Newsstand: Where Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman is in Heisman Trophy odds through Week 1

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman. (Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports)

Sam Hartman‘s nearly flawless first two games in a Notre Dame uniform haven’t done much for his Heisman Trophy candidacy. Fear not, Fighting Irish fans. It’s obviously still very early.

According to FanDuel, Hartman has +2000 odds to win the Heisman as of Wednesday evening. That’s tied with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Those signal-callers are behind USC quarterback Caleb Williams (+450), Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (+750), Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (+850) and Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy (+1600).

Hartman and Williams are the only QBs in that bunch who have played two games. Williams has averaged 298.5 passing yards per game and has 9 touchdowns and no interceptions. Hartman has averaged 222.5 and has 6 TDs and 0 INTs. He only played in the first half last week vs. Tennessee State. His 11.1 yards per attempt ranks 12th nationally. Williams is fifth at 12.2.

It’s going to be difficult for anyone to beat out Williams in his repeat run at the Heisman even though Ohio State running back Archie Griffin is the only player to ever win the award in back-to-back seasons (1974-75). Hartman has done all he can through two games to put himself in the conversation.

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Notre Dame tweets of the day

More proof Hartman has been legit: He has the highest single-game quarterback rating of any FBS quarterback in 2023.

Through Week 0 and Week 1, no FBS quarterback has had a better single-game QBR than Sam Hartman in the season opener vs. Navy (98.0).

Hartman also has the eighth best single-game QBR of 2023 at 95.9 vs. Tennessee State.

Best of the best. He’s balling.https://t.co/7EilVOIeBX pic.twitter.com/es3NIRimMd
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 6, 2023

Irish running back Audric Estimé sure is a big help to Hartman’s cause. He makes life easier on the quarterback by making it harder on the opposing defense.

It does not look like any fun whatsoever to try to tackle Audric Estimé, especially when he's got a head of steam. Key word: try.

The Notre Dame running back is a bruiser. And he's got some wheels, too. pic.twitter.com/fjG9NrCwfb
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 6, 2023

Case in point on Estimé.

Good luck bringing down Audric Estime😤 pic.twitter.com/qzxs5bDfXO
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 6, 2023

Quote of the day

“There are too many ways and too many things that are already hard enough about this job and certainly hard enough about his job. We don’t want to bring up ghosts.”

— Irish offensive coordinator on Hartman’s previous struggles against NC State