As kickoff of Thursday's Penn State-Virginia game approaches, there's a quarterback controversy in the works.

In Virginia's camp, that is.

While it appears as though Matt Senneca will remain above Zack Mills on the Nittany Lions' depth chart, the quarterbacking picture in Charlottesville is a bit more clouded.

Sophomores Bryson Spinner and Matt Schaub have split playing time throughout the first two games, and so far neither has emerged as a clear favorite.

In the Cavaliers' last game, a 17-16 squeaker over Richmond, the duo combined to hit 26 of 37 passes for 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Schaub, a West Chester East H.S. product, replaced an ineffective Spinner to lead Virginia to a score in the waning minutes of the first half, but Spinner returned in the second half and conducted scoring drives on each of the Cavs' first two possessions.

Both players possess good size (Spinner is 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, Schaub 6-5, 226), running ability and strong arms. Both are also inexperienced, having waited behind departed two-year starter Dan Ellis.

"People try to make differences between them," said Virginia tight end Chris Luzar.

"But the more you do that, the more similar they look."

The Virginia pair, and the Cavalier offense as a whole, should provide quite a contrast to Penn State's last opponent — the dart-throwing and seemingly untouchable Ken Dorsey and the two-step drop Hurricanes offense.

The Nittany Lions think they'll have more success getting to whichever quarterback takes the field than they did chasing Dorsey.

"Their offensive game plan is different than Miami's," said defensive end Michael Haynes.

"Virginia is more of a drop-back passing team."

There were a few questions about who Penn State's starter would be after Senneca injured his right elbow during the Miami game and Mills, a redshirt freshman, made an impressive debut.

But Penn State coach Joe Paterno, as expected, is sticking with the upperclassman, who should be healthy come Thursday.

"Matt's fine," Paterno said. "He only missed one day (of practice), and he's practiced the rest of the time. He's fine."

Who the other starter will be is up in the air. Schaub got the nod on opening day against Wisconsin, and Spinner started against the Spiders.

Luzar said he doesn't mind which quarterback lines up under center, voicing confidence in both.

"It doesn't really affect how we play," he said. "They're both pretty good. It doesn't matter to me, they can both throw the ball."