Saturday night's matchup at Camp Randall features a quarterback who has set school records for career QB rating, ranks third among active FBS quarterbacks in completion percentage and is 15-4 as a starter. Oh yeah, the other guy is a Heisman trophy candidate.
While Scott Tolzien may not have the hype of Heisman candidate Terrelle Pryor, his accomplishments are nothing to turn your back on. In his second year at the helm of the Badger offense, Tolzien is having a break out year of his own, posting a 160.6 passer rating (16th in the country) while completing a career-best 69.7 percent of his passes.
Although receiver David Gilreath said the comparison does not really enter the thought process leading up to Saturday, he did admit that it adds to the hype of the game and particularly, the matchup at quarterback.
""You've got a Heisman hopeful, they say, in Terrelle Pryor,"" Gilreath said. ""But at the same time, you've got a guy over here who, if he plays a big game, I'm sure he'd be up there too ... I think he's one of the better quarterbacks in the nation.""
The fact that the national media attention leading up to the game against the top-ranked Buckeyes isn't bombarding Tolzien doesn't bother the fifth year senior a bit.
""Terrelle is a great player and an extremely good quarterback,"" Tolzien said. ""He deserves what comes his way and I've just got to do what I do and just look at it as good competition.""
The men up front protecting the Badger quarterback thinks that relishes the role of the underdog
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""Scott Tolzien is always overlooked, but I think he loves it that way,"" sophomore center Peter Konz said. ""Scott is very low-key, he doesn't want that attention.""
Even though Pryor's big numbers last weekend against Indiana have drew most of the media attention, Tolzien has not gone unnoticed inside college football circles.
""I think guys know about him already,"" Gilreath said. ""We beat a great team in Miami last year in front of everybody. I think with a game like this, with College Gameday being here, with a couple big plays here and there, he'll be known.""
Still, the relative unknown status of Tolzien in media circles is something that can only help come Saturday night.
""Quite frankly, it's just fun being the underdog."" Konz added. ""The pressure is definitely on Pryor because he is getting all the attention. [Tolzien] can just do his thing.""
Pryor may get the attention, but this weekend's contest is more than the dynamic offense of the Buckeyes and the running attack of the Badgers. Tolzien may not have the votes to rank up there with the Buckeye quarterback in the Heisman race, but he certainly doesn't lack the numbers. Even with a night game against the top-ranked team in the nation looming, the Badger quarterback has remained characteristically humble.
""I wouldn't even vote for me,"" Tolzien claimed.
Even with a big performance this weekend on the national stage, Scott Tolzien may still fail to get the attention he has already earned. However, success on Saturday night will not be measured by Heisman votes gained or lost, nor will it come via passing statistics and national rankings. Only two numbers matter this weekend—the total score for each team.
