Lineup

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

22 Clemson vs. Alabama

The best team in the country? Now we know

• NEXT SEASON'S EARLY TOP 10

• THE BEST BOWL PERFORMANCES

NFL PLAYOFFS

32 The Referees

Outrage at officiating is now an inevitable part of the game

By Tim Layden

38 Team-by-Team Preview

Strengths, weaknesses and analysis for the AFC and NFC

By Greg A. Bedard

42 The Panthers

Tight-knit role players have powered the team's success

By Austin Murphy

46 SB 100

How computers will—and won't—change the game.

Presented by Gatorade and Microsoft Surface

By Tom Taylor

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

48 Rico Gathers

The Baylor forward is making waves on the court, but he hasn't ruled out the NFL just yet

By Dan Greene

GOLF

52 KEVIN NA

The former prodigy has earned $20 million on the PGA Tour, but won only once. Now he's trying to straighten out his mental game and cash some winner's checks

By Alan Shipnuck

Departments

2 SI Now

4 Leading Off

10 Inbox

12 Scorecard

18 Faces in the Crowd

19 Just My Type

Dan Patrick: Mike Piazza on his Hall of Fame week

60 Point After

Boomer Esiason: Peyton Manning's still got it

PHOTO

Photograph by Kohjiro Kinno For Sports Illustrated

TWO PHOTOS