Gary Barta and Tim Curley say all the right things about the campaign for a BCS berth.

Other teams from other leagues are in the BCS at-large mix, too. Any bowl presents a great opportunity. Ultimately, these things are beyond their control.

Both athletics directors are right. But they're also realistic, and the reality is that in all likelihood, the most dramatic part of Sunday's BCS selections comes down to two programs from the same league.

Iowa vs. Penn State. Big Ten vs. Big Ten. Two BCS hopefuls, only one berth at stake.

It's an odd situation.

"It’s like having a conversation that relates to you and your brother," said Barta, the Iowa AD. "Clearly, it’s a little bit unique. We have incredible respect for Penn State, for coach [Joe] Paterno, for Tim. So what we’re focusing on is what Iowa brings to the table, what Iowa has done historically in bowl attendance and TV ratings, our record this year. And the one thing we are comfortable in pointing out is head-to-head.

"We went to Penn State and had an opportunity to win that game. That's a factual statement that we're comfortable making."

Barta wishes both Iowa and Penn State could play in BCS bowls. Both teams, in his opinion, deserve the opportunity.

But since Ohio State is heading to the Rose Bowl and the BCS limits a league to only two participants, at least one team, and possibly both, will be left out.

"Since you have the two-team limit, it’s a little different than other years, when you have two [BCS] teams that are cut and dry," said Curley, the Penn State AD. "They’re trying to tell their story and we’re trying to do the same thing. We have great respect for the year they’ve had and the job Gary and Kirk [Ferentz] are doing. They're doing theirs and we're doing our thing, and we'll see how it all plays out."

Each team has factors both helping and hurting them.

Barta can point to Iowa's superior results on the field this fall, namely a 21-10 victory at Penn State as well as wins against Wisconsin and two bowl-bound teams from BCS leagues (Arizona and Iowa State). Iowa also performed better than Penn State against Ohio State, and is ranked higher in the BCS standings. The Hawkeyes overcame numerous obstacles to go 10-2 against the nation's 24th toughest schedule (Penn State's slate ranks 51st).

Barta can also cite fan support at previous bowls. The Hawkeyes had 45,000 fans at the 2003 Orange Bowl and boasts a sizable number of alumni and Iowa natives in the Phoenix area who would pack the stands for the Fiesta Bowl. When Iowa visited Arizona State in 2004, it had 25,000 fans in Tempe.

Curley's case centers on Penn State's sparkling track record as an excellent bowl participant. Penn State wins bowl games. It always brings fans from around the country. It has made six trips to the Fiesta Bowl and five trips to the Orange Bowl (Iowa has never been to the Fiesta and reached the Orange just once).

It has a national appeal as the only powerhouse in the Northeast. When Penn State plays, people tune in. The team's appearances in the 2006 Orange Bowl and 2009 Rose Bowl are among the top five highest-rated, non-championship BCS bowls in the last four seasons. Perhaps most important, Penn State boasts arguably the most recognizable figure in college football in Paterno, who has been helping the bowl pitch.

"Joe has always wanted to play in the best game and play the highest-rated teams," Curley said. "So he’s always been active in making sure that we get the best matchup. I’m not sure there's too many programs out there that have been able to have the type of bowl record and bowl package that we've been able to bring to the table.

"There’s nothing like a proven track record."

Iowa's biggest obstacle could be its Q rating. The Hawkeyes were a national story this fall because of their dramatic wins and the constant media skepticism about them.

But are they as recognizable nationally as Penn State, which still has coast-to-coast reach as a former powerhouse independent with a living legend on the sideline? Barta says yes.

"Because of our schedule, because of our television appearances and the way our season went, we sort of became America’s team," Barta said. "I had people calling and e-mailing, saying, 'I’ve never been to Iowa, but I find myself tuning in every week.' And our ratings on ABC and ESPN held that to be true."

Penn State's stumbling block is the loss to Iowa, as well as the lack of a signature win. The Lions' nine wins against FBS opponents came against teams with a combined record of 48-59. Their six Big Ten wins came against teams with a combined record of 16-32.

"We think we’re playing our best football right now," Curley counters, "and coach Paterno's had a great track record of preparing teams for bowl games."

Will Paterno get to prepare Penn State for another BCS bowl, or will Ferentz receive the opportunity? Or will neither team make the big bowls?

We'll find out Sunday.