A Fresh Start After a Tough Season

Former UNC quarterback Gio Lopez says the football program under Bill Belichick felt suffocating. He transferred to rival Wake Forest for the next season and said he feels “fun again” there. Lopez, who threw 1, 747 yards and ten touchdowns in eleven games last year, called Chapel Hill a place that felt like “work. ” The Tar Heels ended 2025 with only four wins and a 2‑6 record in the ACC.He said after the first loss it was hard to stay motivated, “you don’t want to live like that. ” Belichick’s first year at UNC was also troubled by off‑field drama, including a controversial relationship with Jordon Hudson. Lopez’s dad, Barney Lopez, added that players were mocked if they didn’t follow the coach’s exact instructions. The pressure and criticism made Gio lose his love for the game while at UNC.