Utah Utes: Team celebrates unbeaten regular season with BCS anticipation

Now, the big question.

Where will the Utes be going bowling?

After qualifying for a second trip to the Bowl Championship Series, they're guaranteed a spot in the Fiesta, Orange, Rose or Sugar bowls — even the BCS Championship Game is a possibility.

The Sugar and Fiesta, however, are the most likely destinations — although things are still far from being decided. The official announcement of Utah's postseason game won't come until Dec. 7, and it may take that long for things to sort out.

Representatives from the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls attended Utah's 48-24 win over BYU on Saturday. The victory capped a 12-0 season for the Utes, who were ranked seventh in last week's BCS standings.

"It's obviously not my decision alone, but we're obviously very serious about Utah," said Terry Alarcon of the Sugar Bowl committee.

"It would depend on who was available at that particular time. There's a lot of games still to be played."

Alarcon was one of two Sugar Bowl reps who made the trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"We're here because we are very interested in Utah," he added.

" ... We are going to do what's in the best interest of the BCS, and if we have an opportunity to take Utah, then I think we would not shy away from them."

The Utes, he continued, are definitely in the mix for a trip to New Orleans, where they would face an SEC team — most likely Florida or Alabama.

"It doesn't matter," Johnson said. "It would be cool to play the Gators, though."

A reunion with former coach Urban Meyer, though, would not materialize if Utah ends up in the Fiesta Bowl against a Big 12 opponent.

"Absolutely they're still on our radar. Why wouldn't they be?" said Mike Allen of the Fiesta Bowl committee. "They're undefeated, ranked seventh in the BCS, and they are great friends with the Fiesta Bowl."

Allen noted that Utah's 2005 appearance in the Fiesta Bowl showed that the Utes' fan base isn't really an issue.

"What it will come down to is coming up with a good matchup that serves the need of the college football fans and our community as a whole," Allen said.

THIS IS THE PLACE: On his way out of Utah's postgame press conference, head coach Kyle Whittingham was asked about his future.

"Am I going to leave? No. No. I love it here," Whittingham told The Daily Utah Chronicle. "... I have a lot of family here. I love this area. My kids love it here. As a football coach in Division-I football, you don't find coaches that have been able to put their kids in the same school system from kindergarten through 12th grade, and that's big for me.

"I'm not all into looking for that next job, I never have been.