Coach Eric Taylor is under intense pressure from the entire town to lead the high-school football team to the championship. Wife Tami provides loving support as the school’s counselor. The young people face their own challenges: the former-star fighting to overcome a tragic injury; the cheerleader torn by conflicting emotional loyalties to two players; the quarterback overwhelmed with responsibilities on and off the field (while dating the coach's daughter); the cocky running back who's turned to performance enhancers. All this and more come together in season one.

In season two, Coach Taylor returns from his new position to witness his daughter's birth — only to face pressure from a family and town that feel he's abandoned them. Tami is disheartened by the distance between herself and her teenage daughter. Tyra and Landry develop a secret bond after a deadly confrontation. Tensions between Smash and Saracen explode as the team falls apart under the rigid, cold leadership of Coach MacGregor. Lyla discovers faith and tries to convert Riggins, whose feelings for her only get in the way.

The third season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights began airing in the United States and Canada on October 1, 2008. It was the first season to be aired on DirecTV's The 101 Network. The 13-episode season concluded on The 101 Network on January 14, 2009 and then began its run on NBC two nights later on January 16, 2009. The show was renewed for two more seasons in March 2009, with both seasons airing in the same format as season 3, containing 13 episodes each. The season continued to focus around the Dillon Panthers and the pressures faced on and off the field. This season also saw four main characters leave the show by season's end.

A redistricting plan leaves Dillon divided in season 4, and Coach Taylor is faced with the daunting task of building an East Dillon Lions football team from scratch. Tensions follow him off the field as he and Tami find themselves increasingly at odds with one another and the roles the redistricting has forced upon them.

In the fifth and final season, everyone is playing for keeps. The East Dillon Lions are back and competing at a top caliber level, but that only means the town’s expectations are running higher than ever. When a controversy erupts that takes the whole town by storm, Coach Taylor feels he’s losing his grip on the team. Luke faces pressure at the prospect of becoming QB-1, Billy learns some surprising news from Mindy, Becky starts a surprising new job and Tami is caught off guard by Julie’s plans. Will the Lions go state? Will the coach leave the team? That may be the least of the town’s worries in the powerful series finale that culminates in a true championship ending.