At Eastern State University (ESU), the Timberwolves football team fail their second season in a row, and the players vow to do better next year. With his job on the line, Coach Sam Winters scouts high schools for new players, and recruits tailback Darnell Jefferson. Darnell arrives to see the campus, and is given a tour by Autumn Haley. Afterward, he kisses her goodbye and hopes to see her in the fall. Four months later, when Darnell returns to ESU, he is welcomed by quarterback Joe Kane, and introduced to the other Timberwolves. Darnell sees Autumn and asks her out. However, she has a boyfriend named Ray Griffen, who is the starting tailback on the football team. Darnell worries about his academics, but his teammates tell him his grades do not matter. Joe Kane is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a “Heisman trophy” hopeful, and he feels pressured by expectations for his playing. He meets a classmate named Camille Schaeffer, and tries to convince her to go on a date with him. Sometime later, Darnell learns he failed several of his college placement exams, and is assigned to remedial courses and a tutor to improve his scores. He asks Autumn Haley to instruct him, and she reluctantly agrees. Joe finally convinces Camille to go out with him, and picks her up on his motorcycle. When he drives recklessly, she is furious at his antics. Afterward, he takes her to a dive bar, and learns that she, too, is at ESU on a scholarship. Joe is relieved that, like him, she does not come from a wealthy family. However, Camille tries to keep Joe at a distance. The Timberwolves win their first game, and the players celebrate. At a house party, Darnell makes a move on Autumn, angering her boyfriend, Ray Griffen. After an argument with Ray, Autumn agrees to go out with Darnell, and he takes her ice skating. She kisses him afterward, and he warns her not to toy with him. Sometime later, Autumn is angry that Darnell got a “D” on his first math test. Camille is angry at Joe when he refuses to open up to her about his family. He stands on the tracks in front of an oncoming train, and dodges it at the last moment. Joe reveals to Camille that his father and brothers are alcoholics, and he fears becoming like them. Later, Joe plays a strong game against his Heisman trophy rival, but loses the game in the final moments. After the game, Darnell meets Autumn’s father, but becomes upset when he learns that Autumn is still dating Ray Griffen. Darnell accuses Autumn of being ashamed of his ghetto background. Joe and Darnell drown their sorrows at a bar, and Joe gets into a fistfight with a man after flirting with his girl friend. The young men flee, but police stop Joe for driving erratically. The media covers Joe’s incident, and Coach Winters is forced to send him to rehab for a month. When Camille telephones Joe at the rehab facility, he refuses to speak to her. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves struggle to win, and are plagued by injuries and academic suspensions. In time, Autumn ends her relationship with Ray, and tells her father about Darnell. Joe finishes his stint at rehab, and returns to ESU. He visits Camille and apologizes for not speaking to her during his time away. However, she leaves angry. Joe struggles at practice, and Coach Winters assigns Darnell to be the starting tailback. Later, Joe visits his alcoholic father and asks him why he has never attended any of his football games. Joe invites his father to the final game of the season, and warns that if he fails to show, he will never receive another invitation. The first half of the game goes poorly, and Joe Kane is called into the game after halftime. He looks into the stands, and is discouraged to see that his father has failed to attend. The coach gives Joe a pep talk before sending him out to the field. Joe, Darnell, and Ray work together to win the game. Elsewhere, Camille listens to the game on radio, and smiles at Joe’s performance. After the game, Autumn embraces Darnell. When he meets her father again, he shares his high placement test scores with him, and Mr. Haley shakes his hand. Coach Winters tells Joe how proud he is of him. Later, Joe reconciles with Camille, and they embrace.