The 5 best wins (and 5 worst losses) of Kyle Whittingham's Utah Utes coaching career
The Fiesta Bowl victory was sweet for the Utes...but there was nothing sweeter for Kyle Whittingham and Utah football history than capping an undefeated season with a dominant victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
The No. 6 Utes had fended off hungry opponents the entire season and managed to preserve their pursuit of perfection. Then they drew one of the most prestigious bowl games in the BCS against No. 4 Alabama. If there was ever a time to prove that they belonged in a higher conference, it was now.
Utah attempted to put doubters, who predicted Alabama to win by a long shot, in their place as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Alabama cut the lead to within four points, but Utah never let them closer than that as they went on to win 31-17. Current offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was named the Sugar Bowl's most outstanding player — an undoubtedly deserving honor.
With this perfect ending to a perfect season, many still believe Whittingham's Utes were unbeatable that season and deserved a shot at the National Championship.
Related: See the 5 best wins and 5 worst losses of Bronco Mendenhall's BYU career
The No. 6 Utes had fended off hungry opponents the entire season and managed to preserve their pursuit of perfection. Then they drew one of the most prestigious bowl games in the BCS against No. 4 Alabama. If there was ever a time to prove that they belonged in a higher conference, it was now.
Utah attempted to put doubters, who predicted Alabama to win by a long shot, in their place as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Alabama cut the lead to within four points, but Utah never let them closer than that as they went on to win 31-17. Current offensive coordinator Brian Johnson was named the Sugar Bowl's most outstanding player — an undoubtedly deserving honor.
With this perfect ending to a perfect season, many still believe Whittingham's Utes were unbeatable that season and deserved a shot at the National Championship.
Related: See the 5 best wins and 5 worst losses of Bronco Mendenhall's BYU career
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I don't agree with a lot of the games on this list, especially in the worst column. How do you leave the 27-0 shellacking that UNLV put on the Utes in 2007 off the list. That IMO is the #1 worse loss of Whittingham's career. Also, I think the wrong TCU game was represented here, the one in 2010, where TCU beat Utah 47-7 was much worse--the Utes had a bad quarter in 2009, but the rest of the game was rather competive. Other ones that should be considered for the list include: Utah at ND (2010), Utah at Cal (2011), and Utah vs. Boise State (2010), Utah at Wyoming (2006).
The most nonsensical part of this list though is that the BYU at Utah game in 2006 is Whittingham's worst loss. Please explain? Utah was a two touchdown underdog and nearly beat BYU for a fifth year in a row. Most heartbreaking? Maybe. But if we're talking about "worst" as in games where Utah didn't compete, that shouldn't be on the list.
The 54-10 crushing of BYU will always be one of my best memories, at least in recent years, of the Utes. It was total domination from start to finish.
Go Utes!!
Right SMS.
Also left out on the 'best side' was the 2004 BYU game that sent Utah to the Fiesta Bowl. The 2008 BYU game was on the list (48-24). That one sent Utah to the Sugar Bowl.
This list is invalid without 2010 TCU as one of the worst losses.