In Pictures: Undefeated! Utah Scores Sugar Bowl Stunner Over Alabama, Renews BCS Debate

Mike Eagan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:06:04 -0500

(Above: Utah's Stevenson Sylvester makes his vote for National Champion known.) Let the debate commence—again. Utah stunned Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Friday night by a score of 31-17, completing an undefeated season and igniting another controversy over college football's lack of a playoff system. Behind the passing attack of senior quarterback Brian Johnson, the Utes stormed to an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Crimson Tide briefly cut the lead to 21-17 early in the 3rd Quarter after a Utah turnover on the opening drive of the second half. But Johnson's 28-yard touchdown pass to David Reed less than 100 seconds later gave Utah the breathing room it would need the rest of the way. It's the second time in five seasons that the Utes (13-0) have finished a season undefeated. It's also the second time in five seasons that an unbeaten Utah team will not get a chance to play for the BCS National Championship. Meanwhile, the season for Nick Saban's Alabama squad (12-2) ends on a decisively sour note. Despite holding the #1 spot in the BCS standings for four weeks, the Tide has since lost its chance at the BCS title game and now its presumed consolation prize. Unfortunately, the Utes never had the same chance to prove their championship worthiness.

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In Pictures: Panthers Run Past Buccaneers on Monday Night Football

Mike Eagan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:48:23 -0500

Jonathan Stewart has reason to celebrate. The Carolina Panthers ran roughshod over Tampa Bay Buccaneers before a nationwide audience on Monday night, and claimed sole possession of the NFC South in the process. The Panthers (10-3) posted nearly 300 rushing yards on the Bucs defense, which had been ranked fourth in the NFL coming in. But Monte Kiffin's squad was no match for the rookie Stewart (115 yards) and DeAngelo Williams (186 yards), who both found the end zone twice. The Panthers (10-3) wrestled away the inside track for home field advantage in the NFC Playoffs from Tampa Bay's (9-4), whose Wild Card prospects remain strong. Stewart and Williams' tag team act marked the first time in NFL history that two running backs on the same team each ran for 100-plus yards, 2 touchdowns and averaged over 7.0 yards per carry.

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Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike Eagan

In Pictures: Undefeated! Utah Scores Sugar Bowl Stunner Over Alabama, Renews BCS Debate

In Pictures: Panthers Run Past Buccaneers on Monday Night Football