Ben 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 night in Mobile, Ala., 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) to extend 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.
It was the first bowl appearance since 1986 for the Mid-American Conference champion RedHawks and their first postseason win in 28 years.
– Reacting to the sixth arrest of a Nevada football player in the past year, newly appointed coach Chris Ault issued a new policy mandating permanent dismissal of any player accused of a felony even if the player later is acquitted.
The new policy replaces one that calls for only the suspension of a player charged with a felony, pending resolution.
– Colgate running back Jamaal Branch, who rushed for 2,271 yards this season, won the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in Division I-AA.
– Stanford defensive tackle Amon Gordon will skip his senior year and make himself eligible for the NFL draft.
