Former UNC football quarterback named starter for new team

The North Carolina Tar Heels are set to open up the 2026 college football season in Week 0, heading to Ireland to face off against TCU. For the Tar Heels, this will open the second season of the Bill Belichick era and the hope is that it goes much better than the first.

Last season, the Tar Heels were a mess. They finished with four wins total, including just two in the ACC. That season started with a loss to TCU on Labor Day in primetime. And from there, it didn't get much better.

One player who saw time at quarterback was Max Johnson. The former LSU and Texas A&M quarterback transferred to North Carolina in 2024 and got hurt in the Week 1 win over Minnesota. Last season, he was the backup to Gio Lopez and completed 62 percent of his attempts for 432 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson entered the portal after last season and landed at Georgia Southern. On Sunday, Johnson was named Georgia Southern's starting quarterback as they prepare for the opener against Charleston Southern on September 5th.

Sources: Georgia Southern has named veteran Max Johnson the school’s starting quarterback, and he’ll debut for them against Charleston Southern and face Clemson in Week 2. This is his fourth stint as a starter, as he’s started at LSU, Texas A&M and North Carolina prior. pic.twitter.com/hDBC6CnuCP

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 23, 2026

This will be the fourth stint as a starter for Johnson as he gets a new opportunity. After the injury cost him the entire 2024 season, it's good to see Johnson back out there getting another chance.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Former UNC football quarterback named starter for new team