Includes bibliographical references and index.

A revelatory account based on the authors' unprecedented access to the NCAA's highest-level programs throughout the 2012 season describes its high-powered system of billion-dollar television deals, high-priced coaches, football "hostessing," castoff athlete-students and paid test takers.

Prologue: Game on -- The coach : Part I, Mike Leach after midnight -- The closer : the life of a college football hostess -- The brand : going all in at Michigan -- Big man on campus : a pretty awesome asset -- The victim : "They had suffered enough. They lost their scholarships" -- The coach : Part II, Terminated -- The sacrificial lamb : Towson University plays with the big boys -- Ohio State V. Michigan : the return of "The Senator" -- The janitor : "I fix shit" -- Rebuilding a program : "There is no gray with Bronco" -- The booster : What $248 million will buy you -- The tutor : Friends with benefits -- The athletic director : Part I, "We have no money. Nobody is giving money. We are not on TV" -- The investigators : big-game hunting -- The system at work : Ohio State and the consequences of $3.07 -- The athletic director : Part II, "It's going to be expensive" -- The walk-on : "I want to play football" -- Saban's way : The New Testament of college football -- The wounded : Pain is relative -- The blue-chip recruit : The Ricky Seals-Jones sweepstakes -- The coach : Part III, "The starting lineup is voluntary, too" -- Crime and punishment : The SEC leads the nation -- The game : "I hate losing more than anything" -- The coach : Part IV, The letter -- The draft pick : To go pro or not to go pro -- Gameday : the genius of ESPN -- Built by Bama : in a class by itself.