Johnson gave Alabama a taste of what it would be facing on three lightning-quick first-quarter drives, none of which lasted longer than two minutes. The senior completed 10 of 14 passes for 139 yards in the quarter, sandwiching touchdown passes to Brent Castell and Bradon Godfrey around a 2-yard direct snap touchdown run by Matt Asiata.

After 11 minutes, Utah led 21-0 in front a stunned Superdome crowd mostly made up for Crimson Tide fans.

Leigh Tiffin's 52-yard field goal to start the second quarter got Alabama on the board before Javier Arenas returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown to cut Utah's lead to 21-10 heading into halftime.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower gave Tide additional hope on the first snap of the second half, knocking the ball out of Johnson's hand for a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Bobby Greenwood and returned to the Utah 30.

Three minutes later, Wilson completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Glen Coffee that got Alabama within 21-17.

But Utah responded with another drive that met little resistance. The Utes went 71 yards in seven plays, needing just a minute and a half before Johnson completed a pass to David Reed, who broke free from cornerback Kareem Jackson and ran free for a 28-yard touchdown that made it 28-17.

Alabama couldn't mount a comeback. Without Smith and his replacement Mike Johnson, who left and didn't return after spraining his right ankle in the first quarter, the Tide had one of its worst offensive showing of the year.

Utah sacked Wilson eight times, double the most Alabama had allowed in any game this year. Wilson threw for 177 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice by Utes safety Robert Johnson.

The Tide, which averaged almost 200 rushing yards per game this season, finished with just 31 on Friday night. Coffee, a first-team all-SEC running back, was limited to 13 carries for 36 yards.