Utah beat Bama for a few reasons. It was the first time all season where they were actually looked at as the favorites. They were supposed to be average all year and even going into the Auburn game, people were like "well Auburn has won 6 straight"...then in the Florida game they were still underdogs, but lost anyway. Going into the bowl game they were overhyped and assumed Utah would roll over and let them win. They are a very young team that needed to play their best and didn't come close. Additionally, they lost their entire offensive line chemistry by needing to shift and rotate. The pressure Utah got showed that much.
Utah was able to attack Bama the same way UF did. Even more, they were given additional tips after the game by their former coach...that Urban Meyer dude! Utah is Florida light this season. They wouldn't beat the Gators. Utah played a few good teams this year, but Bama was the only good team from a BCS conference they played all season.
Utah was #5 or #6 in the polls I think. OU, UF, UT, and Bama were all ahead of them. I think USC was also, so that puts Utah at #6. USC destroyed the #7 PSU team, so I don't see Utah jumping them. Sure they jump Bama, but the #1/#2 game will end up with at least one team staying up there, plus a win for Texas keeps them up top. Utah doesn't have a shot at sharing the title. Texas has a very slim chance...if they pound OSU and OU narrowly beats UF, they might be able to grab the lead in the AP. USC, who is ahead of Utah, still doesn't have a shot at a title.
The best way this could end is with UF pounding OU into submission so Texas has less to argue about and we can all just happily crown the Gators as national champions!