The next Bachelor has officially been announced, and ABC has chosen former college football quarterback Sam Hartman to lead the milestone 30th season of its popular reality dating series. The announcement was made on November 13, 2026, during Good Morning America, ending months of speculation about who would take over the franchise.
Hartman, 27, will meet a new group of women as he searches for a lasting relationship on national television. His selection is particularly interesting because he comes from the world of college and professional football rather than the usual pool of familiar Bachelor Nation personalities.
ABC has also confirmed that The Bachelor Season 30 will premiere on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The upcoming installment marks the show’s return after an extended break and represents an important milestone for the long-running franchise.
For viewers wondering who is the next Bachelor, when the new season starts, and what to expect from the upcoming episodes, here is everything currently known.
Who Is the Next Bachelor? Meet Sam Hartman
The answer to who is the next Bachelor is Sam Hartman, a professional football player who previously played college football for Wake Forest and Notre Dame. ABC selected him to become the leading man of Season 30, introducing a new face to a franchise that has traditionally chosen its stars from previous seasons of The Bachelorette or other Bachelor Nation personalities.
The announcement was made during a November 13 appearance on Good Morning America. Hartman appeared on the program to discuss his new role and admitted that he was both excited and nervous about the experience.
He also joked about the challenge of getting to know 30 women at once, saying that he sometimes has difficulty holding a conversation with one woman.
His comments offered viewers an early glimpse of his personality and suggested that he understands how different the dating experience will be from competing on a football field.
Who Is Sam Hartman?
Sam Hartman is a 27-year-old professional football quarterback from Charlotte, North Carolina. He became widely recognized through his college football career and later continued pursuing opportunities in the NFL.
Before joining The Bachelor, Hartman played for two prominent college football programs: Wake Forest University and the University of Notre Dame.
His selection is a departure from the franchise’s more familiar casting approach. Rather than choosing someone viewers already know from a previous televised dating competition, ABC has introduced a professional athlete with a different background.
Here are some important details about the new Bachelor:
- Full name: Sam Hartman
- Age: 27
- Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Profession: Professional football quarterback
- NFL team: Washington Commanders
- College teams: Wake Forest and Notre Dame
- Reality television appearance: QB1: Beyond the Lights
- Bachelor season: Season 30
- Premiere date: March 21, 2027
Hartman’s background gives the upcoming season a different starting point, particularly for viewers who follow professional football as well as reality television.
Sam Hartman’s Football Career Before The Bachelor
Hartman built his reputation as a quarterback during his college football years. He spent five seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Notre Dame for the 2023 season.
His college career included several notable achievements. He established Atlantic Coast Conference records for career touchdown passes and career 300-yard passing games.
Across his college career, Hartman recorded 15,656 passing yards and 134 touchdown passes. His performance helped establish him as one of the recognizable quarterbacks of his college football generation.
After completing his college career, Hartman entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent and signed with the Washington Commanders in 2024.
His professional football journey and television experience are both relevant to his new opportunity. He previously appeared in QB1: Beyond the Lights, a documentary series following talented high school quarterbacks as they pursued college football careers.
That means Hartman is not completely unfamiliar with having cameras follow his life. However, appearing on a relationship-focused reality show will introduce a different kind of public attention.
Readers interested in his athletic background can explore the official NFL player information.
What Did Sam Hartman Say About Becoming the Next Bachelor?
Hartman did not hide his nervousness when discussing his new role during his November 13 television appearance.
He acknowledged that dating 30 women in front of a television audience would be challenging, particularly because he does not always find it easy to hold a conversation with one woman.
He also revealed that his initial reaction to the opportunity was hesitation.
A conversation with Jesse Palmer, the current host of The Bachelor and a former Bachelor himself, helped him understand what the experience would involve.
Palmer reportedly provided insight into what the show is and what it is not, helping Hartman become more comfortable with the possibility of taking the lead.
Hartman ultimately accepted the opportunity because he sees it as a chance to find a meaningful, lasting relationship.
He also mentioned the support he received from his parents. Their advice was straightforward: be himself, enjoy the experience, and trust his instincts.
His teammates also offered advice during their flight home following a football game, although Hartman joked that he was unlikely to follow all of their suggestions.
These early comments give fans a better understanding of why he accepted the role and what he hopes to accomplish.
When Does the Next Season of The Bachelor Start?
Officially confirmed
The next season of The Bachelor premieres on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
This is the confirmed premiere date for Season 30, which ABC announced on November 6, 2026, before revealing Hartman as the new lead on November 13.
The upcoming season will feature two-hour episodes, with the show scheduled to occupy ABC’s Sunday-night lineup.
Here is the confirmed premiere information:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Show | The Bachelor |
| Season | 30 |
| New Bachelor | Sam Hartman |
| Premiere date | March 21, 2027 |
| Day | Sunday |
| Start time | 8 p.m. ET/PT |
| Network | ABC |
| Episode length | Two hours |
| Streaming | Hulu |
| Streaming availability | Next day |
The March premiere represents a change from the show’s more familiar January launch schedule.
For viewers who usually associate The Bachelor with the beginning of the year, the later return gives the franchise a different place on ABC’s television calendar.
The network has confirmed the premiere date through its official Season 30 announcement.
Where Can You Watch The Bachelor Season 30?
Viewers will be able to watch the new season on ABC when it premieres on March 21, 2027.
For those who prefer streaming, episodes will become available on Hulu the following day.
U.S. subscribers who have an eligible Disney+ bundle can also access Hulu programming through Disney+.
This gives viewers two convenient ways to follow Hartman’s journey: watching the original broadcast on ABC or catching up through streaming after the episode becomes available.
Fans can visit ABC’s Good Morning America page for related television coverage and Hulu for streaming information.
Why Is Sam Hartman’s Selection Different From Previous Bachelor Choices?
One of the most interesting aspects of the Season 30 announcement is Hartman’s background.
Traditionally, ABC has frequently selected the next Bachelor from the group of contestants featured on the preceding season of The Bachelorette.
This approach allows audiences to become familiar with a potential lead before watching his own search for love.
However, the franchise experienced an unusual situation in 2026.
Taylor Frankie Paul’s planned season of The Bachelorette was canceled shortly before its scheduled premiere. As a result, viewers did not get to watch the season’s contestants develop relationships with the lead or become familiar with the men who might otherwise have been considered for future opportunities.
The cancellation also raised questions about whether the franchise would continue as planned.
ABC’s decision to move forward with Sam Hartman demonstrates that the network was willing to look beyond the usual casting route.
His football career, existing television experience, and different public profile give Season 30 an opportunity to introduce the franchise to a broader audience.
It also creates a fresh starting point for viewers who may not have followed every previous Bachelor Nation season.
Why Did The Bachelor Take a Break Before Season 30?
The upcoming season arrives after an extended period without a new regular season of The Bachelor.
The previous installment, Season 29, featured Grant Ellis and concluded in March 2025.
During that finale, Ellis chose Juliana Pasquarosa, and the couple became engaged. However, their relationship ended less than three months after the finale aired.
The franchise subsequently experienced a difficult period, particularly after ABC canceled Taylor Frankie Paul’s planned Bachelorette season in March 2026.
The cancellation came just days before the season was expected to premiere and generated uncertainty about the future of the broader franchise.
With no new regular season of The Bachelor airing in 2026, fans had to wait for confirmation about the show’s return.
ABC eventually confirmed Season 30 for 2027, followed by the official premiere date and the announcement of Hartman as its new lead.
His selection now gives the franchise a clear direction for its next installment.
What Can Fans Expect From The Bachelor Season 30?
Although ABC has announced the lead and premiere date, several important details about Season 30 remain unavailable.
The central format is expected to follow the familiar structure of the franchise.
Hartman will meet a group of women who are interested in developing a romantic relationship with him. Through individual dates, group activities, conversations, and rose ceremonies, he will gradually decide which relationships he wants to pursue.
The season is expected to build toward a final decision as Hartman narrows the group and determines whether he has found someone with whom he wants to build a future.
However, fans should distinguish the show’s established format from details that ABC has not yet announced.
The following information remains to be confirmed:
- Contestant lineup: ABC has not released the complete list of women competing for Hartman’s attention.
- Filming locations: The network has not confirmed the season’s travel destinations.
- Episode schedule: The premiere is confirmed, but a complete weekly broadcast calendar has not been released.
- Season finale: ABC has not announced the finale date.
- Final couple: There is no officially confirmed information about Hartman’s final choice or engagement.
- Additional special episodes: Details about potential reunion or post-finale programming remain unannounced.
These details will help shape the season as ABC releases additional information.
Will Jesse Palmer Return as Host?
Jesse Palmer is the established host of the franchise and played a role in helping Hartman understand what becoming the Bachelor would involve.
However, viewers should wait for ABC’s complete Season 30 production details before assuming that every hosting and special-episode arrangement has been finalized.
Palmer’s experience is particularly relevant because he previously occupied the lead role himself. He understands the pressures of dating on television and the expectations that come with becoming the central personality of the show.
His guidance could prove valuable as Hartman navigates the unfamiliar experience.
How Season 30 Could Change the Future of Bachelor Nation
The selection of Sam Hartman is more than a casting announcement. It represents an opportunity for ABC to reintroduce its flagship dating series after a challenging period.
The franchise has spent years building a recognizable audience through its familiar contestants, returning personalities, romantic storylines, and dramatic finales.
However, the extended break created questions about whether viewers would remain interested in another season.
Hartman’s selection could help attract audiences who follow football but may not regularly watch reality dating programs. His existing public profile also gives ABC a different promotional angle.
The decision to make a professional athlete the next Bachelor could generate interest beyond the show’s traditional audience.
Still, the success of Season 30 will ultimately depend on the relationships, personalities, and storytelling that unfold throughout the season.
For longtime fans, the most important question is whether Hartman can build a genuine connection with someone while navigating the unusual environment of a nationally televised dating competition.
Final Thoughts
The next Bachelor is officially Sam Hartman, and his selection gives ABC’s long-running dating franchise a fresh direction heading into its milestone 30th season. With the premiere scheduled for March 21, 2027, fans now have a confirmed date to look forward to, even as they wait for the contestant lineup and further production details. His football background, television experience, and willingness to pursue a serious relationship could make his journey an interesting one to watch.
Are you excited to see Sam Hartman become the next Bachelor, or would you have preferred a familiar Bachelor Nation personality? Share your thoughts and stay tuned for the latest Season 30 updates.