Belichick's choice

The University of North Carolina has a new starting quarterback. Head coach Bill Belichick named Billy Edwards Jr. as the Tar Heels' starter for Saturday's game against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, the AP reports. Edwards, who has played at Wake Forest, Maryland, and Wisconsin, transferred to Carolina this offseason. He takes the reins of an offense that was one of the nation's worst in Belichick's first season, a campaign that ended with a 48-14 loss to the Horned Frogs.

Edwards' experience is a key reason for the choice. Belichick told reporters that Edwards' full spring with the team was an advantage.

"In the portal, you're evaluating the '24 season," Belichick said. "That's pretty much all you had other than that one game last year. But being here all spring was a big advantage for him."

Edwards himself is realistic about his role. "One of the phrases I got taught as a younger player that kind of stuck with me is mitigating risk," he said. "Like coach Belichick always says: 'We can go forward, and the only way we can go forward is by not going backwards.'"

From Wisconsin to Chapel Hill

Edwards' path to starting reflects an altered college career. He started with a redshirt season at Wake Forest in 2021, then spent three seasons at Maryland, where he threw for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024. He transferred to Wisconsin, but his tenure there was disrupted by injury.

Edwards sprained his left knee in the Badgers' opener against Miami (Ohio) and missed two games. He returned to play against Maryland, but he left that game during his second series. In total, he appeared in only two games and threw just 16 passes.

Now he's declared himself at "100 percent" and no longer wears a knee brace, the Fayetteville Observer reported. His new coach echoed that readiness.

"I'm a rep guy," Edwards said. "I need to write it down 1,000 times."

He leaned heavily on that habit to learn the new system. Edwards reported he made roughly 1,000 flashcards to drill Bobby Petrino's offensive plays—a task he said he embraces.

"It's kind of humbling when you come in at the beginning and you get new terminology, and you get a new playbook," Edwards said. "But I find it really fun, I find it really enjoyable."

Why consistency mattered

Edwards' consistency was the term repeated through his first press conference as starter. It's something he told himself through the offseason, and something Belichick mentioned when he announced the choice on Aug. 21.

Belichick's decision came after two fall scrimmages, where Edwards won the job over transfer Miles O'Neill according to a source. Edwards has also been noted as one of 18 different starters under Belichick across his NFL and college stints.

His parents have been part of the support system. Billy Edwards Sr. coached high school football for more than three decades, and Elizabeth Edwards remains a teacher. Edwards credited his mother for the flashcards and his "type A" personality.

"I think I got a blend of those two," he told reporters, adding, "I have a little bit of a type A personality. I like to be organized, I like to have my stuff in order. So I definitely have some of my mom in me. I go home and take a million of her office supplies."

New offensive season

The Tar Heels hired Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator after Freddie Kitchens was relieved of play-calling duties. The offense was described by Sports Illustrated as an embarrassment. Under Petrino, emphasis has been on building a consistent rushing attack. Edwards is one of several veteran additions through the transfer portal, which also brought new pass catchers to support him and Jordan Shipp.

The AP notes that Edwards says he spent time "trying to get in Coach Petrino's head" with his flashcard drilling, and that he has a go-to target in Shipp.

The Tar Heels' defense retains several marquee pieces from 2025, including a pass rusher that was one of the most effective in the country, Sports Illustrated notes.

First test

Saturday's matchup at Aviva Stadium in Dublin is the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Carolina and TCU. In Belichick's college coaching debut, the Tar Heels lost 48-14. Now they face a second chance to start the season on a stronger note.

Edwards is focused on the short term. "We can go forward, and the only way we can go forward is by not going backwards," he said.