End Zone explores the inner lives of its characters through sharp dialogues and vivid character sketches, while the plot remains minimalistic. We follow Gary Harkness, the protagonist, as he navigates his first year at Logos College in West Texas. The narrative unfolds amidst a backdrop of football, existential musings, and the looming shadow of nuclear warfare.

The Arrival of Taft Robinson

The story kicks off with the arrival of Taft Robinson, a skilled running back transferring from Columbia to Logos College. Notably, he becomes the institution's first black student. His recruitment is a strategic move by the astute Coach Emmett Creed, whose philosophy is encapsulated in his words, "It’s only a game, but it’s the only game." Taft's presence revitalizes the team, making them a formidable force in their conference, except for the challenging West Centrex Biotechnical Institute. Much of the early narrative is peppered with lively discussions about football and the anticipation of their match against Centrex.

Gary's Preoccupations

Amidst the football fervor, Gary is deeply engrossed in thoughts of nuclear warfare and annihilation. He frequently attends Major Staley's lectures on modern warfare, and even engages in personal discussions with the Major in his motel room, delving into topics like warheads and casualties. For Major Staley, these discussions approach a philosophical realm. He shares with Gary the idea that "There’s a kind of theology at work here. The bombs are a kind of god. As his power grows, our fear naturally increases." These conversations captivate Gary, and he often finds himself lost in deep reflections as he makes his way back to campus, haunted by visions of catastrophic destruction and human desolation.

The Social Circle

Outside the football field, Gary finds companionship with Myna Corbett. He joins her and her friends, Esther and Vera Chalk, for picnics where they indulge in whimsical discussions. Myna, with her "meatless and breadless organic sandwiches," adds a quirky flavor to their gatherings, which often veer into the abstract, like the mysterious link between raw vegetables and the number seventeen.

The Climactic Match

The second part of the book devotes itself entirely to the detailed account of the pivotal game with Centrex. Don DeLillo masterfully transforms what could have been a routine sports narration into a thrilling and suspenseful spectacle. The narrative rejects clichéd notions of football and war, instead offering a fresh perspective: "sport is a benign illusion, the illusion that order is possible." It also posits that sports create "a form of society that is rat-free and without harm to the unborn."

A Return to Campus

The final section of End Zone brings the story full circle, completing a triptych that places the game at its center. The exhilaration of "the only game" is followed by a profound sense of emptiness as Gary returns to campus: "I stepped out of the bus under a strange silverwhite sky. It was awful to be back. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, to look forward to." This bleakness is intensified by the sudden death of Mrs. Tom Wade, the college president, echoing the suicide of Tom Cook Clark, a revered assistant coach earlier in the story. Gary finds solace solely in Myna's friendship, while growing increasingly absorbed in Major Staley's apocalyptic visions. Meanwhile, Taft Robinson abandons football, retreating to his room to ponder "static forms of beauty" and immerse himself in readings about Adolf Hitler's atrocities. Ultimately, End Zone concludes with Gary succumbing to his spiritual malaise, symbolized by his drinking "half a cup of lukewarm water," leading to his eventual hospitalization.