NEW ORLEANS -- It is finally Utah's chance to chortle and have the last word and poke skeptics in the eye.

The No. 7 Utes of the Mountain West Conference dismissed No.4 Alabama of the Southeastern Conference here Friday night in the Sugar Bowl, 31-17, to complete a perfect season. Afterward, they were ready to find an empty playground to prove themselves all over again against Southern California, Oklahoma, Florida, or whomever.

"You tell us where to be, when to be there, and we will be there," Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We are the only ones standing right now with an unblemished record."

Utah finished 13-0, the second time in five seasons the Utes have finished undefeated and capped off a season with a victory over a team from one of the major conferences that gets an automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series. Utah was 12-0 in 2004 under the former coach Urban Meyer.