Touchback

Scott Murphy, once Ohio's top high school quarterback nicknamed Mr. Football, suffers a devastating leg injury during the Ohio State High School Championship. The injury ends his scholarship to Ohio State University and dashes his professional football dreams. This moment marks the abrupt end of his ascent as a prep star.

Twenty years pass and Scott remains in Coldwater, Ohio, living as a farmer and volunteer firefighter with a splinted leg. He and his family—wife Macy and two daughters—have settled into a quiet, tight-knit town. His past as a football hero still colors how the town sees him, even as life remains grounded in the fields and firehouse.

A compromised harvest and mounting bank obligations threaten Scott's family farm. The financial pressure adds to the daily burden of raising a family and keeping the operation afloat. The fate of the land hangs in the balance as winter approaches.

An upcoming football game is set to honor Scott as the quarterback who brought Coldwater to a state championship. He grapples with nerves, pride, and a sense of responsibility to the town that remembers him. The ceremony underscores his lingering identity as a football legend.

Hall, now an NFL player and married to Scott's old girlfriend, reappears, triggering new tones of rivalry and regret. The reunion deepens Scott's depression and reminds him of what could have been. The emotional pressure feeds into his already fragile state.

An early frost and a broken soybean combine header devastate the harvest. The setback compounds financial strain and tests Scott's resilience. The farm's viability rests on salvaging a fragile market and a hard-won crop.

Macy suggests harvesting the soybeans by hand to salvage market value. Scott doubts the feasibility given 200 acres, but her idea reveals a stubborn spark of hope. Their teamwork in crisis highlights the strength of their partnership.

Facing insurmountable odds, Scott attempts suicide by carbon monoxide in his truck. The plan is interrupted when the vehicle runs out of gas, and he survives the attempt. This moment forces a grim reckoning with his life and its possible redirection.

Scott wakes up in 1991, days before the big game, with the chance to change the course of his life. He discovers he can influence events with the hindsight of the future. A new chapter begins as he starts rebuilding relationships and choices.

With foreknowledge, he reconnects with his mother and Macy, intent on avoiding his injury and earning the OSU scholarship. He contemplates leaving Coldwater but chooses to stay rooted in his home. He plans to balance ambition with responsibility to those around him.

At a final recruiting meeting, an OSU scout warns that playing could be hard and dangerous, while sitting out might still guarantee an invitation. The moment tests Scott's resolve and loyalty to his hometown. He weighs the risk against the chance of a brighter future at OSU.

On the day of the championship, Scott initially tells Coach Hand he will sit out to protect his future. The coach defends Coldwater and its people, revealing his own lifelong ties to the town. After considering his mother's feelings and his responsibilities, Scott decides to play.

Scott's first-half performance is rough, and the team struggles to keep pace. Coach Hand pushes him to share the ball and trust his teammates. Using his knowledge of the future, Scott begins to guide the offense and rallies the squad.

As the clock runs down, Scott calls an audible running play that would bring him into the end zone. He chooses not to run the pitch-fake to protect his leg, but is tackled by two defenders and his knee is shattered. Coldwater still wins the state championship in a hard-fought victory.

Back in the present, Scott wakes in his truck with no gas and finds the town absent. He discovers the field lit up by people gathered to harvest the soybeans by hand, a testament to Coldwater's solidarity. He embraces life with Macy, his family, and a plan to coach alongside Coach Hand.