The quarterback room in Chapel Hill is shifting again, and the Tar Heels are now eyeing the future with a new potential leader under center. After four-star QB Bryce Baker entered the transfer portal, North Carolina’s long-term plan at the position took a hit - but not for long. Enter Travis Burgess.
Let’s start with the immediate picture. For now, it’s still Gio Lopez’s job.
The South Alabama transfer was brought in by Bill Belichick to stabilize the position in 2025, and while the numbers weren’t flashy, they were serviceable: 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 65.1% completion rate over 11 starts. Solid, if unspectacular.
But here’s where it gets more interesting: Lopez quietly improved as the season wore on. Over his final five games, he threw six touchdown passes, added another score on the ground, and didn’t turn the ball over once. That kind of late-season uptick is exactly what coaches want to see - a quarterback settling in, making better reads, and protecting the football.
Still, there’s a catch. Lopez suffered a significant leg injury in the season finale, and his availability for 2026 is now a question mark.
Even if he’s healthy, the sense is that he’s more of a bridge than a long-term solution. That bridge may now be leading directly to Burgess.
North Carolina landed the four-star freshman on early national signing day, and he comes in with plenty of buzz. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 205 pounds, Burgess has the physical tools that jump off the page.
He’s ranked as the No. 15 quarterback nationally in the 2026 class and checks in at No. 231 overall, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. But it’s not just about size - Burgess is a true dual-threat, capable of making plays with both his arm and his legs.
That kind of versatility is exactly what modern offenses thrive on.
Manny Navarro of The Athletic sees Burgess as the long-term answer in Chapel Hill. While he expects Lopez to hold down the job in the short term, the belief is that Burgess will eventually take the reins - and potentially elevate the Tar Heels’ offense to a new level.
And that’s the key here. North Carolina isn’t just looking for someone to manage the game.
They’re looking for a difference-maker. Someone who can extend plays, challenge defenses vertically and horizontally, and bring a spark to an offense that lacked consistency in 2025.
Burgess has a long way to go before he’s ready to lead at the college level, but the tools are there. The pedigree is there. And now, with Baker out of the picture, the path might be clearing for him sooner than expected.
For now, all eyes will be on Lopez’s recovery and how he handles the pressure of being the incumbent with a rising star waiting in the wings. But make no mistake - the Tar Heels are already thinking about what comes next. And if Travis Burgess lives up to the hype, Chapel Hill might have found its quarterback of the future.