The 75th Sugar Bowl was a showcase for the 7th ranked Utah Utes who took a commanding first quarter lead and never looked back. Utah scored 4 touchdowns, on drives two minutes or less against a confused Alabama Crimson Tide (Number 4).

The 31-17 win capped a 13-0 season for Utah making them the only team to finish the 2008 season undefeated. It was also their first win over an SEC oppponent (1-6) and they did with solid passing and defense. Ranked number one for five weeks, Alabama looked tired and listless en route to ending the season 12-2.

The Utah defense sacked Alabama Quaterback John Parker Wilson a season high eight times, after only being sacked 17 times during the 2008 season. An early Wilson interception was converted into a TD and a fourth quarter fumble led to the final points, a 28 yard field goal by Louie Sakoda that finished the scoring.

The Tide, coming off their first loss of the season in the SEC Title game against Florida, found themselves with the biggest deficit of the year at 21-0 in the first quarter. Wilson finished 18/30 177 yards and 2 INT and 1 TD. Utes quarterback Brian Johnson was 15-22 for 181 yards in the first half alone, finishing 27/41 for 336 yards, 3 TDs. Utes wide receiver Freddie Brown caught 11 passes for 121 yards to lead all receivers.

In the first quarter, Johnson threw 2 touchdown passes, one to Brent Castell of 7 yards, and the second to Bradon Godfrey for 18 yards while Matt Asiata rushed for a two yard score building a 21 point lead with 4:01 left in the first quarter.

Javier Arenas returned a 40 yard punt from Louie Sakoda 73 yards for Alabama’s only touchdown of the first half following a Leigh Tiffin 52 yard field goal. Tiffin later missed from 49 and 47 yards. Wilson threw a 4 yard TD pass to Glen Coffee that brought Alabama within 4 trailing 21-17. The TD was set up by the first turnover by Utah when the Utes QB fumbled and Bobby Greenwood recovered at the Utah 30 yard line. Momentum was short lived for Alabama, however, as Utah scored on their next posession, with a 28 yard pass from Johnson to David Reed extending the lead to 28-17.

The 27 day wait for the Sugar Bowl was an ugly display for the Crimson Tide throughout the game; sloppy tackling didn’t help and the loss of OT Andre Smith was obvious as Alabama rushed for a season low 31 yards. They finished with total offense of 208 yards to Utah’s 353. Smith was suspended last Monday for violating team and NCAA rules when he alleged was in contact with a pro scout.