LINEUP

RUNNING STRONG

34 Back to Backs

Game-changing rushers have once again proved the value of a productive ground attack

BY PETER KING

37 Marshawn Lynch

He's in Beast Mode on the field, but the Seahawks' star really is just a softie at heart

BY ALAN SHIPNUCK

Adrian Peterson conquers all

43 Doug Martin

The Bucs' rookie known as the Muscle Hamster is on a wild run straight into the record books

BY JIM TROTTER

FEATURES

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

46 Kentucky

The latest wave of superstar freshmen is starting to roll. Get to know this season's version of the Fab Four before they leave for the NBA

BY CHRIS MANNIX

PRO BASKETBALL

50 Tony Parker

Now that he's finally the Spurs' go-to guy, the rapping French nightclub owner has never felt more at home in San Antonio

BY MICHAEL ROSENBERG

56 Notre Dame

The Irish are marching toward the BCS title game—and down from the moral high ground they have claimed for a century

BY TIM LAYDEN

DEPARTMENTS

4 SI Digital

6 Leading Off

12 The Mail

15 Scorecard

Athletes' breaking taboos

22 Just My Type

Buster Posey's MVP vote

BY DAN PATRICK

24 Faces in the Crowd

26 Inside ...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NFL | NASCAR

68 Point After

The price of paranoia?

BY PHIL TAYLOR

ON THE COVER:

Photo Illustration by SI Imaging; David E. Klutho (2); Damian Strohmeyer (background)

Please Recycle This Magazine Remove Inserts or Samples Before Recycling

PHOTO

ERIC MILLER/REUTERS (PETERSON)

ALL THE WAY Adrian Peterson, scoring a 64-yard TD against the Bucs in October, leads the NFL in rushing despite his surgically repaired left knee.

PHOTO

JOHN BIEVER (KELLY)