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)

PHOTO

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)