CBS Sports ranks UNC quarterback amongst projected Power Four starters

In just three short months, college football will be here. Your North Carolina Tar Heels , in Year Two under Bill Belichick , have to turn things around. UNC will be one of the 2026 season's first games, facing TCU across the pond in Dublin, Ireland .

North Carolina is currently a 6. 5-point underdog, but that will certainly change as we get closer to kickoff. One of the Tar Heels' greatest questions is at starting quarterback, where they have a battle between Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards and Western Carolina transfer Taron Dickens.

In CBS Sports' rankings of every projected 2026 Power Conference starter, Edwards is 55th amongst 68 quarterbacks. Belichick's quarterback room is entirely new in 2026 with transfers and freshmen, none more important than this addition from Wisconsin by way of Maryland," Brad Crawford said. "Edwards was supposed to be the Badgers' QB1 last fall, but was lost for the season with a knee injury in the opener.

He went 7-7 overall at Maryland as a starter over a three-year stretch. " 2024 was Edwards' lone year as a starter, during which he completed 273 of 420 passes for 2,881 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Maryland suffered through a 4-8 record. Wisconsin struggled without Edwards last year, too, also struggling to a 4-8 record.