Upcoming Event: Football at Wyoming on September 13, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Football
at Wyoming
Utah vs. Alabama Game Notes
1/4/2009 12:00 AM | Football
Jan. 4, 2009
Recap | Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery 
| Photo Gallery
With the victory, Utah extends its bowl winning streak to eight. It is the longest current bowl winning streak in the nation (after Boston College lost its bowl game a few days ago). Utah is 11-3 all-time in bowl games. Utah wins during the streak came against Fresno State (1999), USC (2001), Southern Miss (2003), Pittsburgh (2005/2004 season), Georgia Tech (2005), Tulsa (2006), Navy (2007) and Alabama (2009/2008 season).
Utah will end its season as the only undefeated team in the country (13-0).
This is the first time in school history that Utah has gone 13-0. Other perfect seasons were 2004 (12-0), 1929 (7-0) and 1930 (8-0).
It is Utah's 14th consecutive win, which gives them the longest winning streak in the country. Utah has won 21 of its last 22 games. Utah becomes the first team from a non-automatic qualifying conference to play in and win two BCS bowl games. Utah was the original BCS Buster in 2004--beating Pittsburgh in the (2005) Fiesta Bowl to complete an undefeated season at 12-0. Non-BCS teams are 3-1 in BCS games. With three wins over ranked teams this season (then No. 11 TCU, then No. 14 BYU and No. 4 Alabama), Utah improved to 7-0 all-time in games when both Utah and its opponent were nationally ranked. Brian Johnson had a season-high 336 passing yards. It was his eighth 300-yard passing game in his career (third this year), which ranks third all-time at Utah.
Brian Johnson was 10-of-14 for 139 yards passing in the first quarter.
Utah led 21-0 after the first quarter. It is the largest first-quarter lead that Utah has had this season.
Utah held Alabama to four yards rushing in the first quarter, eight yards rushing in the second quarter, 16 in the third quarter and minus-19 in the fourth quarter. Utah has held opponents to under 20 yards rushing in more than half (29-of-52) of the total quarters played.
Utah had eight sacks totaling 53 yards in the game. It is the most sacks Utah has had in a game this year and ranks second all-time for Utah in bowl games.
Alabama returned a punt for a touchdown in the second quarter. The last time an opponent had returned a punt for a touchdown was Utah State in 2001.
Alabama running back Glen Coffee entered the game averaging 103.8 yards per game. He was held to a season-low 36 yards on 13 carries.
Freddie Brown had a career-high 125 yards receiving (12 catches). It is the third time this season that he has gone over 100 receiving yards in a game.
David Reed scored his sixth receiving touchdown of the season in the third quarter off a 28-yard touchdown pass from Brian Johnson.
Brent Casteel caught his fourth touchdown pass of the year in the first quarter, a 7-yard reception from Brian Johnson.
Bradon Godfrey had his fourth touchdown catch this year in the first quarter on an 18-yard catch from Brian Johnson.
Matt Asiata scored his team-best 12th touchdown of the year on a 2-yard run up the middle in the first quarter.
Robert Johnson made his third interception of the year in the first quarter and his fourth of the year in the fourth quarter. His other interceptions came against TCU and Brigham Young.
Robert Johnson set a Utah bowl record for interceptions in a game with two against Alabama. The previous record of one had been done numerous times before.
Stevenson Sylvester had a season-high three sacks and recovered his first fumble of the year in the fourth quarter. He tied for the team lead with seven tackles.
Mike Wright tied for the team lead with seven tackles.
Kepa Gaison tied his career-high with six tackles. He also had a season-high two sacks.
Sean Smith forced his first fumble of the year in the fourth quarter.
Louie Sakoda made a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, his 15th in a row, which ties the school record, which he set in 2007.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballUte greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson Ring of Honor Induction
Monday, September 08
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham weekly press conference - 9.1.25
Monday, September 01