Sam Hartman addresses future matchups with Clemson, Wake Forest

Sam Hartman knows Clemson and Wake Forest await on the Notre Dame football schedule, back-to-back no less.

The former Wake Forest quarterback transferred to Notre Dame in the offseason to go all in for his final season. But facing his former team and the one ACC team that had his number would certainly provide more motivation.

But first up, Clemson for pay back of sorts.

“I mean, I think there’s, you know, a few thoughts at it,” Hartman said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “And obviously the Clemson one is a great opportunity against a great opponent and again, like you said, I’ve been playing in the ACC for so long. I’ve had five opportunities at them and you know, fortunately I get a sixth and it’s also at their place which makes it even more of a challenge.” 

Wake Forest is a different animal. It’s where Hartman made his bones as a college quarterback and progressed to one of the best quarterbacks in conference history.

“And then yeah, the Wake Forest one’s tough,” Hartman said. “It’ll be tough all-around. I mean, I think you’re at a place so long, you know everybody on the team other than the new guys that have just showed up in the summer. And it’s — I mean, it’s a big game for both teams. And obviously, every game that late in the season is going to be a big one.

“So, you probably heard me say before, it’s a one-week season and we’ll attack each game like it’s, you know, the biggest game of the year and that’s the plan for both of those and every other one on the schedule.”

Hartman excelled over the last two years for the Demon Deacons, hitting nearly 40 passing touchdowns in 2021 and ‘22.

Over the course of five seasons, Hartman finished with 12,967 yards, 110 touchdowns, 41 interceptions and a 59.1% completion percentage.

As a member of the Class of 2018, Hartman was a three-star recruit out of Mount Pleasant (S.C.) Oceanside Collegiate Academy, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 13 overall prospect in the state, the No. 54 quarterback in the class and the No. 776 overall prospect in the class.

Hartman could very well be the piece that gets Notre Dame to the College Football Playoff. But late in the season, Clemson and Wake Forest will certainly want to get in the way.