Leading Off

Last Hurdle
USC tailback Reggie Bush (page 136) struck this updated--and impromptu--Heisman pose last Saturday at the L.A. Coliseum, clearing cornerback Marcus Cassel for one of his two touchdowns in a 66-19 victory over UCLA. The Trojans celebrated their 34th straight win, and a berth in the BCS title game, by dousing coach Pete Carroll (inset).

Dawg Tagged
The LSU defense toppled Georgia tailback Thomas Brown last Saturday in the SEC championship game, but the No. 13 Bulldogs pulled off the upset, beating third-ranked LSU 34-14 in Atlanta. The conference title was the second in four years for coach Mark Richt (inset); Georgia will meet West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.

Chin Chiller
Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt suffered a concussion on this hit by linebacker Drew Kelson during Texas's 70-3 romp over the Buffaloes in the Big 12 championship last Saturday in Houston. The win completed an unbeaten season for coach Mack Brown (inset), whose Longhorns will face USC in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4 for the national title.

• For more Leading Off pictures, go to SI.com/photos.

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Photograph by Peter Read Miller

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ROBERT BECK

TWO PHOTOS

Photographs by Al Tielemans

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Photograph by John Biever

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DARREN CARROLL