College football teams that use two quarterbacks generally fall into two categories -- they have players with different skill sets and run different packages for them, or they are searching for a starter and need one of two players to step forward and win the job.

Pitt's first opponent, Bowling Green, fell into the former category. The next opponent, Iowa, falls into the latter category as neither Hawkeyes sophomore Ricky Stanzi nor junior Jake Christensen has played well enough to take charge of the starting quarterback job.

The Hawkeyes (3-0) have used both quarterbacks in all three games and, according to head coach Kirk Ferentz, will do so again Saturday when they visit Heinz Field. Ferentz said he is hoping one of the two begins to separate himself from the other, but, until that happens, both will continue to play.

"We're not a different offense with either one of them in there as far as our play-calling and that type of thing," Ferentz said. "It is not like one guy is a runner and one guy is a thrower. Jake has some experience but he had a rough time last year as we didn't have much support for him.

"On the other hand, he has more experience than Rick, but Rick is a guy who has emerged and made a push in the spring and has played very well in practice since August. It is a good competitive situation and it is fair to say both guys will play this week."

Ferentz, though, has yet to name a starter for Saturday because he said he wanted to see how the week of practice went.

There is one notable difference between the two: Christensen, who has 14 career starts but has come off the bench in the past two games, is a left-hander; Stanzi is a right-hander.

In a 17-5 win against Iowa State last week, Stanzi started but struggled and gave way to Christensen in the third quarter after throwing his second interception.

The score was tied, 3-3, when the quarterback switch was made, and Christensen led the Hawkeyes on a scoring drive. Andy Brodell then sealed the game with a fourth-quarter punt return for a touchdown.

Pitt defensive coordinator Phil Bennett is fairly confident that Christensen will start Saturday because he's coming off a decent game, he's a veteran and it's a road game.

"I was watching the Big Ten network last night, and they were asking Kirk questions about his quarterback like they were relief pitchers," Bennett said. "You know they were asking, 'You going to go with the left-hander, the right-hander ...' It became comical to be honest because, what we've seen out of them, they do the same things. Christensen has a little more escapability than Stanzi, and you could tell that Stanzi was ... he even said that he was nervous because he was overthrowing some players and he missed some opportunities.

"I would think Kirk is probably thinking is going on the road and probably a game that is as balanced as they've played that he'd rather go with a guy who has some experience. I think if we see Stanzi, I think it is a good thing, that means we are playing good.

"But they don't change much, regardless of who is in there. They stick to what they believe in -- the run-game and the play-action passing game, and you can do that with a right-handed or a left-handed quarterback."

Statistically, there is little difference between the two. Christensen has completed 21 of 32 passes (65.6 percent) for 248 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception; Stanzi has completed 22 of 38 passes (60 percent) for 347 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

But all the talk about the quarterbacks might be a moot point, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said, because the Iowa offense is built around powerful tailback Shonn Greene.

"Both their quarterbacks are capable of playing, and I'd expect both of them to play," Wannstedt said. "The only differences might be which way they do some sprintouts or some other movement passes, but those are easy enough to adjust to.

"I think the running back is the guy who gets your attention. He is as physical as a running back as we've seen in a while. He will not go down with an arm tackle, you have to work hard to get him to the ground."