Lineup

Features

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

30 Conor McGregor

A series of wins have made the brash pride of Ireland the UFC's latest star

By L. Jon Wertheim

COLLEGE SPORTS

36 Tennessee

A 20-year-old scandal has sparked scrutiny of deeper problems in the athletic department

By Greg Bishop, Thayer Evans and Ben Baskin

PRO FOOTBALL

42 Up-and-comers

The long-dormant Raiders, Jaguars and Bucs are building with young arms

By Robert Mays

HOCKEY

46 Sidney Crosby

As the Penguins' captain enters hockey middle age, just who is Sid the Kid?

By Michael Farber

BOOK EXCERPT

56 Indentured

How two football players tried to unionize college athletes, rattling the NCAA

By Joe Nocera and Ben Strauss

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

52 Gary Payton II

He has followed in his dad's footsteps to Oregon State. Will he too be Pac-12 player of the year?

By Dan Greene

Departments

4 SI Digital

6 Leading Off: Daytona 500

12 Inbox

14 Scorecard

24 Faces in the Crowd

26 Just My Type

Dan Patrick: Aaron Gordon's 2017 dunk contest plan

64 Point After

Holly Holm: At times, fame can be a real kick

ON THE COVER:

Deirdre Brennan/Redux for Sports Illustrated (McGregor); Sarah Crabill/NASCAR/Getty Images (Daytona)

PHOTO

Photograph by Timothy J. Gonzalez/AP