Changes in the team force Dillon Panthers to work harder than ever before to achieve the same level of success they had last season. Losing Coach Taylor to TMU might prove to be their biggest setback. Tyra gets a shock visitor. Matt and Landry struggle with their everyday life, as it is not what they expected.

So many things have changed at Dillon High and the first day of school is the real test. Matt stands by as his world comes crashing down, while Landry still copes to make sense of his. All eyes seem to be focusing on Smash, while Tami tries to adjust to having a teenager and a newborn.

Matt and Smash have a hard time listening to their coach as they prepare for their first game of the new season. Coach Taylor heads back to Dillon to check on his family and finds out just what is happening to the Panthers since he's left.

Tim and Jason go to Mexico as Street hopes to explore experimental surgery. Riggins, who is worried about Street, turns to Lyla Garrity, who's busy helping a newcomer acclimate to Dillon. Meanwhile, Coach Taylor decides on a big career move that will change his life. A development in a police search deeply affects the lives of Tyra and Landry.

Coach Taylor returns to Dillon, but it is not an easy homecoming; the team must deal with conflict between Saracen and Smash; Riggins turns to Lyla for help in changing Street's mind about surgery.

Key evidence comes in implicating Landry; when Tami's sister visits to help her with the baby, she stirs things up in the house; Riggins must prove to coach Taylor that he wants to be a part of the team.

Landry admits to the murder of Tyra’s assaulter but the struggle with his conscience continues. Meanwhile Jason Street is set up with an online dating service by Herc. The Taylors get ready for baby Gracie’s christening, while tensions increase between Tami and Julie.

Brian "Smash" Williams takes heat from the major colleges that want a verbal commitment to their program. Meanwhile tension is still high between Coach Taylor and Tim Riggins regarding the situation with Julie. Tim doesn't know where to turn. And all eyes are on Coach Taylor as he prepares the Panthers to play Laribee High School in the season's biggest game.

Smash's hunt for a college football scholarship turns into something completely different. Tami comes across her high school boyfriend, whose job as a real estate magnate has brought him to Dillon, making Coach Taylor jealous.

Jason is offered a life-changing opportunity. Riggins goes after Lyla this time using more unconventional methods.

The team can't focus on their next game. Tami gets involved in a controversy. Vince wants to end his deal with Kennard. Julie gets an unexpected phone call from Matt.