The BEST episodes of Friday Night Lights

Every episode of Friday Night Lights ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Friday Night Lights!

In Dillon, Texas, high school football brings the community together as the drama of small town life threatens to tear it apart.

Last Updated: 12/25/2023Network: AudienceStatus: Ended
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Always
star
9.03
642 votes

#1 - Always

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/9/2011

The Taylors face several decisions that could change their lives forever.

Directors: Michael Waxman
Writer: Jason Katims
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State
star
8.63
696 votes

#2 - State

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/11/2007

The rumors about Coach Taylor leaving the team at the end of the season get a boost when an inside source decides to speak up. Meanwhile, the Panthers are preparing themselves for the state championship.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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Thanksgiving
star
8.44
504 votes

#3 - Thanksgiving

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/10/2010

The Taylors host Thanksgiving dinner; Coach tells Vince he has to be more selfish; Tami must make an apology; Julie and Landry are surprised by a visitor from their past; Tim makes a difficult decision; East Dillon rallies around the Lions.

Directors: Michael Waxman
Writer: Jason Katims
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The March
star
8.28
686 votes

#4 - The March

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/26/2011

Coach Taylor feels threatened as East Dillon faces serious budget cuts; Tami is flown to Pennsylvania for the opportunity of a lifetime; The Lions begin their quest for state; Vince becomes the man of the house again.

Directors: Jason Katims
Writer: Rolin Jones
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Mud Bowl
star
8.21
759 votes

#5 - Mud Bowl

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/28/2007

A chemical spill near Dillon High School forces Coach Taylor and the Panthers to seek another facility in which to play the crucial State Semi-Final game.

Directors: David Boyd
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Texas Whatever
star
8.19
728 votes

#6 - Texas Whatever

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/2/2011

Coach Taylor is offered a deal he can’t refuse; Tim assesses his future plans when an old flame returns to Dillon; The fate of East Dillon’s football program is decided.

Directors: Kyle Chandler
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
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Black Eyes & Broken Hearts
star
8.14
688 votes

#7 - Black Eyes & Broken Hearts

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/14/2007

Due to racial comments from Coach Mac, the black players on the team refuse to play unless he is sacked.Julie is sucked deeper into the vortex as her friendship with Tyra develops. Matt tries to win Julie back.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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Keep Looking
star
8.10
631 votes

#8 - Keep Looking

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/17/2010

Coach is forced to play mediator as tensions erupt in the locker room. Luke gets recruited. Buddy deals with the trials and tribulations of fatherhood. Tami deals with a troubled student. The Lions welcome a new player.

Directors: Todd McMullen
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The Right Hand of the Father
star
8.09
722 votes

#9 - The Right Hand of the Father

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/10/2010

Someone from Vince's past resurfaces. Julie connects with a faculty member. Eric tries to instill discipline in the team. Buddy is troubled after learning something about his son.

Directors: David Boyd
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Leave No One Behind
star
8.05
659 votes

#10 - Leave No One Behind

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/1/2008

Matt Saracen reaches at his lowest point. Meanwhile, Tami Taylor’s relationship continues to blossom with Tyra. Julie becomes envious. Landry has an admirer. Elsewhere, Smash seeks advice from Coach Taylor.

Directors: Dean White
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The Son
star
8.03
607 votes

#11 - The Son

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/2/2009

Julie, Landry, Coach, and Tami rally around Matt in a time of crisis; Vince endangers his rising star as a football player by engaging in criminal activity in order to support his family; Becky and Tim grow closer.

Writer: Rolin Jones
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Pilot
star
8.01
1193 votes

#12 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2006

A newcomer coach Eric Taylor finds himself helming a promising high school football team, the Dillon Panthers, that has a real chance to make it to the top.

Directors: Peter Berg
Writer: Peter Berg
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Hello, Goodbye
star
7.98
727 votes

#13 - Hello, Goodbye

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/2008

Tami embarrasses herself with the superintendent. Tyra breaks with Landry to take up with Cash, the new bad boy in town. Julie advises Matt who is upset with his mother who has come to help with grandma. Smash has an emotional goodbye with Coach.

Directors: Michael Waxman
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Expectations
star
7.97
617 votes

#14 - Expectations

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/27/2010

Coach tempers high expectations for East Dillon's impending season; Vince and Luke work to recruit a new player for the Lions' squad; Dillon bids farewell to two alumni as they prepare to leave for college.

Directors: Michael Waxman
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Kingdom
star
7.96
582 votes

#15 - Kingdom

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/1/2010

Coach discusses recruitment regulations. The Lions take a road trip. East Dillon's four stars make a pact. Julie's relationship becomes more complicated.

Writer: Rolin Jones
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Laboring
star
7.93
678 votes

#16 - Laboring

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/3/2010

Tensions in town run high as the Panthers/Lions game approaches; Coach tells Luke he won't be playing; Tami attempts to placate her detractors; developments both good and bad shake up the Riggins boys; Vince teams up with Kennard to seek revenge.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Writer: Rolin Jones
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Best Laid Plans
star
7.92
689 votes

#17 - Best Laid Plans

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/4/2007

Coach Taylor buckles under the pressure from Texas Methodist University. The news of his decision is not taken lightly by his family. Riggins faces the impending consequences of his relationship. Landry wonders whether he should tell someone about Tyra's situation.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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New York, New York
star
7.91
611 votes

#18 - New York, New York

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/2008

Tim is worried when Jason talks about leaving Dillon. Money troubles cause a riff between Tami and Eric. Tyra leans on Cash when things get tough, while Julie talks to her dad about Matt's idea.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
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Don't Go
star
7.90
703 votes

#19 - Don't Go

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/19/2011

An elite college football program attempts to lure Coach away from East Dillon. Vince vows to earn his spot back. Friends and family speak at Tim's parole hearing. East Dillon holds a Fall Sports Banquet.

Directors: Michael Waxman
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It's Different for Girls
star
7.86
725 votes

#20 - It's Different for Girls

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/2006

The cheerleaders prepare for Championship Classic. Lyla is picked on when people find out about her and Riggins. Coach Taylor tries to keep Matt and Julie apart. Jason goes home after being released from rehab.

Directors: Stephen Kay
Writer: Andy Miller
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Tomorrow Blues
star
7.86
711 votes

#21 - Tomorrow Blues

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/14/2009

Five months later, Coach Taylor's contract is up for review on Billy and Mindy's wedding day. Tyra grows anxious about her waitlist status. Matt leaves Grandma Saracen and Julie behind to attend college. Tim and Lyla question their future together.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Jason Katims
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There Goes the Neighborhood
star
7.85
686 votes

#22 - There Goes the Neighborhood

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/4/2008

Dillon County is hit by a tornado with Laribee High School affected by the damage forcing both rivals to share Dillon's resources. Julie and Tami adjust to Tim Riggins' living in their house, and tension builds between Landry and Tyra.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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Jumping the Gun
star
7.84
626 votes

#23 - Jumping the Gun

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/11/2008

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.

Directors: Daniel Attias
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Fracture
star
7.83
674 votes

#24 - Fracture

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/5/2011

Coach fears he's beginning to lose his grip on the team. Tami worries that one of her students is being neglected. Vince alienates his teammates. Becky enters a beauty pageant.

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Perfect Record
star
7.83
739 votes

#25 - Perfect Record

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/15/2010

Rivalry week stirs up controversy. Vince is caught in the middle between Coach and Ornette. Billy takes Luke under his wing.

Directors: Adam Davidson
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