http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?page=roadtobcs/1031

"One of the BCS rules states that if the highest-ranked team that is not an automatic qualifier (conference champion) is either third or fourth in the final BCS Standings, then that team gets one of the two at-large berths to the BCS. That rule was threatening Cal when FSU was sitting at No. 5 last week, but it's now a potential safety net for the Bears, who should be ranked No. 4 this week. As long as Cal wins out and doesn't get jumped by Georgia or Texas, it should be Rose Bowl bound if USC finishes No. 1.

"Utah might also be able to secure a guaranteed at-large spot in the BCS if it can continue to win and get just a little more help along the way. The losses by Miami and Florida State allowed Utah to climb in both polls and the computers this week, which should keep them in the top 6 of the BCS Standings. Now, if the Utes can just keep from being caught from behind, they will make history as the first team outside of a BCS conference to play in a BCS game."

Texas as a non-conference champion "is the highest ranked team that is not an automatic qualifier." Even if I'm reading that wrong and Fiesta Bowl had the choice of Alabama or Texas, I still think they would choose Texas. And if the Fiesta Bowl had chosen Alabama, Utah would still have played Alabama, but in the Fiesta Bowl.