Wealthy Ridgeville businessman "Jarring Jack" Jackson, a former college football hero, enjoys a robust, productive life but worries that his teenage son "Junior" is too "soft." Junior's mother Ann, an ex-Olympic swimmer, tries to explain to Jack that according to their doctor, their stumbling, myopic, allergy-prone son is actually suffering from poor self-esteem, caused by the stress of Jack's paternal expectations. Jack dismisses Ann's analysis and attempts to engage in a heart-to-heart discussion with Junior, who is about to graduate from high school. When Junior finally reveals his desire to attend an agricultural college and become a veterinarian, Jack all but orders his son to go to Ridgeville University, his alma mater . That night, during Junior's graduation dance, Jack meets Bill Baker, the high school's most talented football player. Bill's sickly father Henry is employed by Jack as a bookkeeper, and Jack complains to Ann about the fickleness of heredity. Junior, meanwhile, waits in vain for the opportunistic Betty "Babs" Hunter to dance with him, then drives her home while Bill romances her in the back seat. Later, Ridgeville's football coach, Wheeler, drops by Jack's office and asks Jack to finance Bill's way through the university, as his father cannot afford the tuition. Jack agrees on condition that Wheeler put Junior on the football team, and the coach reluctantly accepts Jack's terms. Jack then informs Bill about the deal and requests that he room with Junior and make an athlete out of him. That night, psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Green dines at the Jacksons', having been invited by Ann expressly to address Junior's problems. Although Benjamin declares that Jack is suffocating Junior, Jack is unfazed by the criticism. Benjamin then speaks privately with Junior, who confesses his fears that he will never live up to Jack's expectations. After telling Junior to meet his father "halfway," Benjamin counsels Jack to spend more time with his son. The next day, Jack asks Junior to spend the following Sunday with him, and Junior suggests they go hunting. By the end of the nerve-wracking excursion, Jack and Junior are drunk and Junior has agreed to attend Ridgeville. On the first day of college, Junior is dismayed to discover that Bill is his roommate, but then decides to make friends with him. Despite Bill's help during the first football practice, thin, frail Junior is battered and bruised. That night, while Junior is taking a bubble bath, co-ed Terry Howard drops by the dorm room, selling men's sports clothes. Bill is immediately attracted to Terry, as is Junior. Later, the enterprising Terry, a psychology major, tells Junior that he lacks self-confidence and that she would like to make him her "guinea pig." Unaware of Bill's interest in Terry, Junior asks his roommate for help in romancing her, but Bill is noncommital and kisses Terry the next time they meet. Just before Ridgeville's first football game, Jack gives Junior a pep talk and insists that he wear his old jersey. Despite his father's encouragement, Junior ends up scoring a touchdown for the rival team and losing the game. Ann chastises Jack when he whines about the humiliation he has suffered and assures Junior that his father will not be making any more decisions for him. Jack then tells Bill that, even though Junior has been dropped from the team, their deal is still on. Later, Bill, who has come to like Junior, goes to Wheeler and declares that he will not play unless Junior does. Not wanting to lose his star player, Wheeler acquiesces, but Terry has to promise Junior she will wear his pin to get him to stay in school. Although Bill is upset about deceiving Junior, Terry insists that Junior will accept their relationship once his self-confidence has been built up. Over the next several weeks, Bill leads Ridgeville to a series of victories, while Junior remains on the bench. Between games, Bill and Terry work tirelessly with Junior, pushing him to improve his skills. The day before Ridgeville's homecoming game, Junior announces to Bill that he is proposing to Terry the next night, and Bill, suddenly jealous, gets drunk and is expelled. Without Bill, Ridgeville falls behind in the game and is in danger of losing the championship. Desperate, Terry admonishes Junior to stop thinking only of himself and try his hardest to help his school and Bill. Wheeler puts the energized Junior in, and Junior runs for a touchdown, then kicks a game-winning field goal. Now a bona fide hero, Junior blesses Bill and Terry's relationship, rejects the opportunistic Babs, and shows his father that he no longer needs his glasses. Bursting with pride, Jack, in turn, proclaims, "That's my boy!"