SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff says he is launching an investigation into the Bowl Championship Series for a possible violation of federal antitrust laws after an undefeated Utah team was left out of the national title game for the second time in five years.

Shurtleff contends the BCS unfairly puts schools like Utah at a competitive and financial disadvantage because it is a member of a conference without an automatic bid to a BCS bowl.

A message left with BCS administrator Bill Hancock by The Associated Press was not immediately returned on Tuesday.

Shurtleff says he wants to see college football move toward a playoff system rather than relying on polls to crown a national champion.

Utah beat Alabama 31-17 in last week's Sugar Bowl.