Jeff Brohm hit Reggie Ferguson with a 25-yard touchdown pass with 12:05 left, helping lift No. 25 Louisville over Michigan State 18-7 Tuesday night in the Liberty Bowl.
The Cardinals added a safety and another TD in clinching their first victory over a Big Ten school. Louisville (9-3) entered the game with an 0-5-1 mark against Big Ten teams.Michigan State (6-6) led 7-3 for three quarters until Brohm, playing despite a broken index finger on his right hand, rallied the Cardinals.
He directed a 14-play drive in the third quarter that failed when David Akers' 23-yard field goal attempt missed wide left. But Louisville's defense returned the ball to Brohm seven plays later, and the 6-foot-1 senior completed four of five passes, capping a 59-yard drive with the TD throw to Ferguson for a 10-7 lead.
Brohm finished 19-of-29 for 197 yards.
The victory capped the Cardinals' rebound from 2-9 and 5-6 seasons.