Paul Jefferson apparently has had his ear to the ground this week while preparing for Minnesota.

"From what I hear, they're just a powerhouse in the backfield," Jefferson said of the Golden Gophers. "Our defense is going to have its hands full."

Hard to say what might have tipped off the Penn State fullback.

The Gophers have two feature backs -- Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III -- who are currently first and second in the Big Ten in rushing, respectively. Maroney, a sophomore, has 526 yards and four touchdowns on 73 carries and Barber, a junior, has 514 yards and five touchdowns on 85 carries.

On most campuses, one would call this a controversy.

Not at Minnesota.

"We don't care who starts, who gets the ball, who gets the touchdown," Maroney said. "That's not our main goal. Our main goal is to win. Who gets the most carries -- it don't matter."

Minnesota coach Glen Mason can't see where there would be a problem. After all, it's hard to name a similar situation at a school where things have worked out better.

"They both play," Mason said.

"They're both No. 1s on our team. The only thing I worry about is trying to get both in at the same time more often. We haven't had a tailback controversy, and hopefully we won't."

What's there to debate? It seems that no matter which one lines up in the Gophers backfield, nothing bad can develop.

It's a unique situation where two backs can split time so evenly and both dominate so thoroughly. Further intriguing is that most programs that switch between backs use two very different types of runners. One is always the change of pace back.

But stand Maroney and Barber next to each other and try and spot the differences. Barber stands 5-foot-11, 215 pounds. Maroney goes 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds. Barber is No. 21, Maroney is No. 22. Even the guys themselves struggle to pick out differences.

"We're both downhill runners," Maroney said. "He runs more powerful downhill than me, he's a little bit stronger and bigger."

That much, Maroney admits. Barber's extra bulk helps him on the power end of things. But as for speed...

"We never ran a 40 against each other so we don't know who's faster," Maroney said. "He says he is, but he knows deep down I am."

And that little parting shot says volumes about the relationship the two have.

Mason said the pair is "best of friends." Quarterback Brian Cupito is Barber's roommate and has a first-hand glimpse of the friendship.

"Those two are best of friends," Cupito said, parroting Mason. "They're always together. A lot of people think they wouldn't get along, but they're best friends."

Maroney said things started out a bit rocky for them because there was a mindset that they weren't supposed to get along. But Barber started to help out the young underclassman, something that surprised Maroney.

The Nittany Lions were poised to be in a similar situation this season. Two similar tailbacks in Tony Hunt and Austin Scott, splitting carries and fueling the offense. But the Penn State duo has the same experience, making it difficult for one to teach the other and develop the kind of rapport that Barber and Maroney have.

"I was able to learn a lot from him," Maroney said. "It's more than running the ball, watching him I learned a lot. We always make sure we congratulate the line after every play,"

If Hunt and Scott have that kind of relationship, it isn't apparent or tangible.

And the Lions will get a first-hand glimpse of the Gophers tandem and its chemistry Saturday.

"I think the two backs are extraordinary," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "They do a great job. They are a very explosive offensive football team and the backs are part of it."