WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The battle for Purdue's starting quarterback job still hasn't been settled.

Less than two weeks before the Boilermakers' play in their second straight Sun Bowl, coach Joe Tiller continues to debate who should start against Washington.

Tiller said Thursday during the Boilermakers' bowl media day that both quarterbacks, Kyle Orton and Brandon Kirsch, would play against Washington on Dec. 31. Who starts is still being determined.

"It may change if we think one guy has a better hold on the gameplan," Tiller said.

The Boilermakers' quarterback carousel has been a consistent theme all season.

Orton, a sophomore, started Purdue's first seven games before being replaced by Kirsch, a freshman, against Illinois. Kirsch started the next two weeks. Orton regained the job against Ohio State but was replaced after throwing two interceptions.

Kirsch regained the job for the Boilermakers' final two games, against Michigan State and Indiana, as Purdue (6-6) clinched its sixth straight bowl trip.

But Orton, who replaced an injured Kirsch against Michigan State, heaved the game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-8 to beat the Spartans _ and keep Purdue bowl-eligible.

Orton also outplayed Kirsch in the Boilermakers' 34-10 rout of the Hoosiers when he was 22-of-28 for 173 yards. Kirsch was 2-of-6 for 40 yards with one touchdown.

Yet the battle wages on.

"You would like to have a decision made before the game, so you know who is playing and who is backing up," Kirsch said. "It's a different situation, but it's been that way all year."

The Boilermakers also will be looking at some historical trends. Purdue has never had a losing season under Tiller, but it has lost three consecutive bowl games.

Players and coaches don't want to be known as the team that lost four straight bowl games or became Tiller's first Purdue team to finish with a losing record.

The Boilermakers will have to play without sophomore tight end Mike Rhinehart and senior center Gene Mruczkowski.

Rhinehart started eight games this year but has not played since Nov. 9 after suffering his second concussion of the season. Tiller said he was concerned Rhinehart's career could be over because doctors are waiting until next month to re-evaluate him.

Mruczkowski has started all 48 games since coming to Purdue but partially tore two ligaments in his right knee against Indiana. Tiller suggested Mruczkowski may get a little action in his final college game.

"He's out, for all intents and purposes. But he may play one play," Tiller joked. "You just never know."

The bigger question continues to be who will start at quarterback.

Kirsch is more mobile, Orton stronger-armed.

Orton also has postseason experience. He set three Sun Bowl records by going 38-of-74 for 419 yards. He threw two touchdowns and four interceptions in the Boilermakers' 33-27 loss to Washington State.

But he doesn't know what to expect this year.

"You just have to play the cards you are dealt," Orton said. "I think we both deserve to start. I think we've both had good years."

Tiller's decision, however, is likely to come down to what he sees once Purdue arrives in El Paso, Texas on Dec. 26.

With five days of practice in Texas, Tiller will again let his top two quarterbacks battle for the starting job _ and he's giving no hint of who he will choose.

"Unless we get down there and it becomes apparent one guy has a better grasp, then we may make a decision," he said. "But we're not counting on it."