Rob Brown as Ernie Davis

Dennis Quaid as Ben Schwartzwalder

Darrin Henson as Jim Brown

Omar Benson Miller as Jack Buckley

Nelsan Ellis as Will Davis, Jr.

Charles S. Dutton as Willie 'Pops' Davis

Justin Martin as Young Ernie

Justin Jones as Young Will

Nicole Beharie as Sarah Ward

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Marie Davis

Elizabeth Shivers as Elizabeth Davis

Clancy Brown as Roy Simmons

Danny McCarthy as Bill Bell

Regina Hoyles as Sister

Chelcie Ross as Lew Andreas

Saul Rubinek as Art Modell

Craig Hawksley as George Marshall

Jeff Still as Al Malette

Geoff Stults as Bob Lundy

Derek Graf as Maury Youmans

Evan Jones as Roger 'Hound Dog' Davis

Maximilian Osinski as Gerhard Schwedes

Enver Gjokaj as Dave Sarette

LaRoyce Hawkins as Art Baker

Lucas Ellman as Squirrel

Josh Odor as Darrell Royal

Matt Trissel as Clay Taylor

Chad L. Stevens as Peter Logan

Keir Thirus as Bob Ferguson

Chaz Black as Jimmy Saxton

Garth Gelker as Holy Cross Linebacker

David Darlow as Cotton Bowl Official

Michael Skewes as Cotton Bowl Referee

Gary Houston as Marty Harrigan

Ned Schmidtke as Bill Clark

Keith Kupferer as Small Fry Coach

Christopher Sullivan as Assistant All-Star Coach

Aaron Roman Weiner as Opposing Coach

Tim Grimm as W. Virginia Coach

Matthew Settle as President Kennedy

Stu Lisson as Man in a Suit

Lance Baker as Reporter

Christian Stolte as Dan Boyle

Mike Bradecich as Tom Martin

Chris Farrell as W. Virginia Sportswriter

Doug James as CBS Announcer

Ron Hawking as Syracuse Announcer

Linara Washington as Gloria Baker

Chadwick Boseman as Floyd Little

Kevin R. Kelly as Man in Dark Suit

Bruce Jarchow as Dr. Hewlett

Ridge Canipe as Gang Leader

Stephen Louis Grush as Gang Member

Louie Cesario as Gang Member

Paul Turner as Longhorn Scout

Rick Uecker as Middle-Aged Man

Kris Wolff as Grounds Keeper

Jeffrey Zabrin as Small Fry QB

Darryl Warren as Heisman Official

Brian Mahoney as Buffalo Doctor

Philip Rayburn Smith as Business Lawyer

Laurie Larson as Proprietor

Will Zahrn as Doctor

Phillip Edward Van Lear as NAACP Member

Michael Hargrove as Arthur

F. David Roth as Photographer

Richard Henzel as W. Virginia Booster

Howie Johnson as W. Virginia Heckler

James Anthony Zoccoli as W. Virginia Heckler

Eddie Bo Smith Jr. as Dallas Bellhop

Jeff Christian as Syracuse Trainer

Victor Cole as Hotel Worker

William Dick as Heisman Man in Suit

Sam Derence as Sports Reporter

Brian Boland as Cleveland Browns Asst. Coach

Walker Howard as Robert Field

Leonard House as Alan Touissant

Allan Graf as W. Virginia Referee

Kevin Stark as Reporter (Team Bus)

Kurt Naebig as Reporter (Team Bus)

Ernest Perry Jr. as Preacher

Ed Smaron as Play-by-Play Announcer

Dan Flannery as Hot Shot

Chet Coppock as PA Announcer

Robert Cullent as Petie

Guy Klinzing as Chancellor Tully

Barry Tolli as Elmira Free Academy Quarterback

Chris Cowan as Boston College Linebacker

Michael Malczyk as Penn State Linebacker

Torrey Vogel as Brokaw

Kenya Drew as Pretty Girl

John Anderson as Cotton Bowl Referee

Jeff Welsh as Texas Quarterback

Michael Labus as Cleveland Browns Quarterback

Mike Ullrich as Franklin

Lonnie Brooks as Singer

Angelina Lyubomirova as Band Member (uncredited)

Jimmy Styx as Syracuse Player