Sam, I Am: Hartman Ready To Lead Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Has a New Quarterback
Possibly one of the most significant transfers to headline College Football news was Sam Hartman leaving Wake Forest to join Notre Dame. While the move makes a lot of sense, it was still surprising. The Fighting Irish looked like they were heading into the 2023 season with no reliable option at starting quarterback. Hartman immediately changed that.
Hartman brings a skill level that the program has not seen for a while at the position. There is a good chance that the addition of Hartman will gain more faith for the Fighting Irish in College Football predictions.
Hartman’s Previous Success
While at Wake Forest, Hartman had a full five seasons with the program, throwing for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns in his career. That is a lot of experience compared to the rest of the quarterbacks on Notre Dame’s depth chart, who combine for 0 pass attempts.
Over the last two seasons, Hartman has shined, becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC. He threw for 4,228 yards with 39 touchdowns in 2021 and followed that with 3,701 and 38 last season. Hartman helped the Demon Deacons exceed College Football odds.
Sam Hartman vs Clemson
• 20-29
• 69.0%
• 6 Passing TDsStarting QB for Notre Dame this upcoming season pic.twitter.com/qDr4WoYZSq
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) July 21, 2023
That was evident in 2021 when the Demon Deacons finished the season with an 11-3 record, 7-1 in the conference. The team struggled in 2022, finishing with an 8-5 (3-5) record, with Hartman taking a step back. Despite throwing for 527 fewer yards, Hartman still had nearly identical touchdown numbers. Furthermore, he went from 14 interceptions in 2021 to 12 in 2022.
The offense was the program’s highlight, winning bowl games in 2021 and 2022. Hartman played well in the big moments, combining for 584 yards and six touchdowns, with one interception, in the bowl games. He might be in bigger games more often for the Fighting Irish, which shouldn’t be a problem.
What Does Hartman’s Arrival Mean for the Fighting Irish?
Every season, the expectations for Notre Dame are high, and having Hartman might increase them. The Fighting Irish’s overall roster can usually compete with other top programs, but the quarterback seemed to hold the team back. Now with Hartman, that should change things and likely affect College Football lines.
That also goes both ways. Hartman has been good at a school that does not often bring in top recruits. Now with Notre Dame, he should be protected by one of the best offensive lines in the nation, solid running backs to support him, and a wide receiving core with potential. On top of that, a defense that could take some pressure off Hartman from needing to lead the offense on scoring drives every time they get the ball.
It is still early to see how much of an effect Hartman will have on NCAAF odds, but there is a good chance it could lead to Notre Dame having a big season. The Fighting Irish have a tough schedule in 2023, facing Ohio State, USC, Clemson, and Wake Forest, for a Hartman revenge game.
