The countdown to college football is on, and for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Year Two under the legendary Bill Belichick brings a critical mission: a turnaround. The journey begins with a high-profile opener against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, where UNC will look to defy their early 6.5-point underdog status.

All eyes in Chapel Hill are on the quarterback competition, arguably the team's biggest question mark. The battle is between Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards and Western Carolina transfer Taron Dickens, with Edwards currently projected as the starter.

So, how does the potential new signal-caller stack up nationally? In CBS Sports' recent rankings of every projected 2026 Power Four starter, Billy Edwards lands at 55th out of 68 quarterbacks.

CBS analyst Brad Crawford highlighted the significance of Edwards' arrival, noting, "Belichick's quarterback room is entirely new... none more important than this addition from Wisconsin by way of Maryland." Edwards' journey has been marked by adversity; slated to be Wisconsin's QB1 last fall, his season ended abruptly with a knee injury in the opener.

His most recent full season as a starter came in 2024 at Maryland, where he completed 273 of 420 passes for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, his teams have struggled to find wins, with both Maryland and Wisconsin posting 4-8 records in his years as a primary contributor—a trend mirroring UNC's own 4-8 finish in 2025.

If Edwards wins the job, the pressure will be immense. He'll be tasked with elevating an offense and leading a program desperate to climb back into contention. For Tar Heel fans, his performance could define the trajectory of Belichick's rebuilding project and set the tone for a new era in Carolina football.