Belford College benefactor Howard Smith (Grant Mitchell) and Coach Eversmith (Joe Sawyer) enlist talented football player -- and convicted thief -- Tommy "Cherub" Burke (Eddie Quillan) to play for the school. Burke sees this opportunity as a "get out of jail free" card that also comes with a campus full of suckers. But Coach Eversmith wasn't born yesterday: He's already lined up pretty coed -- and policeman's daughter -- Jane Thurston (Betty Furness) to help keep Burke on the straight and narrow. Before he can lead Belford to a championship win against State, however, Burke makes all the wrong choices, endangering his relationship with Jane, the football championship and his freedom.