PSU QBs to compete for start

Updated: November 2, 2010, 5:17 PM ET

Penn State quarterbacks Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden will compete this week in practice to see who starts Saturday against Northwestern.

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McGloin led Penn State to a 41-31 win last Saturday against Michigan in his first career start, completing 17 of 28 passes for 250 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Bolden started Penn State's first seven games before leaving an Oct. 23 game at Minnesota with an apparent concussion.

Bolden was cleared to play against Michigan but didn't see the field. Coach Joe Paterno said Bolden felt good following Monday's workout, and Paterno feels much more comfortable playing the freshman against Northwestern that he did last week.

Both McGloin and Bolden could see the field against Northwestern as Paterno goes for career win No. 400.

"Sometimes it's just a gut feeling when you get two kids as even as these two are," Paterno said of choosing a starter. "I've been a one-quarterback guy, you go into a ballgame and you stick with him. But every once in a while, you've got to start to say, 'Hey, maybe I'd be better off if we went with two.'

"It may be a decision where we can't make up our mind and we end up playing both of them."

Adam Rittenberg covers Big Ten football for ESPN.com. He can be reached at espnritt@gmail.com