Miami ? Never mind the turnovers and the sloppy first three quarters. Soon after the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals won the Orange Bowl, they had their sights on bigger things.

“Right now, coming back and trying to win a national title looks very appealing,” junior quarterback Brian Brohm said.

The Cardinals overcame a rash of mistakes Tuesday night to earn their first major-bowl victory in 15 years, beating Wake Forest 24-13.

Brohm threw for 311 yards and Anthony Allen scored two touchdowns, one on a trick play, to help Louisville finish 12-1 and clinch its highest end-of-season ranking ever.

“This is a big win for our program,” said Harry Douglas, who made 10 catches for 165 yards. “We’re becoming a national power. It had to start with this game.”

The Cardinals blew an 18-point lead in their lone loss at Rutgers, which likely cost them a chance to play for the national title.

“We start off with a high ranking next year,” said receiver Patrick Carter, who threw a touchdown pass. “We’ve proved ourselves, and we need to keep proving ourselves.”

The Cardinals averaged 39 points and ranked second in the nation in total offense this season, but fell behind 13-10 in the final period before their high-powered offense got into gear. Touchdown drives of 81 and 71 yards on consecutive possessions sealed their first win in a major bowl since the 1991 Fiesta Bowl.

Louisville's Anthony Allen (42) and Harry Douglas celebrate after Allen scored on a 21-yard reception. The Cardinals won the Orange Bowl, 24-13, on Tuesday in Miami.

The No. 15 Demon Deacons slipped to 11-3, still their best season.

“Looking back on our season, you definitely have to be happy with what we did,” linebacker Jon Abbate said. “We turned the corner for Wake Forest football.”

Through three quarters, the Demon Deacons appeared on the verge of an upset, as squandered opportunities plagued the Cardinals. Louisville lost two fumbles in Wake Forest territory, Mario Urrutia dropped a potential 62-yard touchdown pass, and Art Carmody – the Lou Groza Award winner – was wide right on a 32-yard field goal attempt, only his fourth miss this season.

“We weren’t holding onto the ball,” center Eric Wood said. “We weren’t helping ourselves.”

Alphonso Smith nearly blocked Carmody’s errant kick and also harried Louisville’s punter into a 14-yard boot that set up a 44-yard field goal by Sam Swank of Wake Forest.

Like Louisville, the Demon Deacons failed to convert several scoring chances. They committed three turnovers in Cardinal territory, and after moving 36 yards in the final minute of the first half, Swank missed a 47-yard field goal.

“Too many mistakes,” coach Jim Grobe said.