There was a time when Utah's 23-16 overtime win over Air Force would have been cause for mad celebration.

Actually, there was a time when any win was cause for celebration.

But becoming bowl eligible?

Now that was somethin'.

Not so much anymore — for two reasons.

First, becoming bowl-eligible happens every year.

And second, there's that nagging concern over how — and why — they're winning games.

Six fumbles and eight first downs isn't exactly a party invitation.

It's hard to be cocky when you're getting by on hard work and good intentions.

The 19th-ranked Utes stretched their record to 6-1 on Saturday, thus making them bowl eligible for the seventh straight season. All that's left now is to figure out which bowl. A Fiesta or Sugar Bowl appearance isn't likely, so the next step down would be the reliable Las Vegas Bowl, usually home of the Mountain West Conference champ.

Where else does someone go for a quick, showy shindig besides Vegas?

But there are other bowl possibilities, too, in case the Utes lose a game, or two, or five down the road. There's the Poinsettia Bowl, which is a nifty consolation prize. It's never a bad December when you're heading to San Diego. And there's the Armed Forces Bowl. Anything in the sun (Fort Worth) is acceptable. (Sorry, Motor City Bowl.)

There're also the New Mexico and Humanitarian bowls. At that point, it's pretty dreary.

Starting next year, the Mountain West will have a tie-in with the Independence Bowl, too.

Imagine spending your holiday time in Shreveport or Boise.

Better than Salt Lake, if you're the Utes.

Nobody likes singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

But bowl assurances don't mean the Utes think they've done anything, yet. They stopped congratulating themselves for bowl eligibility a decade or so ago. Having gone to two BCS bowls in the past five seasons, securing at least something doesn't provide the jolt it once did.

Asked if becoming bowl eligible this early in the season means anything, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham deadpanned, "No, I don't think so. It's not what we have first and foremost in mind. We just have to find a way to win the Mountain West Conference. That's our goal."

If ever the Utes worried about looking good while qualifying for the postseason, Saturday wasn't the day. Their rash of fumbles — two lost — ran their seven-game total to 22.

This season, the Utes are doing far better at holding onto their pride than they are the football.

Whittingham said his team has been working on its fumble problem "every minute of every practice."