It’s a Thursday morning in 1928, on the small campus of Tait College. During a lively prologue, it becomes clear that the students and professors are less concerned with academics than with more important activities, like goldfish swallowing, telephone booth stuffing, and learning the latest dance crazes. But the biggest craze is College Football, and everyone excitedly anticipates Saturday’s Big Game, when Tait will play archrival Colton. And Tait’s chances are better than ever, since the team is led by Tom Marlowe, the best player in the college league. Coach Johnson is so confident that even superstitious team trainer Pooch Kearney can’t shake his optimism, and the Coach salutes Tom at a campus pep rally. (Good News)

Despite the fact that Tom has been dating the wealthy Patricia Bingham (for three whole weeks!) Pat’s sorority sisters can’t resist daydreaming about Tom as they secretly watch him go through his calisthenics (He's a Ladies Man). Oblivious to their attention, Tom concentrates on his training joining his teammates for an impressive display of athletic readiness (The Football Drill).

Meanwhile, the third string substitute on the team, “half-pint” Bobby Randall, has skipped practice to buy a used roadster, with which he’s determined to finally attract a girlfriend. It works faster than expected! Tait’s most vivacious flapper, Babe O’Day, pops out of the rumble seat and begins making amorous overtures (Button Up Your Overcoat). Bobby’s enthusiasm is brought to a quick halt, however with the arrival of the hulking football player Beef Saunders, who still considers Babe his property, and threatens to kill any man caught with her.

But romance is quickly sidelined as Tragedy Strikes Tait! Tom has failed his astronomy exam, and a new campus rule says any athlete who fails a class can’t play
in the Big Game. Coach Johnson angrily confronts the Professor who dared to flunk Tom, but the highly principled Charlotte Kenyon refuses to budge ("I see a lot more potential in Tom than simply becoming a football player……It'll never be a profession where anyone will ever make a living!”) Coach begs her to reconsider, and she agrees to give Tom a make-up test the next day. If he passes, he can play in the game.

Returning to her office, Professor Kenyon is applauded by honor student Connie Lane, who suppports the professor’s apparent bias against athletics. Kenyon tries to clarify her feelings, but lapses into her own thoughts about a young football player she dated during college (Together). Similarly, Connie muses to herself that she also yearns to find an ideal man (Lucky Star).

Back in the athletics office, Coach Johnson confesses to Pooch that he and Professor Kenyon dated in college, and it ended badly. He’s certain that her failing Tom is a belated attempt at retaliation. Pooch advises Coach to get off the defensive and back on the offensive. They summon Patricia, in the hopes that she can tutor Tom for his test tomorrow, but she has a previous commitment to select new drapes for the sorority house. She recommends her cousin, “plain Jane” Connie lane, who should be an excellent tutor…....and a far less distracting one at that. Left alone in his office, Coach falls into the reflective mood that Kenyon and Connie are still experiencing (Together).

That evening, as Tom goes to the library to meet his bookworm date, Babe sneaks into Tom and Bobby’s dormitory room, searching for a ticket to the game and a kiss. She and Bobby narrowly escape detection by Beef, who shows up to run signals with Bobby, even though it’s highly unlikely the team would ever be so desperate to let him play in a game.

As students stroll outside the library (On The Campus), Tom and Connie have an awkward first encounter. Once past their initial distrust, however, they find they have a great deal in common (you can’t judge a book by its cover, after all) and they sense a growing mutual attraction (The Best Things in Life Are Free).

Romance lingers in the campus air as the Coach stands outside Kenyon’s boarding house, serenading her in the hopes she will go easy on Tom. His charm works for awhile (You’re the Cream in My Coffee), but when she realizes his game, she angrily tells him off and goes back inside.

It’s Friday morning now, and Tom is completing his make-up exam. While students anxiously await the results at the local malt shop, Babe cheers tem up with the latest dance craze (The Varsity Drag). Entering to find everyone collapsed on the floor, squeaky-voiced freshman Sylvester explodes with the news Tom has passed the test! The euphoric students resume dancing, of course.

Outside the library, Tom finds Connie and expresses his feelings for her (Lucky in Love). Meanwhile the self-absorbed Pat reveals to Sylvester her views on romance for the school newspaper, while Babe pursues Bobby, who is hiding from Beef. At the height of the chase, Pat spots Tom and effectively pulls him away from Connie, announcing that her wealthy father has decided to give a huge sum to Tait’s athletic department on Saturday, so long as Tom wins the Big Game and marries Pat. This announcement leaves the students joyful, Patricia triumphant, Tom confused, and Connie disappointed, as the Curtain falls on Act One.

Act two takes place on Saturday, with romantic complications reachin gfever pitch as the ultimate confrontation with Colton approaches.

Pat and the girls at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house alternate between exhilaration (Today’s the Day) and nostalgia (The Girl of the Pi Beta Phi). Bobby, attending the sorority Open House in search of sandwiches, finally gives in to Babe (Never Swat a Fly), making a commitment that also depends on the out come of the Game.

Students on the way to Tait Stadium (The Tait Song) have no idea that their star football player is having a terrible day. Pressured by Pat into feeling responsible for the whole future of Tait’s athletic program, Tom reluctantly says goodbye to Connie (Just Imagine).

But Tom’s lack of enthusiasm on the football field leads to a disastrous first half, and everyone’s future is on the line. Pooch bravely tries to rally the team (Keep Your Sunny Side Up), but ultimately, it’s up to the women to save the day. A newly committed Kenyon does her best to rally Babe and Connie into action (Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries).

After a series of riotous twists and turns, love conquers all both on and off the football field, and a high-stepping finale brings this college romance to a sweetly upbeat conclusion.