New Orleans » Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll claimed a piece of No. 1 after his Trojans routed Penn State in the Rose Bowl Thursday.

After dismantling Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl Friday, the Utah Utes made their pitch for a share of the national championship.

"We're the best team in the country," Ute quarterback Brian Johnson proclaimed after the career-ending triumph. "All we heard is how they were the better team. It was all about Alabama. Nobody thought we could do it."

The Utes certainly made a case.

With the victory over the Tide, they finished the season 13-0, leaving them the only unbeaten team in college football.

Utah's Friday victory not only came against a team that reigned as No. 1 as little as a month ago, but against college football royalty - a program that ranks right up there with fellow aristocrats USC, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio State.

The Utes did it in utterly dominating fashion, jumping to a quick 21-0 lead and controlling the favored Tide the rest of the way. And they won what was essentially a road game, with Bama fans outnumbering their Utah counterparts by 5-to-1.

"It was a neutral field, but Alabama had a clear advantage," Johnson said.

Oh, and did the Utes mention their three previous victories over nationally-ranked teams?

"All you can do is beat the people on your schedule and control what you can control," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.

But Whittingham wasn't in a hedging mood after the biggest win of his coaching career. Asked if his Utes were worthy of the No. 1 ranking, he said simply, "Somebody's got to tell me why we wouldn't be."

jbaird@sltrib.com