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Auburn among 3 SEC schools that pursued star Notre Dame transfer

By Andrew Hughes

Auburn football was among 3 SEC schools to have pursued one of the top transfer portal QBs on the market before his Notre Dame decision Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn football was among 3 SEC schools to have pursued one of the top transfer portal QBs on the market before his Notre Dame decision Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Auburn football was among the 3 SEC programs that star Notre Dame transfer portal addition at quarterback, Sam Hartman, namedropped during an appearance on the August 28 edition of “The Dan Patrick Show.”

“There was quite a few,” Hartman said when asked to name schools which reached out (h/t AL.com). “I mean you can think of any college that needed a quarterback or was in need was reaching out. Florida was one. Auburn was another one. At the time, there was a little bit of Alabama. It was all strategic in my way of just knowing that it came down to the offense in place here at Notre Dame.”

Hartman’s verbiage there seems to indicate that Florida was the primary pursuer of the former Wake Forest signal-caller, while AU was in more lukewarm pursuit. Alabama, meanwhile, didn’t seem to be a serious option for him, or vice versa. Thus far, it seems as though the former Auburn football transfer portal target is in a good place regardless.

Former Auburn football transfer portal target dominated in Week 0

Hartman was nearly perfect against Navy on August 26 during the Fighting Irish’s 2023 season-opening affair live from Dublin, Ireland — completing 19/23 passes for four touchdowns and 251 yards passing. Notre Dame seems to have found its best QB since at least Ian Book, and Hartman is now at a school that can realistically contend for a College Football Playoff spot.

All in all, the partnership in South Bend seems to be beneficial to all parties involved.

Sure, it’ll be tough to watch Hartman contend for a Heisman on the artificially bright lights of Notre Dame and its NBC-broadcasted college football independent product. But AU’s offense will likely be that of a smash-mouth ground-and-pound slow-paced bulldozer, with the running back room leading the way and Payton Thorne staying versatile in an RPO/play-action-heavy attack.

So, both Hartman and Auburn will have their time in the sun in 2023. In a best-case scenario for the Tigers at least, their paths would intertwine somehow in the postseason.

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