{
  "id": 2222598,
  "title": "USA TODAY Sports isn't high on UNC football quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/usa-today-sports-isnt-high-on-unc-football-quarterback-billy-edwards",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-20T20:52:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/usa-today-sports-isnt-high-205213892.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The North Carolina Tar Heels have determined their 2026 starting quarterback in Billy Edwards Jr., a transfer from Wisconsin. Despite facing an injury that sidelined him for most of 2025, Edwards is the most experienced option at the position for the Tar Heels. Prior to his time with UNC, Edwards played for Maryland, where he started every game in 2024. In contrast, Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill has not started in either of his two seasons at Texas A&M. When considering all 17 ACC quarterbacks, USA TODAY Sports ranks Edwards 16th, just ahead of Boston College's Mason McKenzie. Edwards' 2025 season was hampered by a knee injury, which prevented him from showcasing his abilities. While his time at Maryland was successful, his running ability played a significant role in his game. It remains to be seen if Edwards can revive the Bill Belichick experiment at Chapel Hill. During the 2024 campaign as Maryland's starter, Edwards completed 273 passes for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns, along with 15 rushing yards and five additional scores. His performance earned him Music City Bowl MVP honors, as he led Maryland with seven rushing touchdowns in that season. In his first collegiate start the season before, Edwards was recognized as Music City Bowl MVP, leading Maryland with seven rushing touchdowns. Wake Forest's Gio Lopez, Edwards' predecessor at North Carolina, is ranked 14th. The Tar Heels will face TCU in a rematch of their 2025 season opener on Saturday, August 29 at 12 p.m. to see how Edwards holds onto the starting quarterback position throughout the 2026 season. Stay updated on all North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes, and opinions by following us on X (@TarHeelsWire) and liking our Facebook page.",
  "summary": "Billy Edwards is officially UNC's 2026 starting quarterback. USA TODAY Sports ranks the Wisconsin transfer low amongst his ACC counterparts.",
  "key_points": [
    "Billy Edwards Jr. named UNC's 2026 starting QB",
    "Edwards overcame 2025 knee injury to start at Maryland",
    "Ranked 16th among ACC QBs by USA TODAY Sports"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}