The offensive line will be the X-factor for UNC football against TCU

The offensive line will be the X-factor for UNC football against TCU

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The offensive line will be the X-factor for UNC football against TCU
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 08: Offensive lineman Jordan Hall #66 of the North Carolina NCTH Tar Heels and offensive lineman Jakai Moore #55 look on during warm up prior to the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Kenan Memorial Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Halloway/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I assumed when I sat down to write this article, I’d be writing about how important the QB position would be against TCU. After all, UNC’s QB options were underwhelming at best last season, with neither Max Johnson nor Gio Lopez able to really get anything going on offense. UNC brought in several transfers as well as a highly touted freshman prospect; eventually, Billy Edwards Jr. was named the starter. It seems obvious that getting a brand-new starter at the most important position in football off to a good start should be the X-factor for the game, right?

Well, a lot of Edwards Jr. getting comfortable will depend on the play of the rebuilt offensive line. When I looked back at parts of the 2025 TCU game, I realized how thoroughly outmatched the O-line was. Outside of the first drive, TCU pretty much lived in the UNC backfield. The Horned Frogs would sack UNC twice and record eight tackles for loss, and the line couldn’t seem to get any push for the rest of the game. Ultimately, Tar Heel running backs averaged 2.9 yards per carry. I’m willing to give Carolina a little grace, as the losing their starting center during the game didn’t help; but Christo Kelly wasn’t holding up well even before the injury.

The offensive line is widely regarded to be one of the weaker position groups on a team that has a lot more questions than answers. The Heels will have two players making the jump from FCS to Power 4 football, and unlike many major conference football teams, they’re not going to have the luxury of easing into the season against a lower division team. The TCU team that rolled UNC last season actually finished the year with middling defensive stats, ranking in the 60s in yards per play allowed. It’s imperative that the line sets the tone early; I expect the Heels to want to run the ball a lot in this game to allow Edwards Jr. to settle in. If the line doesn’t hold up any better than it did in the first TCU game, it won’t matter who’s at QB (or running back) for the Heels.

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