North Carolina’s football program is entering a pivotal phase as head coach Bill Belichick prepares the Tar Heels for their first test abroad.
The team will open its 2025 season against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, on August 29, marking a rare overseas debut for the program.
A crowded quarterback room
Belichick has assembled a group of four signal‑callers who are all vying for the starting spot, and he has made it clear that no one holds a permanent edge.
Billy Edwards Jr., a Wisconsin transfer who spent last season with the Maryland Terrapins, brings Big Ten experience and a 2024 average of 261.9 passing yards per game.
Miles O’Neill, a Texas A&M graduate, arrives as a four‑star recruit and the 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year from New Jersey, adding a high‑profile pedigree to the mix.
Au’Tori Newkirk, the only returning quarterback from the previous roster, appeared in two games as a freshman and logged 14 snaps in 2025, giving him a modest but valuable amount of college experience.
Freshman Travis Burgess, a standout from Georgia who reached the Elite 11 Finals, rounds out the competition, ensuring that every practice brings a new evaluation.
Training camp begins July 30
Official practices are slated to start on July 30, 2025, giving the coaching staff a limited window to assess the candidates before the Ireland showdown.
Belichick emphasized that the competition will remain open throughout camp, with each quarterback given an equal chance to prove himself under the new regime.
The Tar Heels will head to Dublin with a sense of anticipation, hoping that the intense internal battle will translate into a strong performance against a disciplined TCU squad.