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December 29, 2014 Table Of Contents

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INBOX

INBOX

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW

1 ALABAMA

After waiting four years to get a shot to start, Blake Sims caught on instantly to the hurry-up attack, guiding the Tide to a record-breaking season

By Brian Hamilton

THE X-FACTOR

A SPECIAL TEAM'S ACE CAN FLIP THE FIELD AND PUT OHIO STATE'S QB IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION

By Andy Staples

TURNING POINTS

A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SOMETIMES SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN ALABAMA'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

By Ben Glicksman

2 OREGON

Marcus Mariota hails from a Hawaiian culture steeped in humility and respect. But don't let the laid-back demeanor of the Heisman Trophy winner fool you

By Greg Bishop

THE X-FACTOR

A MAINSTAY WHOSE RETURN SHORED UP A LEAKY LINE FACES HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE

By Andy Staples

TURNING POINTS

A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SOMETIMES SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN OREGON'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

By Ben Glicksman

3 FLORIDA STATE

Jameis Winston may be the leading talent in the playoffs, and the Seminoles' fate hinges on his (likely) college farewell. After that, he's the NFL's problem

By GREG A. BEDARD

THE X-FACTOR

THE FRESHMAN RUNNING BACK'S MIDSEASON RISE ADDED A DIMENSION TO THE 'NOLES' ATTACK

By Andy Staples

TURNING POINTS

A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SOMETIMES SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN FLORIDA STATE'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

By Ben Glicksman

4 OHIO STATE

The Buckeyes are down to their third signal-caller, but the ebullient Cardale Jones has never struggled on the field—only off of it

By Pete Thamel

THE X-FACTOR

IF THE BUCKEYES HAVE ANY CHANCE TO HOLD BACK THE TIDE, THE SECONDARY MUST STAND TALL

By Andy Staples

TURNING POINTS

A GAME OR A SEASON CAN SWING ON A SINGLE PLAY. HERE ARE THREE KEY MOMENTS IN OHIO STATE'S RUN TO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

By Ben Glicksman

NFL

CARRYING THE BURDEN

In his breakthrough season with the Saints, Mark Ingram II is trying to help some of the many kids dealing with an incarcerated parent—and reconciling himself to his own father's impending release from prison

By L. Jon Wertheim

HOCKEY

Looking Out for No. 1

BU center Jack Eichel has the speed, skills and temperament to become a top draft pick and change an NHL franchise for years to come. But first the 18-year-old would like to finish his freshman year of college

By Brian Cazeneuve

SOCCER

America the YOUTHFUL

F√∫tbol fever reached an alltime high in the U.S. during the World Cup this summer. So, where to from here? The answer will depend a lot on three newbies

By Grant Wahl

SPORTS SCIENCE

WANT TO AVOID INJURY? COME SEE ME

MARCUS ELLIOTT'S HIGH-TECH TRAINING CENTER HAS BECOME A PRIME DESTINATION FOR PRO ATHLETES SEEKING NOT ONLY TO SHARPEN THEIR PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO TO PROLONG THEIR CAREERS

By Chris Ballard

The Lives They Led

Farewell

THE TRACK STAR WHO WAS UNBROKEN, THE LITTLEST (AND LOSINGEST) GENERAL, A SUPERSUB QUARTERBACK AND A BON VIVANT SLUGGER WITH A GIFT FOR BROADCASTING GAB—THOSE LEGENDS AND MORE PASSED AWAY IN 2014

By Mark Bechtel

PRO FOOTBALL

1974 Steelers

How do you salute a group of men, the 1974 Steelers, 40 years after they revived a franchise, enlivened a city and reshaped the NFL? Simple: You sit back and listen

By Don Banks

POINT AFTER

Season of Change

By S.L. Price

Departments

SI.COM

Leading Off

Masthead

Lowlight Reel

A tribute to the profane, ridiculous and just plain stupid things that happened this year

By Steve Rushin

Year in Twittersphere

Sports and social media continued to be interlinked in 2014. Below are some of the highlights of the past 12 months on Twitter

HOT | NOT

Faces in the Crowd

Edited By Alexandra Fenwick

Last Kicks

By Brian Straus

Just My Type

By Interview by Dan Patrick