Ben Roethlisberger threw touchdown passes to four receivers Thursday night, leading No. 14 Miami (Ohio) to a 49-27 victory over 20th-ranked Bowling Green in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Roethlisberger set a title game record with 440 passing yards and became just the second MAC quarterback to go over 4,000 yards in a season.
He led visiting Miami (12-1) to scores on the their first four possessions of the second half.
“All I had to do was put it out there and they made the play,” said Roethlisberger, who gave credit to everyone but himself.
Roethlisberger sealed the victory with a 55-yard TD pass to Calvin Murray, who found a seam along the sideline.
That put the RedHawks up 42-20 with 17 seconds left in the third quarter in only the third meeting between two MAC teams ranked in the Top 25.
“People that know football marvel,” Miami coach Terry Hoeppner said of Roethlisberger. “It’s only people who see him for the first who are surprised.”
It’s the first MAC title since 1986 for the RedHawks, who haven’t lost since the season opener at Iowa.
The last team to win all of its MAC games was Marshall in 1999.
Miami will play Louisville in the GMAC Bowl on Dec. 18.
After the game, Bowling Green (10-3) accepted a bid to play in the Motor City Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26, ending Northern Illinois’ hopes of a bowl bid.
Follow the Sun
Florida Atlantic and Florida International accepted invitations to join the Sun Belt Conference in football beginning next season, paving the way for the schools to compete at the Division I-A level.
FIU already is a member of the Sun Belt in all other sports, and FAU is a member of the Atlantic Sun.
Both schools have been Division I-AA independents in football.
Hearing waived
Penn State freshman wide receiver Maurice Humphrey, accused of assaulting a fellow student, has waived his preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief. A pretrial conference has been set for Jan. 27, with jury selection to start Feb. 9.
TEAM, SYNOPSIS
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Jeff Bower has been named Conference USA coach of the year and Golden Eagles linebacker Rod Davis won C-USA defensive player of the year in balloting by coaches and media.
UCLA Bruins
Sophomore QB Matt Moore, in and out of starting lineup this season after being injured in opening game, plans to transfer next week and will not play in Dec. 30 Silicon Valley Bowl.
Mississippi Rebels
Eli Manning, who led team to 9-3 record this year, won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback, an honor his brother Peyton received in 1997.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Day after head coach Jack Bicknell was told he would be retained despite 5-7 season, defensive coordinator Rick Smith was fired. Tech finished last in nation in total defense this year.
Georgia Bulldogs
AD Vince Dooley left Athens, Ga., hospital 3 days after going to the emergency room because of ulcer. Dooley, 71, will retire in June after 40 years at Georgia, including 25 as football coach.
Penn State Nittany Lions
QB Kevin Suhey, nephew of ex-Bear Matt Suhey, said he would sign letter of intent with Nittany Lions, making him 4th generation of his family to play at Penn State.
