
Lineup
PRO FOOTBALL
30 The Patriots
New blood and old hands make New England the team to beat—again
By Greg Bishop
35 Steve Smith
A survival plan for an undersized, overly confrontational wideout
By Greg Bishop
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
40 2013 Iron Bowl
The Kick-Six proved more tragic than magic for some fans in Alabama
By Thomas Lake
PRO BASKETBALL
48 The Suns
Phoenix is using three point guards at once. Trendsetting or excessive?
By Lee Jenkins
BASEBALL
54 Corey Kluber
An unexpected Cy Young will spell the end of his anonymity. Maybe
By Albert Chen
HOCKEY
58 P.K. Subban
The face of the Canadiens is bold but reckless, brilliant but exasperating. Though he's chasing his first Cup, the league's most demanding fans love him as the successor to the franchise's most hallowed ghosts
By Michael Farber
Departments
6 SI Digital
8 Leading Off
14 Inbox
16 Scorecard
22 Faces in the Crowd
24 Just My Type
Dan Patrick: Joe Maddon's RV takes a strange turn
68 Point After
Lee Jenkins: UCLA freshmen learn their P's and Q's
SI HAS REGIONAL COVERS THIS WEEK: DAVID E. KLUTHO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (JONAS GRAY); JOHN HUET FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (P.K. SUBBAN)
PHOTO
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN HUET FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
DEFENDER OF THE REALM One of the NHL's top blueliners, Subban holds the key to Montreal's chances of winning a record 25th Stanley Cup.