North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson left the Tar Heels' 2024 season opener vs. Minnesota with an apparent knee injury. Johnson, who started the game for Mack Brown's UNC squad, exited the game with 3:06 left in the third quarter. At the time he exited the game, he had completed 12 of 19 passes for 71 yards and an interception, though he did have a rushing touchdown. Following his injury, Johnson was placed on a cart and exited the game to a standing ovation from UNC fans and Minnesota fans alike in Minneapolis. Brock Huard, calling the UNC-Minnesota game on Fox, was also empathetic toward Johnson's mother as her son left the game. Johnson's injury occurred on a play in which two Minnesota defenders attempted to sack him in the pocket. As he threw the ball away, his right knee appeared to give as he fell to the turf. Following Johnson's injury, Conner Harrell took over in his stead. Speaking after the game, Brown spoke to Johnson's injury, saying he doesn't yet know what his diagnosis or prognosis is. He said in the Fox postgame interview that he preferred team doctors inform players and their parents first. Later, Brown told assembled reporters that he still did not know the status of Johnson's injury, saying he was at the hospital with his parents. Here is a video of Johnson's injury. (Warning: graphic video content). However, one of Thursday's games, North Carolina at Minnesota, is delayed due to inclement weather in Minneapolis. The game initially had an 8 p.m. ET kickoff, but the Tar Heels and Gophers will kick off their respective seasons at 9 p.m. ET on Fox. The only game Thursday between "Power Four" teams presents a chance for Minnesota to bounce back from a 31-13 loss to UNC last season. However, quarterback Drake Maye has moved on from the Tar Heels, and was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Max Johnson and Conner Harrell are expected to take quarterback snaps for the Tar Heels against the Golden Gophers. New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer is the starter for Minnesota. A year after falling 31-13 at North Carolina, Minnesota gets a chance at redemption when the Gophers host UNC in Thursday night's only game between power-conference teams. The Tar Heels enter as a slight favorite in a battle between teams that bring some unknowns at quarterback into the 2024 season. UNC has benefitted from two NFL Draft pick quarterbacks in the first five seasons of coach Mack Brown's second stint at the school. But with Drake Maye gone to the New England Patriots, the Tar Heels must find his replacement. Brown has been noncommittal thus far about who is leading a race between Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson and sophomore Conner Harrell. Minnesota knows who its quarterback will be -- New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer -- but it doesn't know for sure how his game will translate to the FBS level. Brosmer was prolific in his five seasons of FCS football but faces a big task in recharging a Gophers offense that finished No. 122 nationally in total offense last season. While the quarterbacks will be new, a pair of star running backs are returning to anchor each squad. Read on below for more analysis and a prediction on North Carolina vs. Minnesota, whose start time has been pushed back due to a weather delay. Backfield stars: The return of Minnesota running back Darius Taylor will be a significant help for the Gophers after he amassed 799 yards in just six games last season while fighting injuries. Just a sophomore, Taylor is primed for a prolific season after ranking as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2023. UNC counters with an elite back of its own in Omarion Hampton for what should be a compelling battle between a couple of the nation's best runners. Hampton is the country's No. 3 returning rusher after amassing 1,504 yards on the ground last season. He's also a reliable dump-off target in the passing game. Breaking in new coordinators: Both teams are breaking in new defensive coordinators as Corey Hetherman steps in at Minnesota and Geoff Collins takes over at North Carolina. Collins, the former Georgia Tech coach, was away from the sidelines last season. He replaces Gene Chizik, who struggled to unlock the unit's talent over the last two seasons. Hetherman arrives from Rutgers, where he served as linebackers coach for the last two seasons. He helped Scarlet Knights develop a reputation for sound defense during that time. Last time out: When UNC last year's meeting, it did so behind 414 yards passing from Maye, who hit Nate McCollum 15 times for 165 yards. Hampton averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, finishing with 46 yards on 13 attempts. This time around, the Tar Heels will likely need more from their run game as they break in a new quarterback. Minnesota will definitely need more from its passing game as Gophers quarterbacks completed just 11 of 30 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in last year's meeting. Last year, North Carolina had a future first-round NFL Draft pick at quarterback and both teams already had two games under their belt. They still only combined to score 44 points. Now, both teams are breaking in new quarterbacks -- the Tar Heels haven't even named a starter yet -- and will likely rely on their run games as they get their feet underneath them in a new season. Points should be at a premium. Pick: Under 50.5 Carolina will open the 2024 regular season with a road trip to Minnesota on Thursday night. It's UNC's first-ever visit to Minnesota and only its second game ever against the Golden Gophers. The Tar Heels won 31-13 in Kenan Stadium last season.