Money, however, is only a portion of the reward the Utes are receiving for reaching a second BCS bowl game. Playing in the Sugar Bowl in the Superdome on Friday night in front of a national television audience is incredibly positive exposure for recruiting. It also raises the national profile of the program.

"It's great," Whittingham said. "What's not to like? It's a BCS game."

The biggest reward for reaching the Sugar Bowl is doled out to the people who got the Utes here — the players and the coaching staff.

"It's a great reward for our team and for our seniors," Whittingham said. "It's something that they've been working for, really, since the UNLV game a year and a half ago. That was the turning point in the team's mentality, and this is the culmination of that."

The honor of reaching the Sugar Bowl hasn't disappointed the Utes so far.

"It's a great bowl," Whittingham said. "These guys know how to do it right. We've enjoyed the amount of activity time the bowl has to offer, and we've enjoyed the city of New Orleans."

Running back Matt Asiata said he's always dreamed of playing in a bowl game of the Sugar Bowl's magnitude.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said.

Johnson agreed.

"We've got a chance to play on national TV in front of millions and millions of people," he said. "As a player and as a senior, what more could you ask for on your way out? We're enjoying it, and we'll be ready to go on Friday."

Receiver Brent Casteel was one of the players making noise as the Utes concluded their final practice of the season. It was a spontaneous act by many of them, and one with a message that couldn't be missed: The reward for all of their hard work is nearing its payoff.

"It was the last practice of our career and things like that," Casteel said. "It was a fun time to have everyone out there, sharing it with each other. It was a pretty cool moment."

Another one will take place on Friday night.

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E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com