Marcus Freeman downplays size of the moment for Sam Hartman against Ohio State

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman has the first big challenge of his short Fighting Irish career this weekend with Ohio State coming to town. It could go down as the most important game of the sixth-year quarterback’s career to this moment.

There is a lot riding on the game for both teams, and it could serve as one of the key inflection points in the race for the College Football Playoff.

But Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman isn’t worried about Hartman being ready for the moment.

I think in his mind he has played in games like this,” Freeman said during his Monday press conference. “He’s played some big games at Wake Forest. This moment won’t be too big for Sam. Year 6 for him. I have a lot of confidence that he’ll be well prepared and the moment won’t be too big for him at all.”

Hartman has play in some high-profile games at Wake Forest. He played in the 2021 ACC Championship Game versus Kenny Pickett and Pitt. He’s faced when the Tigers have been ranked No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 in the country. He even faced off once against a top-10 Notre Dame team in Winston-Salem, N.C.

In his first and only season with the Fighting Irish, Hartman has led the team to a 4-0 start and top-10 ranking through the first three weeks. He has passed for 1,061 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 71.1% of his passes over the first four games. The veteran has also yet to throw an interception and has two rushing scores.

Star Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt was on the Andy Staples podcast this week with the On3 host and talked about Hartman and how he immersed himself in the team.

Alt said there was an immediate connect with Hartman, and that it has continued to grow since the offseason and now into the season.

“Now we get to play with him and still same guy in the locker room, still your buddy, your brother in the locker room, but then on the field he’s such a confident person because he puts the work in, because he studies the film so much and prepares and mentally prepares,” Alt said. “Then there’s just a confidence out there with him. It’s been a lot of fun. That friendship and that relationship has grown literally from Day 1, it’s been great.”