Brady Quinn backs Sam Hartman as challenger to end Caleb Williams Heisman repeat

Brady Quinn is putting his confidence behind Sam Hartman as a threat to Caleb Williams‘ chance at winning back-to-back Heismans.

The former Notre Dame quarterback championed the current Fighting Irish quarterback while discussing the topic with former USC quarterback Matt Leinart on Big Noon Kickoff. While Leinart didn’t want to hear it, Quinn is a believer in Hartman’s chances after his electric debut for Notre Dame in Week 0.

“He is that special, but what it comes to the Heisman Trophy, there’s a formula for this. … It’s stats, national championship hunt, and then the Heisman moment. … The problem is, he’s done it once. How do you create that Heisman moment again, when there’s so many other people that you’re battling with?” Quinn explained, regarding Williams’ chance at back-to-back Heismans. “Guys in new places. New faces. A guy like my guy in Sam Hartman. Come on now. He’s got off to a great start. I had to (get a Notre Dame guy in there). But that’s what happens.

“They both got off to great starts, and you saw Sam leapfrog in the Heisman odds, and that’s how this works. … When you come back after winning a Heisman, everyone’s kind of looking for that next-best-thing. I think that’s the challenge for Caleb Williams. Right, he’s the best player in college football, but he’s got to try to prove it again, with another unique moment.”

Alas, the Hartman hype has grown after an awesome performance in Ireland against Navy last weekend, as the quarterback accumulated 251 passing yards and four touchdowns, completing 19 out of 23 passes during Notre Dame’s 42-3 drubbing of the Midshipmen.

Ironically, if Hartman is able to continue his awesome play and Williams picks up right where he left off, the showdown between the two quarterbacks could be what decides the Heisman race. Notre Dame will welcome Williams and the Trojans to South Bend on Oct. 14, a game that could have Heisman and College Football Playoff implications, it seems.

Of course, there’s a lot of time between now and then, and so much could change, both in Hartman and Williams’ control, and out of it.

Time will tell if Sam Hartman and Caleb Williams battle it out over the Heisman Trophy, but Brady Quinn sees it as a possibility, even if Matt Leinart isn’t as big of a believer in the Fighting Irish leader as the 2023 season rages on.