TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama has never beaten Arizona State.

Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter has never lost to Arizona.

Aside from that, the starting quarterbacks have a lot in common as they prepare for today’s Territorial Cup game in Arizona Stadium.

They’ve both shown toughness and resilience in the face of adversity. They’ll leave their respective campuses among the leading passers in school history. And they hope to translate that success into NFL careers.

The quarterback duel is the most intriguing sidelight in this year’s game between Arizona (6-5, 4-4 Pac-10) and Arizona State (5-6, 4-4). ASU needs a victory to earn a minor bowl berth, while Arizona, already bowl-bound for the first time since 1998, is looking to snap a two-game skid.

“To get this win and finish here right would be huge,” Tuitama said this week.

Asked if he would have an incomplete feeling if the Wildcats lose to the Sun Devils again, Tuitama replied, “I don’t plan on coming up short.”

Neither does Carpenter. He knows that going 4-0 against the Wildcats would bolster his legacy, which is likely to generate debate long after he leaves school.

“It would be a pretty big accomplishment,” Carpenter told reporters in Tempe. “I’d like to say that playing against U. of A. is just another game, but obviously that’s not the case.”

Given the transient nature of big-time college football, it’s remarkable that Tuitama and Carpenter will make four starts against each other.

That gives them another thing in common: they’re survivors.

“(Tuitama) and Rudy are very similar in that they are very competitive, they’re both fighters and you can see why they move the football,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said.

“This has not been a real easy road, obviously,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops said.

Stoops was talking about Tuitama, but he might also have been discussing Carpenter’s career at Arizona State.

Tuitama had planned to redshirt in 2005, but injuries forced him into the lineup in the seventh game. He started the last four and flashed potential, with nine touchdown passes against five interceptions.

But his growth as a quarterback was stunted the following season, when he was sidelined by a series of shots to the head, including one in the 2006 season finale against ASU.

“That was really a tough year, and to physically take some of the hits he took was very uncomfortable, I think, for everybody,” Stoops said. “But he was able to overcome all that. We were worried about his career.”

Tuitama rebounded in 2007, throwing for 3,683 yards and 28 touchdowns, both school records. (He was intercepted 12 times).

This year, Tuitama has helped guide the Wildcats to their first bowl game since 1998. He’ll leave Arizona as the school’s all-time leader in completions, passing yards and touchdowns.

But Stoops said Tuitama’s statistics aren’t as important as his role in helping revive a dormant program.

“Winning is something, I think, that all quarterbacks want to be ultimately remembered for,” Stoops said. “I don’t think statistics are real important to competitive people. I think Saturday, he’d throw all the records out to win.”

Tuitama said he hasn’t given a thought to his records or his legacy.

“Maybe after the season when everything is said and done,” he said. “There are so many other things to think about during the season we haven’t accomplished. Someday.”

Like Tuitama, Carpenter has etched his name in his school’s record book. And like Tuitama, Carpenter has had his share of struggles.

Carpenter emerged from a messy quarterback controversy on the eve of the 2006 season. Carpenter has also overcome with a series of nagging injuries to start 42 straight games, the nation’s longest active streak.

“He has had ups and downs in his career, like we all have,” Erickson said. “He’s had successes and he’s had some games where he wasn’t as good as he wanted to be. He loves Arizona State and has given everything he has to Arizona State.”

Carpenter is ASU’s all-time leader in completions and is second to Andrew Walter in touchdown passes and passing yards.

Carpenter has won 26 games, tied with Dennis Sproul for second on ASU’s all-time list.

Carpenter has had some of his biggest games against the Wildcats. He’s completed 55 percent of his passes (55 of 99) for 707 yards. He’s thrown 5 touchdown passes and only one interception.

But for all his numbers, Carpenter has been a lightning rod for the fans’ frustrations as Arizona State, ranked 15th in August, collapsed under the weight of preseason expectations. In his final home start last week, Carpenter heard boos as the Sun Devils’ attack sputtered in a 34-9 victory over UCLA.

The fans’ reaction stung. But Carpenter makes no apologies for his time at Arizona State.

“No matter what anybody says, I’ve done a lot of things here,” said Carpenter, who will leave ASU with a degree. “I won a lot of games, put up a lot of numbers. I don’t know what else I am supposed to do.”