Utah Utes football: Team returns with Sugar Bowl hardware, undefeated season

The 2009 Sugar Bowl champion Utah Utes returned home Saturday to the cheers of family and fans following Friday night's dominating win over Alabama. The team's plane landed shortly after 1 p.m. in Salt Lake City.

Besides winning the 75th anniversary Sugar Bowl, Friday night's 31-17 win over the Crimson Tide in the Louisiana Superdome capped a 13-0 season for the Utes, finishing the season as the only undefeated team in the nation.

Quarterback Brian Johnson was named the game's Most Outstanding Player after completing 27-of-41 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns. The Utah victory also extended winning streaks of 14 consecutive games overall, and a run of bowl victories to eight straight.