Veteran quarterback Sam Hartman has turned heads as Notre Dames' new QB1. The senior is already in the double-digit touchdown territory. He'll need 27 more to tie the all-time college football record. Can he do it?
who holds the all-time college football passing touchdown record?
Between 2007 to 2011, Houston Cougars' Case Keenum tossed 155 pigskins into the endzone. The quarterback has a 13 touchdown lead over the next, Boise States' Kellen Moore.
Today, Keenum didn't stray to far from his roots and is the Houston Texans' third-stringer at 35-years-old.
| Player | Passing Touchdowns | Years Active |
|---|---|---|
| Case Keenum | 155 | 2007-2011 |
| Kellen Moore | 142 | 2008-2011 |
| Graham Harrell | 134 | 2005-2008 |
| Colt Brennan | 131 | 2005-2007 |
| Rakeem Cato | 131 | 2011-2014 |
| Baker Mayfield | 131 | 2013-2017 |
| Landry Jones | 123 | 2009-2012 |
| Ty Detmer | 121 | 1988-1991 |
| Aaron Murray | 121 | 2010-2013 |
| Sam Hartman | 128 | 2018-2023 |
Stats as of November 3, 2023
Sam hartman as a demon deacon
The 6-foot-1 signal-caller started his college career with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Hartman was the frontman for carrying the Demon Deacons to an ACC championship in 2021, where his six touchdowns weren't enough as his group fell to Clemson 51-45 in a double-overtime nail-biter. Still, he's got some ice in his veins.
Hartman wrapped up his five seasons with 110 passing touchdowns and 12,967 passing yards, which ranked second in ACC history behind Philip Rivers (13,484).
Make that 108 career passing touchdowns for Sam Hartman, who is now the ACC’s all time passing touchdown leader. pic.twitter.com/wMmPlnR6fr
— Barstool College Football Show (@BarstoolCFB) December 23, 2022
From a demon to a fighter
After five seasons, Hartman decided to become apart of the Fighting Irish via the transfer portal, where he was listed as 94 overall and ranked at the top of all quarterbacks.
His debut with the Irish, whose win total is set a nine, came in Dublin, Ireland at the Aer Lingus Classic. Jitters? Never heard of 'em. Hartman completed a whopping 82% of his passes and four touchdowns for a dominant 42-3 win over Navy.
Hartman currently sits with +10000 odds to take home the Heisman Trophy.
Lee Corso predicts Sam Hartman to be a Heisman finalist. #GoIrish 🏆☘️
— Notre Dame Fighting Irish (@Insidetheirish) September 9, 2023
(🎥: ESPN) pic.twitter.com/JjASmkfOyF
Can sam hartman break the passing touchdown record?
For sure. In his last two seasons, the North Carolina native has tossed at least 38 touchdowns each year. As he gets older, he progressively gets more mature on the field too, posting his best stats over two seasons.
| Year | Passing Yards | Passing TDs | Completion Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,984 | 16 | 55.3% |
| 2019 | 830 | 4 | 56.7% |
| 2020 | 2,224 | 13 | 58.2% |
| 2021 | 4,228 | 39 | 58.9% |
| 2022 | 3,701 | 38 | 63.1% |
The Fighting Irish were focused on getting back on track to becoming CFP contenders. However, after a Week 6 loss to Louisville, they've officially lost their chance.
Still, Hartman's experience and drive as he polishes off his career in the NCAAF doesn't go unnoticed. He looks to hopefully be snagged in the 2024 NFL Draft. I mean, he literally wears his rib on a necklace to show off his determination... But, that's a whole other story! Point is, he means business.
Last fall, a blood clot almost ended Sam Hartman's football career.
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 9, 2023
After a successful surgery, Hartman took a piece of his rib from that procedure and turned it into a necklace that represents his determination 😤@JenLada | #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/Si6njnUAsJ
