Billy Edwards’ best night in a North Carolina uniform was enough to earn him a weekly league honor, even if it didn’t end with a win.
In Halloween’s 38-35 loss to top-ranked Miami (FL), Edwards put together the kind of performance UNC had been waiting for from its new quarterback. He completed 28 passes for 341 yards and threw a career-high four touchdowns, then picked up ACC Quarterback of the Week honors for the effort.
Edwards spread the ball around against the Hurricanes, finding Jelani Thurman for two touchdowns and hitting Jordan Shipp and Trech Kekahuna for the other two scores. The outing pushed his season totals to 1,872 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns, both of which rank in the Top-35 among all quarterbacks.
North Carolina entered 2026 still searching for stability at quarterback after Gio Lopez transferred to in-state rival Wake Forest. The Tar Heels landed Edwards, a sixth-year journeyman who began his career at Wake Forest and saw limited action in 2025 because of an injury.
His season has had its rough stretches. Earlier this fall, Edwards went through a run of five turnovers in three games. But while he was fighting through inconsistency, UNC’s defense was helping cover for him by clamping down on opponents late.
That balance has flipped now. Edwards is playing his best football, and the Tar Heels’ defense has been unable to hold up its end. UNC will need Edwards to keep driving the offense, but the bigger question is whether the defense can do enough to help turn those efforts into wins.
Fans have seen what elite quarterback play can look like in Chapel Hill, and Sam Howell and Drake Maye set a high bar. Edwards doesn’t have to throw for 400 yards and multiple touchdowns every week, but Saturday showed just how valuable it is when he comes close.
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The timing only adds to the conversation in Green Bay, where the backfield has become a more complicated topic than it looked a year ago. Josh Jacobs has dealt with legal issues tied to domestic dispute allegations, and the Packers are now being linked to a player whose profile is very different from the one they already have in place. If the Colts keep listening and the deadline market heats up as expected, this is the kind of situation that could force Green Bay to decide how aggressive it wants to be about a reset. [Read more 🡒]
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For Green Bay, the immediate football question is less about availability than about how long this situation lingers around the team. Jacobs has already dealt with league discipline once, and the Packers now find themselves waiting on the NFLs next move while the review continues. The teams stance is straightforward for now, but the broader picture remains unsettled as the investigation moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Have A New Linebacker Problem In The Best Way
The Packers have managed to keep their defense on track even while dealing with injuries at linebacker, and the next stretch could say a lot about how deep that room really is. With Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin sidelined, Isaiah McDuffie and Tyron Hopper have been asked to carry more of the load, and the unit has held up well enough to keep Green Bay from feeling the full weight of those absences.
Hopper, in particular, has started to look like more than a fill-in. His recent impact showed up all over the field, from tackles to disruption in coverage and even splash plays in the backfield, which is the kind of production that can complicate a coachs rotation once everyone is healthy again. Franklin is expected back soon, but if Hopper keeps stacking strong performances, the Packers may have a new kind of linebacker question on their hands. [Read more 🡒]