Smith was suspended and sent home for reportedly making contact with a sports agent.

The Tide missed him sorely.

And to make matters worse, Mike Johnson, the man who replaced Smith, injured his ankle in the first quarter and didn't return.

Quarterback John Parker Wilson was sacked eight times, a season high. The previous high was four sacks against Tulane, a game that Smith sat out with an injury. The Tide offensive line had allowed only 17 sacks coming into the Sugar Bowl.

Much of the Utah pressure came from the left side, through a 6-foot-5, 330-pound hole left by Smith's sudden departure.

Wilson's confidence to step up in the pocket and find open receivers because Smith had his back, seemed shot.

"We had a tough time blocking the edges," Saban said.

That was an understatement.

This didn't look like the Alabama team that rolled to a 12-0 record and No. 1 ranking before losing 31-20 in the SEC title game.

How much of that was Alabama's fault and how much could be credited to Utah is uncertain, but it sure seems like the Utes deserve credit for disrupting the Tide.

Utah exploited Smith's absence and took Cody out of the game. Part of that is luck, but a large part of that is coaching and talent.

For the better part of a season, Alabama had been nearly flawless.

Things the Crimson Tide had not done this year, it did Friday night.

Wide receiver Marquis Maze got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the final play of the first half. It was as if he was channelling Alabama's frustration in trailing 21-10 at the half.

The Alabama defense could not stop Utah's offense, which rolled up 349 yards in total offense.

Three days ago, Under Armour brought the Cinderella Utes new slippers. The shoes, shiny and lift, had the Utah logo on the logo.

All night, Alabama folks kept waiting for clock to strike midnight.

It didn't happen.

Cinderella stayed around all night.

And one of the reasons was Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, the games Most Outstanding Player.

"We're taking this one back to Salt Lake," Johnson said.

Yes, they are.