Former UCLA and USC quarterbacks Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold met only once in college

In a very, very ideal world, one where the sun sets over the ocean like it does in Southern California where they're from, Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen will be AFC East rivals for years to come.

And Tank For Tua will never have happened.

In a very, very ideal world, Darnold of the Jets and Rosen of the Dolphins will meet on the field twice this season (once more than they ever have before) and they will lift their franchises and of course outlast Terrific Tom, because the torch must be passed eventually, right? Eventually?

Oh, they're all from California, these AFC East quarterbacks. A fluke perhaps. Of course Brady is unlike all of the others with his birth certificate reading "1977" which is very much unlike Josh Allen (1996), Josh Rosen (1997) and Sam Darnold (1997).

Oh yeah, and that matter of championships. And NFL games played, my gosh.

Brady: 269 plus 40 in the playoffs (and six rings). Rosen: 14 total. Darnold: 13 total. Allen: 12 total.

On the path to the 2018 NFL Draft (does that not seem so long ago?), Jets writers trekked to California to write two stories: Suck for Sam. Chosen Rosen.

The headlines were easy. The story lines made sense. Two of the best quarterbacks in the nation, playing at rivals USC and UCLA.

The Jets chose Darnold. Passed on Rosen. The last Miami coach, now in New York, actually was enamored with Baker Mayfield and Allen.

In their one regular-season meeting, near the end of the 2017 season, Rosen outplayed Darnold. But USC won.

Rosen was frustrated. He fell in the draft to the Cardinals. And was frustrated. The Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray. He was frustrated.

He was traded to Miami. He spoke of a chip on his shoulder.

They say Darnold never gets frustrated. They say Darnold (like Allen) wasn't so heavily recruited.

Supposedly Darnold once went to a UCLA camp, but soon noticed many coaches were showering Rosen with affection. Made sense. Chosen Rosen. All the arm talent in the world. Still has the arm talent, by the way.

Darnold and Rosen declared for the NFL Draft on the same day, within minutes of each other: Rosen on Twitter, Darnold on Instagram.

Much was made of their differences when they played in college. Darnold says he is a natural introvert. Rosen has proven to be outspoken and opinionated.

That doesn't make one way better than the other. Darnold has a quiet way of leading. Rosen has spoken about maturing as a person and a leader.

They both possess poise and accuracy. Before their only college meeting (they did not meet in high school), Rosen said he thought Darnold was more athletic.

Darnold said Rosen is a great guy and a great player. Rosen said Darnold is really special. According to a stories reported in California, Darnold and Rosen would occasionally text or speak.

Before the draft last season, Rosen posted on Instagram a photo of he, Darnold, Allen and Lamar Jackson sitting together.

"Relax, we're friends," Rosen wrote.

"No we're not," Darnold replied to the post, in what we can assume was intended as an attempt at humor.

Some have said Rosen doesn't seem fiery enough on the field. But according to those in attendance, Rosen was very, very fired up about once losing to Darnold and USC, 28-23 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Rosen passed for 421 yards and three touchdowns, outperforming Darnold, who passed for 264 yards with one rushing touchdown. But after it was over, Darnold climbed a stepladder, held a sword up high and led the Trojans' band.

It would be their only college meeting, as Darnold had redshirted as a freshman and Rosen missed the second clash with a shoulder injury.

"Rosen not only won the stats test, but also the eye test," Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times wrote on that November, 2017 night. "Rosen was wow, Darnold was workmanlike. Rosen showed off his arm, Darnold displayed his steadiness."

After the game, Rosen embraced Darnold at midfield. He said: "We're friends … it's all in good sportsmanship."

And Darnold said of Rosen: "It's awesome to be able to battle against a great player like Josh. Whenever we get opportunity to play against a great team and great quarterback like Josh, you just want to compete to the highest level."

Friends. Rivals. Friendly rivals. It should be fun to watch if and how this story line evolves in the pros.

The perception is the Jets have landed their best franchise quarterback since Joe Namath in Darnold. The perception is it was worth giving up three second-rounders to the Colts, just to move up from six to three in the 2018 draft.

The perception is the Dolphins are taking a calculated flier by nabbing the former 10th overall pick from Arizona. The perception is a late second-rounder and a fifth-rounder for a potential franchise quarterback is potential fleece.

What would be an awesome reality is if Darnold and Rosen both fulfilled their lofty expectations. And meet so many more times.

A Jets-Dolphins rivalry reignited not only by a sideline-swapping coach but two young franchise quarterbacks sounds nice, doesn't it?

Only six months until they (probably) meet again, in Miami Gardens.

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jschad@pbpost.com

@schadjoe