Spotlights on QBs in Orange.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

MIAMI _ The winner of the Heisman Trophy is 28 years old. Already, male-pattern baldness is chipping away at his closely cropped blond hair. He speaks in mature, measured tones, and he exudes the self-assuredness that comes with the experience he has gained in his craft.

This is Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke.

At 22, the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting is more typical of a college senior. His hair is a bit disheveled, and he speaks at a frenetic pace, rambling sentences frequently interrupted by bursts of laughter. It's only when you watch how calmly he stares down blitzes, how he quickly bounces off the turf after sacrificing his body to deliver a pass, that you can appreciate his toughness.

This is Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel.

Wednesday night in the Orange Bowl, when Oklahoma (12-0) and Florida State (11-1) play for the national championship, the performances by the righthanded, 6-foot-5, 229-pound Weinke and the lefthanded, 6-2, 208-pound Heupel will largely determine the outcome. Each throw will be closely monitored. Each decision they make will be closely dissected.

"There's no doubt about it, the guy who makes us click is Chris Weinke," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "And (Heupel) is the same thing to them. I think what Chris means to us, he means to them. Both of us must have our quarterbacks do the job."

Perhaps more fascinating than the duel between Mr. Heisman and Mr. Heupel are the unconventional routes they took to get here.