Virginia football has not played in a bowl game since 2019, but with new quarterback Chandler Morris, the Cavaliers are on the cusp of breaking that dubious streak. 

Morris and the No. 18 Cavaliers find themselves in the AP Top 25 for the first time in six years, earning the ranking after beating No. 8 Florida State in the school’s first win over a top-10 program in two decades. 

Before choosing to spend his final year of college in Charlottesville, Morris had quite the collegiate journey, which included stints at three schools. This past offseason, he made it known that he wanted to transfer to North Carolina to play under Bill Belichick, but the Tar Heels did not pursue him.

Here’s what to know about the quarterback who was rejected from Chapel Hill and has Virginia on the cusp of one of its best seasons in program history.

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Why didn’t Chandler Morris go to UNC?

Morris, a veteran passer with experience at three different schools, expressed strong interest in transferring to UNC after Bill Belichick took over as head coach and the program looked to overhaul its roster.

However, according to reports from The Athletic, the decision to reject Morris came directly from UNC General Manager Michael Lombardi, who was heavily involved in reshaping the Tar Heels’ personnel. Lombardi reportedly deemed the 6-foot, 190-pound Morris to be undersized and lacking the requisite arm strength he sought in a quarterback, telling UNC personnel staffers, “You just don’t understand what it takes to play in the National Football League.”

North Texas QB Chandler Morris had thrown for 3,774 yards and 31 TDs when he put his name in the transfer portal.

He was interested in North Carolina, but the program didn’t think he had what it takes.

Morris is now thriving at Virginia.https://t.co/BQPoiH43RG pic.twitter.com/e85q6W8Nmq

— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) October 10, 2025

Lombardi instead prioritized bigger pocket passers, including Ryan Browne from Purdue, who ultimately did not stick with the Tar Heels. Browne transferred back to Purdue after spending the spring in Chapel Hill.

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Bill Belichick quarterback recruiting at UNC

Belichick wanted a quarterback he could develop in his first year at North Carolina, which put some of the bigger names out of the running, including Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava. The Tar Heels ultimately recruited South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, who won the starting role during fall camp. North Carolina brought in Lopez and Browne to join Max Johnson in the quarterback room.

Though Morris threw for over 3,700 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024, he did not fit the prototype that Lombardi and Belichick were seeking. The new administration aimed to rebuild the roster along the lines of an NFL depth chart, prioritizing players they believed matched a specific professional model.

However, this strategy has drawn criticism as “arrogant” and ill-suited to the fluid nature of college football. North Carolina ultimately went with Lopez—who has since struggled with injuries—and added highly rated true freshman Bryce Baker.

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Chandler Morris stats 2025

Morris has led Virginia to one of the best starts in program history, guiding an offense that averages 43 points per game, ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Through six games, he has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 1,428 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has also added 176 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

In the win over No. 8 Florida State, Morris threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more as the Cavaliers defeated the Seminoles 44-38 in double overtime.

VIRGINIA UPSETS NO. 8 FLORIDA STATE IN DOUBLE OT 🤯

QB CHANDLER MORRIS WITH 5 TOTAL TDS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cUC1Dcomrt

— ESPN (@espn) September 27, 2025

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Gio Lopez stats 2025

Lopez was named the Tar Heels starter a few days before the team’s opener against TCU on Sept. 2, but the sophomore struggled immediately after the gate. Through four games, Lopez threw for 430 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions with a career low 62.7 completion percentage.

The South Alabama transfer missed the Tar Heels last game against Clemson with a lower-body injury. He also left North Carolina’s opener against the Horned Frogs.

UNC currently sits at 2-3, with losses to TCU, UCF and Clemson; the Tar Heels were outscored 120-35 in the three contests and still have not beaten a Power Four opponent.

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Where did Chandler Morris play before Virginia?

Morris played for three different college football programs before transferring to the Virginia Cavaliers in 2025.

He began his career at Oklahoma as a true freshman, seeing limited action in five games. He recorded 39 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns before entering the transfer portal after the season.

Morris then transferred to TCU. In 2021, he had a breakout performance in his first collegiate start against Baylor, totaling 531 yards of offense. In 2022, a season-opening injury cost him his starting job to Max Duggan, who eventually led the Horned Frogs to the national championship game. Morris returned as the starter in 2023 but was again hampered by injuries.

In his final season before Virginia, Morris transferred to North Texas, where he had a prolific year, breaking school records with 3,774 passing yards and 31 touchdowns in 12 starts. That performance made him a top-ranked quarterback transfer prospect once again.

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Chandler Morris college stats

Before joining Virginia, Morris played at three different schools.

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