NEW ORLEANS — Unwittingly, Nick Saban added some spice to the 75th Sugar Bowl.

Saban's intention — after his club fell out of the national title chase with a loss to Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game — was to remind his players of their exceptional 2008 campaign. He noted the Crimson Tide was the only team to have an undefeated regular season in a "real BCS conference."

Then No. 4 Alabama (12-1) was paired with seventh-ranked and unbeaten Utah (12-0) of the Mountain West Conference, which doesn't have an automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series.

So not all 12-0s are created equal, right?

Suffice it to say the Utes intend to prove that idea wrong, and while Utah coach Kyle Whittingham would rather not make a big deal out of it, he couldn't deny his players were aware of what Saban said.

"They're not oblivious to things," Whittingham said Thursday. "They hear things; they read things.

"They're very motivated to go out and play well," Whittingham continued, pointing out that his team has won 20 of 21 games dating to last season and currently rides a 13-game winning streak. "If my assumption is correct, they'll come with that same mind-set (Friday) night and play well. Whether that's going to be good enough to win, we'll find out."

Ever since this intriguing Sugar Bowl pairing was announced, Saban and his players have been going out of their way to applaud Utah's accomplishments.

Alabama linebacker Corey Reamer even gave a nod to Boise State's Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma two seasons ago.

"Boise State proved non-BCS schools cannot be overlooked a few years ago. Utah is 12-0 and that's not easy in college football today," Reamer said this week. "They are a good, talented team who earned their place here."

Normally, the Sugar Bowl plays host to the SEC champion, unless that team has earned a berth to the BCS title game. In a testament to the strength of the SEC, that has happened two years in a row. Last year, LSU qualified for the BCS title game, which it won, opening the door for Georgia to go to the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs routed 12-0 BCS buster Hawaii, 41-10.

One year later, it's up to Utah to redeem the non-BCS conferences on that same Louisiana Superdome field.

Utah has won a BCS Bowl before, soundly beating Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl following the 2003 season. However, Pitt, winners of the Big East, were considered the weakest of BCS conference champs that year.

Utah has already defeated two BCS schools this season, Michigan and Oregon State. They also beat TCU, BYU, Colorado State and Air Force — all bowl teams.

Yet the Utes don't hesitate when asked where the matchup with Alabama — which has appeared in 12 previous Sugar Bowls and won eight — ranks in the history of Utah football.

"Without question this is the best opponent and the best matchup that Utah's had in over 100 years of college football," Utes quarterback Brian Johnson said.

Alabama may not be quite as strong on offense as they've been most of the season, however. On Monday, Saban announced that All-America left tackle Andre Smith had been suspended. Left guard Mike Johnson will start at tackle and David Ross will fill his spot against Utah.

Star Utah defensive end Paul Kruger said he was looking forward to testing his skills against Smith and was disappointed that wouldn't happen, but welcomed whatever advantage he could get in his quest to put pressure on Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson.

"Any guy that you have to say three names, I'd love to get a couple sacks on that guy," Kruger said. "I don't ask people to call me Paul Christian Kruger, but apparently he's special."

If Utes hope to harass Wilson, they'll likely have to stop the Tide's running game first. Alabama averaged 196.5 yards rushing this season behind Glen Coffee (1,377 yards, 10 TDs) and Mark Ingram (717 yards, 12 TDs).

Even without Smith's blocking, Whittingham said, Alabama's offensive line remains the driving force of the Tide's offense.

"It's a very impressive group," Whittingham said. "That's a big challenge for our front seven, is to match up with their run game."

Saban, meanwhile, said the big concern for his defense is containing Johnson, a poised and accurate passer who scrambles well when necessary. Johnson completed 68.3 percent of his passes this season for 2,636 yards and 24 touchdowns. He rushed for 143 yards and a score.

"Their quarterback to me is an outstanding player, great accuracy, athletic, can get away from the rush in the pocket and make plays," Saban said. "He can run the ball if he's asked to do that. They have a good scheme offensively in terms of how they attack the defense, whether it's multiple personnel groups, empty formations, four wideouts."

As for Utah's undefeated season, Saban isn't downplaying that now.

"They're a top 10 team in this country and I think rightfully so for what they've accomplished and the competition that they've played against," Saban said on the eve of the game. "We feel like they're one of the best teams we played against all year."