Homer volunteers Bart for the Springfield Wildcats, the town's peewee football team. Ned Flanders decides to coach, and soon, Nelson is named as quarterback. Despite a string of wins, Homer constantly heckles Flanders's coaching style from the bleachers. Not being able to take any more of Homer's abuse, Flanders quits, telling Homer that he can take over.

As the new coach, Homer pressures Bart to work harder, treating him badly. Marge reminds Homer of how Abe had made Homer feel he was never good enough at sports. Homer vows not to make the same mistake and overcompensates, making Bart the quarterback of the Wildcats. Bart is awful and causes the team's first loss. To gracefully bow out, Bart fakes several injuries on the day of the next game. When Homer decides to forfeit rather than start another quarterback, Bart reveals that he'd been faking his injuries and tells him he quits.

Homer's anger at Bart fades when he's left alone after the Widcats' next victory. He apologizes to Bart for pressuring him and asks him to come back as an offensive tackle. The two make up. At the championship game, Chief Wiggum shows up with an arrest warrant for Nelson Muntz. Bart tells Homer that he'll fill in for Nelson and goes off with Wiggum, claiming to be Nelson. Nelson goes on to lead the team to victory.