James Powers

The attention is focused off the football team for once and onto their biggest supporters -- the cheerleaders. As the cheer team prepares for the Championship Classic, word of Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Riggins' (Taylor Kitsch) affair causes Lyla to become the victim of brutal high school harassment. Matt (Zach Gilford) and Julie (Aimee Teegarden) also have problems of their own as Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) tries to keep the two of them apart in order to "protect" his daughter. Meanwhile, Jason (Scott Porter) adjusts to life back home after being released from rehab and Smash (Gaius Charles) falls for the preacher's daughter.

Growing pains -- Emotions intensify as the game against the intimidating Gatling High nears. Lyla and Tim become alienated from their friends as rumors about their relationship spread all over town. Smash continues to buckle to the pressure and puts his own health at risk in his attempt to improve his performance on the field. Meanwhile, Julie and Matt have their first date, but everything that can go wrong does. The pressure builds as Friday approaches, and the Dillon Panthers have to get a victory without falling apart.

To good friends and Texas forever -- The Dillon Panthers are frustrated facing the possibility of last week's key win over Arnett Mead being overturned due to Ray Tatum's recruitment (guest star Aldis Hodge). Police interrupt a sluggish practice with an arrest warrant for star defensive tackle Bobby Reyes (Walter Perez) after he viciously assaults another student outside of the sandwich shop. The Texas High School athletic administration summons Buddy Garrity (Brad Leland) and an uncomfortable Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) for further questioning before their final ruling. Meanwhile, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) and Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) break injured Jason Street (Scott Porter) out of his rehab room, taking him on a surprise trip to the lake just like old times. When Coach Taylor and wife Tami (Connie Britton) butt heads about Bobby Reyes' punishment, Coach Taylor wonders if he can do his job without giving up everything he believes in and hurting those he holds close.

For love of the game -- Coach Taylor feels the players are losing their grasp on the beauty of the game of football as distractions such as envelopes full of cash begin to mysteriously show up in the players' lockers. An unexpected accident suddenly poses a problem and the team's home field advantage in the final game before the state championships is threatened. Coach Taylor takes it upon himself to not only find a new home field, but also to remind the players of their love for the game. With the pressure of the game building and the off-field distractions escalating, Coach Taylor and the Panthers have to get priorities in order to come out with a victory.

Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) struggles between preparing for the game and dealing with the situation with Smash (Gaius Charles) as the town of Dillon piles on the pressure. Relationships also begin to form as Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) and Julie (Aimee Teegarden) start an unlikely friendship and Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) reconnects with his estranged father. Jason (Scott Porter) and Lyla (Minka Kelly), on the other hand, have problems of their own as Buddy (Brad Leland) finds out news of their engagement. The Panthers have to put all problems aside as their postseason fate begins with this first very important game. Connie Britton, Zach Gilford, and Jesse Plemons also star.