Deana Ricks

NBC Season Premiere - A time of uncertainty: Brian "Smash" Williams (Gaius Charles) has graduated and the start of the new school year has Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) uncertain about the strength of his team. Matt Saracen's (Zach Gilford) position as QB1 is in danger when a new freshman star player J.D. McCoy (guest star Jeremy Sumpter) arrives on the scene. Smash continues to deal with his own demons after a season-ending injury causes him to lose his college scholarship. Meanwhile, Tami (Connie Britton) faces stressful challenges as the new principal of Dillon High School. Elsewhere, Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) is encouraged to make a run for student body president. Taylor Kitsch, Minka Kelly, Jesse Plemons and Aimee Teegarden also star.

Brian 'Smash' Williams (Gaius Charles) goes on his first recruiting trip to a prospective college but events take place that cast doubt on his future there. Saracen (Zachary Gilford) asks his cheerleader girlfriend for an open relationship. Meanwhile, emotions escalate in the Taylor family as Tami (Connie Britton) is upset with a young teacher that she feels is getting too close to Julie (Aimee Teegarden), while Eric (Kyle Chandler) explodes on Tami about her relationship with a different associate of theirs at the school. Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) is asked by her former attacker's brother to meet in person and make amends, but she asks Landry (Jesse Plemons) to go in her place.

A documentary crew documents the lives of members of a Texas high school class 10 years after graduation; overachiever Steven returns home after learning he has a 9-year-old son with a former classmate.