Former SEC QB Max Johnson to start for North Carolina vs. Clemson
By David Wasson
Published:
The quarterback mystery at North Carolina came to a end Saturday morning before the Tar Heels’ matchup against Clemson (Noon ET, ESPN), as coach Bill Belichick will be going with LSU and Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson.
Johnson starts in the place of Gio Lopez, who sustained a lower-body injury two weeks ago during a 34-9 loss to UCF. Johnson replaced Lopez against the Knights and saw action in the Tar Heels’ season-opening blowout loss to TCU. He has gone 20-for-30 for 170 yards with 2 touchdowns so far in 2025.
Those 2 games were Johnson’s first action since suffering a broken leg that required surgery against Minnesota in North Carolina’s 2024 season opener. Johnson played at LSU from 2020-21, then at Texas A&M from 2022-23. In his career, he has completed 506 of 833 pass attempts for 6,094 yards, 49 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Lopez had completed 42 of 67 passes for 430 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions for the 2-2 Tar Heels before his injury.
Gio Lopez is officially out for UNC today. Max Johnson will start for the first time since August of 2024. Freshman Au'Tori Newkirk will back up Johnson.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 4, 2025
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
