A proud steel-mill worker from Gary, Ind., Antonio "Tony" Amatto (Ramon Novarro) wins a scholarship to attend Yale University. His dedication to his studies alienates his football-mad classmates, particularly his rival, Tom Stone (Kane Richmond), whose father owns the mill at which Tony worked, and Tom's sister Rosalie (Madge Evans). Even after Tony joins the football team and excels at the sport, conflicts with his well-heeled fellow students continue to cause problems.