MOBILE, Ala. - Ben Roethlisberger ended his college career in style.
Roethlisberger passed for 376 yards and four first-half touchdowns to lead No. 14 Miami of Ohio to a 49-28 victory over Louisville in the GMAC Bowl on Thursday before announcing his decision to leave school early for the NFL.
"I feel the time is right to embark on the next challenge," he said. "I'll always be grateful for the wonderful experiences of the past four years."
A third-team Associated Press All-American, Roethlisberger is a likely top 10 pick in April's NFL draft. He showed why against the Cardinals, completing 21 of 33 passes, shaking off would-be sacks and throwing perfect strikes on the run.
The RedHawks (13-1) extended major college football's longest winning streak to 13 games after racing to a 35-7 second quarter lead. Miami scored two more touchdowns in the fourth to stymie a rally by Louisville (9-4), which has lost five bowl games in the past six years.
"The unbelievable team success of this season has fulfilled so many of my collegiate football goals," said Roethlisberger, flanked by his family, coach Terry Hoeppner and some of his closest friends on the team.
He led the RedHawks to their first bowl appearance since 1986, a Mid-American Conference championship and their first postseason win in 28 years, punctuating the team's only 13-win season. After a season-opening loss at Iowa when Roethlisberger was picked off four times, Miami rebounded to match its longest winning streak set from 1972-74.
Roethlisberger certainly looked NFL-ready in the first half, going 16-of-20 for 291 yards for an offense that produced 16 plays of at least 10 yards before halftime.
"He made some plays that made those of you who haven't seen him play in person go, "How can he do that?"' Hoeppner said.
Leak receives honor
Florida quarterback Chris Leak was named the freshman player of the year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio. He will receive the award Feb. 7.
Leak threw for 2,167 yards with 14 touchdowns, both school records for a freshman. He made his first start Sept. 27 in a 24-21 win over Kentucky and went on to finish 6-2.
The Gators meet Iowa at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
TITLE ON THE LINE: K.C. Keeler won a national championship as a player at Delaware. Now he's on the verge of coaching the Blue Hens to their first title since then.
Delaware (14-1) plays Colgate (15-0) at 7 tonight, with the winner claiming the first Division I-AA national championship for either team.
Keeler was a starting linebacker for the Blue Hens when they won the Division II title in 1979.
"That game, that single moment defined my football career in terms of a player," Keeler said. "When they talk about me, they talk about a great linebacker who won the national championship."
Colgate, the Patriot League champion that has won 21 straight dating to last season, is playing in the championship game for the first time.
"It's been a long journey," said Raiders coach Dick Biddle, in his eighth year at the school.
Colgate's winning streak is tied for the third longest in I-AA history, after 24 straight by Montana from 2001-02 and Pennsylvania from 1992-95.
LITTLE ALL-AMERICA: North Alabama quarterback Will Hall and St. John's receiver Blake Elliott headline the Associated Press Little All-America team, which features the top players in Divisions II and III and the NAIA.
Hall completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 3,531 yards and 30 touchdowns to lead North Alabama (13-1) to the national semifinals.
Elliott has 112 catches for 1,268 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Johnnies (13-0).
HOUSTON: Coach Art Briles will receive a new contract after leading the Cougars to a bowl game in his first season. Athletic director Dave Maggard said he has an oral agreement with Briles and that further details of the new contract would be provided after the Cougars play Thursday in the Hawaii Bowl at Honolulu.
MIAMI: The Hurricanes returned to practice for the first time since late last month. Miami (10-2) meets Florida State (10-2) for the second time this season Jan. 1 in the Orange Bowl. "It was great to get back into it," coach Larry Coker said. "It was a great day. I think the guys were happy to be back. I know they're happy to have finals behind them."
NEBRASKA: Interim coach Bo Pelini still doesn't know if he'll be granted an interview for the full-time job. "There's only one man who knows what's going on," Pelini said, referring to athletic director Steve Pederson.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Lou Holtz hired ex-Clemson assistant Rick Stockstill to coach receivers. Stockstill, who spent 14 years at rival Clemson, replaces Charlie Williams, who left this month for a spot at Arizona.
STANFORD: Defensive tackle Amon Gordon will skip his senior year and make himself eligible for the NFL draft.
