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.