Max Johnson Named UNC QB1 vs. Clemson by Bill Belichick After Gio Lopez Injury

Senior quarterback Max Johnson will start for the North Carolina Tar Heels against the Clemson Tigers on Saturday.

Pete Thamel of ESPN confirmed the news on Saturday after Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports and Pete Nakos of On3 Sports both reported Friday that it was believed Johnson would get his first start of the 2025 campaign due to the fact that starting quarterback Gio Lopez is dealing with an undisclosed injury.

The 24-year-old Johnson has been something of a journeyman throughout his collegiate career, spending time at LSU and Texas A&M before joining North Carolina last season.

Johnson started the Tar Heels’ season-opening win over Minnesota in 2024, but he suffered a season-ending leg injury.

An offseason coaching change from Mack Brown to legendary, longtime New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick then called Johnson’s standing with the team into question.

Belichick ultimately went with the South Alabama transfer in Lopez as UNC’s starter, and the results have been mixed thus far.

The Tar Heels are off to a 2-2 start and coming off a 34-9 drubbing at the hands of UCF.

Lopez is completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 430 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 69 yards and one score.

Although he has only played in relief of Lopez thus far, it can be argued that Johnson has looked like the better quarterback this season, completing 66.7 percent of his passing attempts for 170 yards, two touchdowns and no picks.

Johnson, who is the son of longtime NFL quarterback and Super Bowl champion Brad Johnson, is 13-10 over his 23 career collegiate starts at LSU, Texas A&M and UNC.

He saw his most extensive action as a sophomore at LSU in 2021, throwing for 2,814 yards, 27 touchdowns and six picks in 12 games.

After entering the season as one of the top-ranked teams in the nation, Clemson is reeling, having lost three of its four games this season, including two in a row.

Johnson may give North Carolina its best chance to beat Clemson and get into the thick of the ACC title race.

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