
Lineup
30 | SPECIAL REPORT
Oklahoma State
An investigation reveals what a school will do to join the college football elite
By George Dohrmann and Thayer Evans
42 | PRO FOOTBALL
The Saints
Sean Payton is back, and it feels like business as usual in New Orleans
By Tim Layden
52 | MOTOR SPORTS
Junior Johnson
The best driver in NASCAR history also happens to be plumb hilarious
By Mark Bechtel
56 | COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Texas and USC
How these struggling teams handle regime change could have seismic implications
By Andy Staples
62 | BASEBALL
Wizards Like Oz
A wave of spellbinding young shortstops is returning the position to its roots
By Albert Chen
6 | SI Digital
8 | The Mail
10 | Leading Off
17 | Scorecard
25 | Faces in The Crowd
26 | Just My Type
Dan Patrick: Clemson's Tajh Boyd needs a nickname
76 | Point After
Phil Taylor: Why is Jason Collins still waiting for a job?
ON THE COVER: PHOTOGRAPH BY CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SI PREMEDIA
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PHOTO
GREG NELSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (PAYTON)
SAINTS, ALIVE! With Sean Payton (center) back calling the plays, New Orleans has designs on the Super Bowl.
PHOTO
ERICK W. RASCO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (OSU HELMET)
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GREG NELSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED(2)
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AL TIELEMANS/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (JOHNSON)
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PETER READ MILLER FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (MARQISE LEE)
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MARC SEROTA/GETTY IMAGES (SIMMONS)