Rutgers’ Rice says injured ankle is fine

Rutgers running back Ray Rice said the left ankle he injured late in Sunday night’s 24-13 win over Connecticut is fine, a pronouncement that was probably a relief for the Scarlet Knights.

“It’s just a little sore. I’m ready to go,� Rice said Monday, a little more than 12 hours after the No. 15 Scarlet Knights improved to 8-0 by holding off the Huskies in one of their least impressive wins of the season.

The schedule will aid in Rice’s recovery: Rutgers has 10 days before it plays host to No. 5 Louisville (7-0) in what is being billed as the biggest game at Rutgers in decades. Rice said he expects to play then.

The sophomore is the third-leading rusher in the nation, with 1,203 yards.

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Florida quarterback Chris Leak said Monday that he didn’t play with a concussion against Georgia.

“I just got dinged. No more than that,� said Leak, who had a severe headache and blurred vision. “ ... It really didn’t affect my play at all. I played through it and went through all my checks and all the plays, and I felt pretty good.�

After Saturday’s 21-14 victory, Leak told Coach Urban Meyer he felt as though he suffered a concussion in the first half. Leak told team trainers only that he had a headache. He took medication but didn’t use the word “concussion� until after the game.

From the Associated Press

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ABC college football commentator Tim Brant, scheduled to work Saturday’s Washington State-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl with play-by-play announcer Dan Fouts, took the weekend off after his wife was injured in a fall Thursday at their home in Rockville, Md.

Rod Gilmore, scheduled to work the Texas El Paso-Tulsa game Friday night for ESPN2, was instead sent to the Rose Bowl to fill in for Brant.

Brant is expected to return to work this weekend.

-- Larry Stewart