North Carolina’s quarterback battle has taken on a new wrinkle, and it could end up shaping how Bill Belichick’s first Tar Heels team looks this fall.
For much of the spring, the assumption was that Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. would be the guy. He brought the most experience to the room and had the kind of résumé that seemed to make him the natural fit for Bobby Petrino’s offense. But an ACL injury last season kept him out of spring ball, and that opened the door for other quarterbacks to get a longer look.
Now, one of the biggest movers in that race is a familiar name from the SEC. Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, a sophomore from Marblehead, Massachusetts, is reportedly making a real push for the job.
According to TarHeel247, O’Neill has climbed into the mix in a meaningful way.
“Sources are insistent that UNC’s quarterback competition is far from over, especially given how O’Neill has performed so far,” TarHeels247’s Grant Hughes wrote.
O’Neill arrived in Chapel Hill after spending two seasons with the Aggies, where he saw limited action. In that time, the former 4-star recruit threw for 171 yards, with 2 touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Even with that modest track record, he now has a legitimate chance to lead Belichick’s offense. That matters for a North Carolina team trying to jump-start an attack that was pedestrian a year ago.
The Tar Heels will need an answer soon. Their 2026 season begins Saturday, Aug. 29, in Dublin, Ireland, against TCU.
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