Kraus

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