The question — such as it is — regarding Iowa is whether Ricky Stanzi or Jake Christensen will be the starter remains. On the Iowa depth chart there is the ever-popular “OR” between the two. Both have played and alternated in effectiveness and putridness. Does it really matter?

For a somewhat non-coach speak assessment of Iowa quarterback, we go to Pittsburgh.

It’s not much, but here’s what Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt sees in Jake Christensen and Ricky Stanzi.

“Stanzi might have a bit of a stronger arm and he might be a little bit more accurate but he’s probably not as athletic,” Wannstedt said. “But they aren’t going to change their offense regardless of who is at quarterback. We’ll prepare for both. Obviously, one’s right-handed (Stanzi) and the other is left-handed (Christensen) but that won’t change our preparation much.”

For coach-speak, here’s Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz’s Tuesday afternoon glimpse into the situation.

“I don’t know. we’ll just see how things go. If the guy’s throwing a shutout …” Ferentz said. “Guy walks the first six batters, we might be going somewhere else, too. Yeah, I’ll go with that one.

“In obvious situations, we’ll do the obvious.”

I expect Christensen will start. He started every game last season and lost the starting job against FIU. Then came back strong against Iowa State after Stanzi flailed about. Figure it was the cliched “wake-up call” for Christensen, and along with his experience he’ll be given the start on the road.

The bigger concern for Pitt is stopping Iowa running back Shonn Greene.

“The running back, because of the way things have unfolded, is a guy that gets your attention,” Wannstedt said. “He’s as physical a running back as we’ve seen in a while. This guy does not come down with an arm tackle. You need to find a way to get him to the ground.”

Iowa was just happy to find a way to get him back in school. Greene rushed for 116 yards against Ball State as a freshman, becoming the school’s first rookie to break the century mark since Tony Stewart in 1987.

But he played mostly special teams after that, and academic difficulties forced him to spend last year at Kirkwood Community College. He returned to the Hawkeyes in mid-June.

Greene rushed for 109 yards on 22 carries against Maine, had 101 yards on nine carries in the first quarter alone against Florida International – the first time an Iowa back had done so since 2002 – and is coming off a 120-yard performance against Iowa State.

“You always talk about backs running with their pads down. He delivers blows. If you don’t bring the wood, you’re going to get the wood,” Bennett said. “In each game, he’s had what I call decisive runs that set the game and put other teams at the break point.”

So, is this game a “key” game for Pitt and Wannstedt? They think so in Iowa.

Look at the facts: Saturday’s game between the Panthers (1-1) and the Hawkeyes is at Heinz Field, where the Panthers have already lost once this season — a 27-17 stunner against Bowling Green. Another non-conference home loss and Pitt’s bowl hopes — it hasn’t been to one in three years — start to look iffy.

Coupled with expectations for the season, at home and a bye week and they see it as a no-brainer. Over at Cat Basket, there is a different view.

This game is the type of game Wannstedt always loses; home against a manageable opponent when we are the favorite and after a bye week. A narrow win would only mean that we are around the same level that we were coming off of the Buffalo win and a loss means we are back to square one. Iowa having some profile in college football is the built in excuse for the coaching staff if we lose this game.

I sort of agree. A loss, and nothing has changed. It is the kind of game Pitt loses, and Iowa would be 4-0 and almost a lock for a bowl game. Ergo, Pitt lost a game to a quality opponent and the usual litany of excuses.

A win, though, would make this different. 0-5 off of byes. 1-5 versus BCS opponents. 0 wins in the non-con against 1-A teams that finished with winning records. That’s Wannstedt’s tenure to date. In that respect, a win would be big. It actually gives hope that the team is getting it together.

It may be false hope from facing a team that is almost the equal to Pitt with a lack of offensive innovation, but it would offer hope.