FNL is Back! After the season ran exclusively on Direct TV, NBC is now running Season 3, which will only be 12 episodes, possibly but hopefully not the last 12. "Are you ready for Friday night?"
Season 3 picks up at the beginning of a new school year, we learn that after Smash's suspension he returned for the Panthers playoff run and tore up his knee, and lost his scholarship. Coach Taylor is under a lot of pressure after last season and could be fired if he loses 2 games this season. There is no room for rebuilding at Dillon as the media wonders how they will win without Smash. Well they had to win 3 games without him last year when he was suspended, so it must have been possible. Riggans will move from Fullback to Running back to replace Smash. Saracen is still QB1 in his Senior season, but there is a new hotshot freshman transfer from Dallas, JD McCoy who is QB2 and looking to get some snaps for the Panthers. Tami Taylor is the new Principal at Dillon. Tyra and Landry have broken up, I wonder if Landry regrets breaking that other girls heart for Tyra? Lyla has moved in with Buddy after her mother moved to California with her fiance and took Lyla's siblings. There is no sign of Santiago, so either he graduated, or is back in Juvi, looks like Buddy has no need for him since he isn't playing football. As we see Lyla, at Buddy's we see that she has dumped religious Chris and got together with Riggans, for the summer to the delight of many fans, although they deny being together when school starts. Coach Taylor is helping Smash with his rehab, so he can get another chance at playing college ball. JD McCoy's dad has been pushing Buddy to get his son some playing time. Tyra's new guidance counselor tells her she has little hope of getting into any of her college choices. Buddy and the boosters donate a large sum of money to the school to be used for a new Jumbotron for the football games, after struggling with the budget for the school year, Tami decides to use the money for academic needs, much to the ire of Buddy, and the boosters. Tami is trying to be a renegade and challenge the football is king mentality in Dillon. Riggans is upset that Lyla doesn't take him seriously and doesn't want to have more than a sexual relationship with him. Riggans does have some redeeming qualities. Smash's doctor tells him he may never be as fast as he was before the injury and that sends Smash into depression and he tries to quit his workouts with Coach Taylor. Saracen and Riggans can't seem to get on the same page in practice. JD McCoy's dad sends a smoothie truck to practice and Coach Taylor makes them leave, saying nobody deserves a smoothie. Tyra gets into an argument with her former guidance counselor/new principal Tami about inflating her hopes about college. There is some big to do about Julie wanting to change her English class, so she can get an after school job, Tami doesn't think its a good idea, and Julie talks Coach Taylor into signing the permission slip, Tami is mad at Julee and Coach over this. Lyla tells Riggans that he scares her and that she can't take him seriously. JD McCoy's dad pays Coach Taylor a visit to apologize for the smoothie truck and praises him for his work with an average QB in Saracen, and tells Taylor that is why his family moved to Dillon, is to work with Taylor. Riggan's brother, Billy proposes to Tyra's sister, Mindy, at a local bar, very classy especially after 5 weeks of dating. Of course she say yes. Tyra is worried she will be trapped in Dillon forever, and decides to submit her application to Texas even though her guidance counselor advised against it and she has decided to run for student body president. Friday night and the Panthers take a commanding lead behind Riggans and Saracen. Coach Taylor puts in Super Frosh JD McCoy who throws a long perfect spiral TD, to excite the crowd and Saracen can been seen bowing his head knowing his time as QB1 could be limited. Panthers get the win. At the party after the game, Lyla and Riggans decide to not hide their feelings and are seen kissing in front of everyone, to the dismay of Buddy. After seeing a highlight video of Smash, Coach Taylor, takes Smash to play some racket ball? After they both get sweaty and winded, Taylor tells Smash not give up on his rehab and his dreams, how sweet :)
Next week: Tami faces criticism for not installing the Jumbotron. Lyla tries to dress up Riggans to impress her dad. Saracen struggles to care for his Grandma. Tyra runs for class prez.
