Utes land in 2nd in final AP Top 25 poll

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said he was proud, but not fully satisfied after the Utes finished No. 2 in the final Associated Press Top 25 rankings with 16 first-place votes.

Utah finished fourth in the USA Today coaches poll.

Florida and former Utah coach Urban Meyer finished on top after defeating Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series Championship Game earlier in the evening.

"I'm very proud of our players. That's the first thing I'll say. A terrific season," Whittingham said. "We feel we can play with anybody in the country. We have no doubt about that. But the system being what it is, we are going to have to settle for No. 2."

In the USA Today Coaches Poll, as promised, Whittingham cast his No. 1 vote for the Utes.

"I voted us No. 1 like I said I was going to. I don't know if they're going to cancel my vote out or what," he said. "But the bottom line is I've got to look out for my players and I believe that's what they deserve."

Whittingham will discuss the final results in a teleconference this morning.

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E-mail: dirk@desnews.com