CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina will start South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez at quarterback against TCU on Monday in Bill Belichick's college coaching debut.

Belichick announced that Lopez would start during a news conference Wednesday. The Tar Heels secured Lopez's commitment after spring drills and he joined formal team workouts in preseason camp as the expected front-runner for the job.

Belichick — who led the NFL's New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles as a head coach — said Lopez had “made a ton of progress” and would get the majority of practice reps leading up to a college version of Monday Night Football against the Horned Frogs.

“I feel very comfortable with him and what he's doing,” Belichick said. "But he'll get better as we go forward because we just will — we ha

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