Auburn's Chris Davis and Ricardo Louis grace national cover of Sports Illustrated

(Photo: Todd J. Van Emst/Sports Illustrated)

It's been a miraculous season for Auburn, in a very literal sense. After all, how else to explain the Tigers' unforgettable last-second victories over then-No. 25 Georgia (43-38 on Nov. 16) and then-No. 1 Alabama (34-28 on Nov. 30)? The "Miracle at Jordan-Hare" and the "Kick-Six" will go down as two of the defining moments of the 2013 sports year, and now, Auburn heroes Chris Davis and Ricardo Louis grace the national cover of Sports Illustrated.

Although the plays are well known at this point, senior writer Lars Anderson digs deeper. He explores not only how Auburn pulled off the incredible finishes, but also the untold stories of the many fans -- from former players to lifelong Tigers supporters -- whose lives were changed as a result. As Anderson writes, the sensational plays "weren't just about winning and losing; they were about the lives they touched."

Anderson even catches up with Auburn alum Charles Barkley, who gave the Tigers a pep talk before watching the Iron Bowl from a suite. Following Davis' 109-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown, Barkley said, "The elation was something I'll never experience again."

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