Florida Gators

But not like what could take place on Saturday.

Both Appleby and Etling began their college careers at Purdue and in 2014, they each started for the 3-9 Boilermakers. Etling started the first five games and Appleby the last seven.

Their competition carried over to spring camp in 2015, and when Appleby won the job, Etling transferred to LSU and sat out last season.

He is now LSU's starting quarterback as the Tigers prepare to face the Gators on Saturday afternoon at the Swamp. Appleby, who following last season transferred to UF for his final year of eligibility, has started the last two games in place of injured Luke Del Rio.

If Del Rio can't play Saturday, then the two former Boilermakers will start in one of the SEC's top rivalry games two years after going head-to-head in practice each day in Lafayette, Ind.

A crystal ball might not have seen that coming.

"We talked over the last couple of weeks,'' Appleby said Monday. "Just giving each other some encouragement. Probably won't be talking much this week but I'm definitely a Danny Etling fan and I wish him nothing but the best -- just not this week."

Etling took over for Brandon Harris in the second game of the season and has started the past three games. He said Appleby texted him prior to his first start for the Tigers to wish him well.

When Appleby made his first start for the Gators at Tennessee, Etling returned the favor, reaching out to Appleby.

"We roomed together on a couple of away trips," Etling said Monday at LSU's press conference. "We were neighbors in apartments. There was not a lot of free time. We would eat together and stuff like that. We got to know each other a little bit."

With Appleby and Etling both gone, redshirt sophomore David Blough is Purdue's starting quarterback. The Boilermakers lost 50-7 at Maryland on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Etling (19 of 30, 216 yards) led LSU to a 42-7 win over Missouri and Appleby (19 of 28, 144 yards) guided the Gators to a 13-6 victory at Vanderbilt.

Appleby said the competition at Purdue between them hasn't prevented them from remaining cordial.

"It's cool is what it is,'' he said of the potential matchup Saturday. "Both unfortunate the way that things happened at Purdue for us. Two guys that are very talented and have all the tools. I'm happy for not only him, that we both found, you know, a place that fits, a place that we've been able to be developed and play to our full potential and have a chance to go in games and lead our team."

Purdue coach Darrell Hazell was asked last week on the Big Ten coaches media teleconference about the unlikely scenario of two former Purdue quarterbacks starting for traditional SEC powers.

The Boilermakers are 8-32 under Hazell and have yet to develop a consistently offensive identity. The program has turned out several NFL quarterbacks over the years, most notably Bob Griese and Drew Brees.