For a long time baseball was considered the National Pastime and, as many writers liked to affirm through baseball’s rich bibliography, that sport was integral to American culture. In the last two or three decades, the concept of America’s Game arose and football, both at the collegiate and professional levels, has risen to great popularity and commensurate revenues and a powerful corporate force with which to be reckoned.

As is evident from what follows, the writing about America’s Game is beginning to catch up with the rich lore of the National Pastime. There is no shortage of characters, epic rivalries, and landmark contests as well as a dark side that is manifest in the head-injury dispute and the questionable practices of elite college programs. Here are some classics:

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis