North Carolina starting quarterback Gio Lopez is listed as questionable for Saturday’s conference opener against Clemson. If Lopez is unable to play, Max Johnson would get the start for UNC.
The ACC released UNC’s availability report Thursday night. The league will release another report for the UNC-Clemson game on Friday and a final update two hours before the noon kickoff between two programs that have struggled early.
North Carolina, in its first season under NFL legend Bill Belichick, is 2-2 with blowout losses to TCU and UCF. Clemson, a preseason top-10 team, is 1-3 overall with losses to LSU, Georgia Tech and Syracuse.
Lopez, who transferred from South Alabama to UNC after spring practice, has completed 42-of-67 passes for 430 yards through four games. He has thrown three interceptions and three touchdowns. Lopez left both of UNC’s losses with injuries.
He was unable to practice during the Tar Heels’ bye week, Belichick said Tuesday.
“Gio has improved a lot, and, offensively, again, we just haven’t been consistent enough in any area,” Belichick said Tuesday. “But we’re getting closer and we’ll continue to push ahead on that. When Gio is able to practice, we’ll see how much improvement he has made and can make. If he’s not, then other players will be in there.”
In limited action, Johnson has completed 20-of-30 passes for 170 yards. He has two touchdown passes and hasn’t thrown an interception. Johnson started the Tar Heels’ 2024 season opener at Minnesota, but suffered a serious leg injury in the third quarter. He nearly lost the leg, missed the rest of the season and wasn’t cleared to return to practice until the fall.
Through four games, UNC has been one of the worst offenses in the league.
UNC is last in the 17-team ACC in total yards, averaging 263.5 yards per game — more than 60 yards per game less than the next-worst offense. The Tar Heels have just 11 red-zone trips through four games, and two of them have ended with interceptions. UNC is 16th in the ACC in time of possession.
Offensive lineman Aidan Banfield is also listed as questionable for UNC.
The Tar Heels have several players listed as probable, including wide receiver Chris Culliver, running back Caleb Hood, defensive lineman Pryce Yates and defensive back Gavin Gibson.
The Tar Heels have nine players listed as probable: wide receiver Chris Culliver, running back Caleb Hood, defensive linemen Pryce Yates and Isaiah Johnson, kicker Guytano Bartolomeo, defensive backs Gavin Gibson and Ty Adams, linebacker Evan Bennett and tight end Connor Cox.
UNC has eight players listed as out: linebackers Chinedu Onyeagoro, Tyler Houser and Jake Bauer, fullback Henry Martello, tight ends Shamar Easter and Deems May, and defensive linemen Laderion Williams and Devin Ancrum.
For the first time this season, the ACC is requiring teams to submit availability reports for conference games. The first is due two days before the game, then one day before the game and finally two hours before kickoff. Clemson is UNC’s first conference game of the season.
“This decision is directly connected to our ongoing commitment to best protect our student-athletes and our multi-faceted approach to addressing the effects of sports wagering,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said earlier this year in announcing the decision.
“In this case, it would alleviate pressure from entities or individuals who are involved in sports wagering that attempt to obtain inside information about availability from players, coaches, and other staff.”