Utah completed its perfect season by upsetting Alabama 31-17 in college football's Sugar Bowl on Friday. After piling up wins in the Mountain West Conference against a schedule deemed soft, the Utes were left out of the national championship game in favor of perennial powers Florida and Oklahoma, even though both have one loss. But on Friday, Utah showed it could do more than just hang with the big boys, it could dominate one of them. Quarterback Brian Johnson threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, and the Utes took charge from the start. They bolted to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and refused to wilt when Alabama pulled to 21-17 early in the second half. Utah's defense was equally impressive, intercepting Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson twice and sacking him eight times. After surging to No. 1 in the rankings with a 12-0 regular season, Alabama closed the season with consecutive losses, the first against Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Cotton Bowl Mississippi 47, Texas Tech 34: In Dallas, Mississippi overcame an early deficit to beat Texas Tech in the final Cotton Bowl to be played in the stadium of the same name. The Red Raiders converted a pair of early turnovers into a 14-0 lead, but Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead led the Rebels to touchdowns on their next three drives. When Marshay Green returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter, Mississippi was on its way to victory. This was Mississippi's sixth straight win, matching its longest streak since 2003, when now-NFL superstar quarterback Eli Manning was a senior. That also was the last time the Rebels had been to a bowl. Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell set the record for most career touchdowns in major college football (134) and became the first player with two 5,000-yard passing seasons. He was 36-of-58 for a Cotton Bowl-record 364 yards, giving him 5,111 yards this season. This was the 73rd Cotton Bowl and the last in its namesake home. Next year, it'll be played in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. Liberty Bowl Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19: In Memphis, Tennessee, Ventrell Jenkins scooped up a fumble and ran 56 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, helping Kentucky win a program-best third straight bowl game. The Wildcats did not lead until the fourth quarter, when they forced a fumble with about 3 minutes left. In the scramble for the loose ball, Jenkins came up with it and rumbled down the right sideline untouched for the touchdown. East Carolina went four-and-out on its next possession and the Kentucky picked up a first down before running out the clock. The victory, which came on the heels of two straight wins in the Music City Bowl behind record-setting quarterback Andre Woodson.
