Photos: Top national sports stories of 2012
Classic programs to square off for BCS crown
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish finally returned to the top of college football, finishing the season No. 1 in the polls with a 12-0 record. They learned on Dec. 2 they would face defending national champion Alabama for the title. The Crimson Tide survived a wild SEC Championship Game against Georgia that came down to the final play.
Other Slideshows
Photos: Tornadoes cause devastation in Texas
Photos: Aerial views of Cleburne, TX tornado damage
NOPD brings Mother's Day shooting suspect into custody
Napoleon: N.O.'s best new French Quarter restaurants
Mackie: Top five sources of Vitamin D
2012's highest paid U.S. athletes