Mobile, Ala. ? Ben Roethlisberger ended his college career in style.

Roethlisberger passed for 376 yards and four first-half touchdowns, leading No. 14 Miami of Ohio to a 49-28 victory Thursday night over Louisville in the GMAC Bowl 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 likely will be a 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 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 in 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.

Miami of Ohio quarterback Ben Roethlisberger reacts after throwing a second-quarter touchdown against Louisville in the GMAC Bowl. Roethlisberger threw for 376 yards and four first-half touchdowns in the RedHawks' 49-28 victory Thursday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

“He made some plays that made those of you who haven’t seen him play in person go, ‘How can he do that? How can he keep escaping like that and hitting guys in the hands with balls?'” Hoeppner said.

“The Big 12 officials were officiating this game. They said they think we should have a re-vote,” he said, referring to the Heisman Trophy captured by Oklahoma’s Jason White. “I think he’s the finest football player in college football.”

The RedHawks outgained Louisville 597-492 in a matchup of high-powered offenses.

The Miami defense twice came up big in the fourth. Matt Pusateri stepped in front of Stefan LeFors’ pass and raced 35 yards for a touchdown to erase Louisville’s comeback hopes, the RedHawks’ fifth score of the season on interception returns. Then, Terna Nande picked off another pass in the end zone.

Cal Murray rushed 15 times for 142 yards and a touchdown for Miami. Martin Nance had nine catches for 169 yards, all but one catch and six yards in the first half.

It’s the first time a MAC team has produced a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and a 1,000-yard rusher in a season.