Red Wade, a high school football celebrity, wants to attend Claxton College because of its gridiron ratings but meets with opposition from his father, who insists that he attend his own alma mater--Barlow; Red wins but at the cost of giving up football. On the train he meets Sally Rogers from Barlow and her admirer, Biff Wheeler of the Claxton football team. In an impromptu intercollegiate scrap, Red leads the outnumbered Barlow students to victory and misses the Claxton train stop, but he decides to go on to Barlow because of Sally. Eventually he is persuaded to play football against his father's orders, and he proves to be a valuable player on the team. The elder Wade, having become wealthy, offers an endowment to the school; but learning that Red has disregarded his orders, he threatens to withdraw the offer if Red plays. Though the president advises Red to play, he feigns drunkenness and is disqualified. Mr. Wade, attending the game, is won over to the boy's attitude and advises him to "go in and win."