"It is very difficult to go undefeated in this day and age ... Like I said, we're the only ones standing right now that have an unblemished record," he said. "It is what it is. But we think that we're a pretty good football team."

LOOKING AHEAD: Next year's Ute schedule, which could still be modified over the next few months, features four non-conference games in September before the start of league play.

The Utes open with Utah State on Sept. 5, followed by road games at San Jose State and Oregon and a home game against Louisville on Sept. 26.

The Mountain West Conference schedule is usually released in the spring.

URBAN CHANTS: Before the game, the Utah section, started chanting "Ur-ban Mey-er" to taunt the Alabama fans.

The former Ute coach, who now coaches at Florida of the SEC, has been a thorn in the side of the Crimson Tide, defeating them 28-13 in 2006 and 31-20 three weeks ago in the SEC championship game.

BOWL HELPS RECRUITING: Coach Kyle Whittingham said, win or lose, just being in the national spotlight of the Sugar Bowl has helped his program, particularly in recruiting.

"Recruiting is 80 percent of what you do in college football," he said. "It's the most important thing you do. Everything is tied to recruiting. Anything that helps in that area is a big positive. Being here in and of itself is a big boost for recruiting."

WHAT IT WOULD TAKE: Utah's second BCS appearance in five seasons followed another unblemished regular season. Neither campaign, however, produced an invitation to the BCS National Championship Game.

Whittingham said it would take "the perfect storm" for the Utes to get a shot at the title.

"We'd have to run the table, obviously, get a lot of help and circumstances would have to line up," Whittingham said at his final pregame press conference. "A big part if it is where you start the season. If you can start fairly highly ranked that certainly gives you a better opportunity."

This season's Utes, he noted, opened the season out of the rankings.

"To go from unranked to getting yourself in the national championship game, that situation, I don't think is real likely," said Whittingham, who explained that it would probably take a preseason ranking in the top 15 or 18 by a non-BCS automatic qualifying team to even make it possible. "But, again, even in those circumstances, you'd have to have some help along the way."

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