Paul Crewe is a former professional quarterback who was ostracized when he was caught shaving points. After beating up his girlfriend and then resisting arrest, he is put in jail. The sadistic warden of the prison taunts Paul into helping his semiprofessional team of guardsmen win a championship game by creating a team of inmates to lose to them. Despite their initial hostility toward Paul for his point shaving, he wins the convicts over and together they form a winning team.