Delicious matchup for Rice

TORONTO – The International Bowl could be the perfect showcase for Rutgers running back Ray Rice.

The Scarlet Knights’ all-time leading rusher will line up today against a Ball State defense that ranked 99th in the nation against the run this season, giving up nearly 200 yards a game.

“Any game Ray takes the field could be a big game for him,” offensive tackle Jeremy Zuttah said. “On any play, he can go the distance, make a whole bunch of guys miss.”

Rice has made a college career of that. The two-time Associated Press second-team All-American ran for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior season with the Scarlet Knights (7-5). He has yet to announce whether he’ll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Players who choose to declare for the draft must do so by Jan. 15.

Rice ran for 1,120 yards as a freshman in 2005, then followed that with 1,794 yards as a sophomore as Rutgers went 11-2 in 2006.

“He’s a tremendous football player,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said of Rice. “He’s everything you could ask for in a running back, and as a person.”

Ball State coach Brady Hoke said his team’s defense will be the key to containing Rice and the Rutgers offense.

“They’ve got a great offensive line, they’re very athletic,” Hoke said. “(Rice) is a tremendous back and a guy that we’ve got to try and grapple if we can, get on him and get a lot of people to him.”

The Cardinals (7-5) will try to move the ball through the air, with sophomore quarterback Nate Davis looking downfield for wide receiver Dante Love and tight end Darius Hill.

Davis threw for 3,376 yards this season and had 27 touchdowns against just six interceptions.

“This kid is as good as we’ve played,” Schiano said.