The game was played on Friday, January 2, 2009,[4] at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana between the Utah Utes, champions of the Mountain West Conference, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference.

[5] The Sugar Bowl usually takes the champion of the SEC and pits them against an At-Large BCS team.

Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was named Most Outstanding Player of the game.

With this win, Utah completed the 2008 season as the only undefeated, 13–0 Division I FBS team in the nation, along with becoming the first team from a BCS non-AQ conference to win two BCS bowls.

[6] Andre Smith (Alabama starting left tackle and 2008 Outland Trophy winner) was suspended for the game because he declined to cooperate with an investigation by the school's compliance staff on the issue with his uncle's illegal contact with a sports agent.