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Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien has never met Iowa counterpart Ricky Stanzi other than on a football field, but even he is surprised at all the similarities.
''Maybe we're long lost twins,'' he said.
Well, for starters, they'd have to share the same birth date. Stanzi, however, is one day older.
Stanzi is also listed as an inch bigger and 25 pounds heavier, but both fifth-year senior quarterbacks thrive on keeping their respective offenses in rhythm. They'll give it a shot against each other Saturday when No. 10 Wisconsin (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) travels to 13th-ranked Iowa (5-1, 2-0).
''I just know he works well in their offense,'' Tolzien said. ''He's efficient and he makes plays when he has to. The one thing that I see most importantly is he's a winner. They win games when he's under center and that I think is the ultimate compliment you can give someone.''
Stanzi is 23-5 with the Hawkeyes and was 17-4 in his first 21 starts. Tolzien is 16-4 heading into his 21st game.
Wisconsin lineman John Moffitt has a conspiracy theory about why the two are so similar.
''Have you ever seen that movie where aliens came down and planted aliens throughout the whole village and they took over the world? Maybe that's what's happening,'' Moffitt quipped.
The coaches on each side say it's simpler than that: Both quarterbacks have been around the Big Ten for a while and aren't easily rattled.
''Ricky was a great guy last year, great guy and a very good player. I think right now he's playing at a higher level. Experience is a real benefit at any position, if you make it,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ''I bounce it right over to their quarterback, it's the same thing. He's a veteran player who is really doing a good job leading their team.''
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said Tolzien's ability to grow into the starter's role has done him wonders, too.
''That's probably the No. 1 factor,'' Bielema said. ''Now he's got a lot of game experience. It's just like Ricky Stanzi, the quarterback on the other sideline in this game, he's seen so much football, he's kind of like, 'been there, done that' when things come at him and he's handled it so well. It's fun to watch guys like that compete.''
Both QBs majored in business affairs and volunteer in their communities, but the two aren't exactly twins. Stanzi is laid back while Tolzien is a well-known neat freak.
On the field, neither quarterback will necessarily be forced to carry their respective squads. Instead, both will rely on the running game and find spots to take chances down field.
Stanzi is completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 1,474 yards and has 13 touchdowns to just two interceptions, and he's quick to point to his teammates as the reason his numbers are so much better this season.
''It makes life a lot easier when you've got a great offensive line, and then guys in the backfield like (Adam) Robinson who can do everything in their power to make every single play work,'' he said. ''When you have that kind of effort, and especially the guys out wide at receiver - those guys do a tremendous job - that's helped our offense improve.''
Tolzien is even more accurate than Stanzi. He's been successful on 70.3 percent of his attempts, throwing for 1,353 yards, seven TDs and three interceptions.
Tolzien agreed that the completion percentage a quarterback has is sometimes a bigger indicator of success than touchdown to interception ratio.
''It kind of shows how efficient you are as an offense,'' Tolzien said. ''I really could care less as long as we're putting points on the board, it doesn't matter how you're doing it.''
That's where the teams' running games come in with the Hawkeyes featuring Robinson and the Badgers using a two-back attack of John Clay and freshman James White until it becomes time to throw to keep the defenses honest.
Then, Stanzi and Tolzien share the same formula.
''I don't think it's too much of a science - find a way to get the ball into the other guys' hands,'' Tolzien said. ''It's about maximizing those opportunities and just finding a way to keep the momentum going and move the chains.''
