The BEST episodes of Friday Night Lights season 1

Every episode of Friday Night Lights season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Friday Night Lights season 1!

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

Last Updated: 9/11/2024Network: AudienceStatus: Ended
State
star
8.62
702 votes

#1 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mud Bowl
star
8.21
765 votes

#2 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Black Eyes & Broken Hearts
star
8.15
694 votes

#3 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
8.00
1207 votes

#4 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Best Laid Plans
star
7.92
695 votes

#5 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It's Different for Girls
star
7.86
734 votes

#6 - 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
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
I Think We Should Have Sex
star
7.79
720 votes

#7 - I Think We Should Have Sex

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/21/2007

After Julie reveals to Matt that she wants to have sex with him, Matt feels the need to put together something special. Tim clashes with his father.The Panthers are into the next round of the playoffs and looking solid.

Writer: Liz Heldens
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
star
7.77
690 votes

#8 - Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/21/2007

With TMU trying to recruit Coach Taylor, Julie insists that she will not be moved away from Matt and Dillon. The quad rugby recruiters in Austin deliver some bad news to Jason. Riggins becomes friends with a single mother and her son.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Jason Katims
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Little Girl I Wanna Marry You
star
7.71
735 votes

#9 - Little Girl I Wanna Marry You

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2007

The Panthers have only one more game to win in order to qualify for the play-offs. Smash's mother discovers something that could end his football dreams.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Jason Katims
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blinders
star
7.70
767 votes

#10 - Blinders

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/7/2007

The Panthers savor their crucial playoff-win-until race issues emerge and sorely test their bond after Mac makes racial statements.Tami frowns upon Julie's newfound friendship with Tyra. The girls play a powder-puff football game.

Directors: Stephen Kay
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Full Hearts
star
7.69
836 votes

#11 - Full Hearts

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/5/2006

Smash continues to go the extreme to improve his performance. Rumors begin to spread about Tim and Lyla's relationship. Julie and Matt attempt to go out on a date but it is cursed from the beginning.The Panthers are in much anticipation for their upcoming game against the Gatling High.

Directors: Josh Pate
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Git 'Er Done
star
7.68
862 votes

#12 - Git 'Er Done

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/2006

The big game against the Tigers drawing closer, Coach Taylor must decide between Matt and the self-assured recruit Ray "Voodoo" Tatum for the starting quarterback. The feelings between Tim and Lyla grow stronger. Jason's newly-found motivation strives him to begin the rehab.

Directors: Mark Piznarski
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Upping the Ante
star
7.62
758 votes

#13 - Upping the Ante

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/31/2007

The Panthers prepare for their first playoff game.Coach Taylor gets distracted as he has to come up with a solution to Smash's use of drugs. Tyra and Julie befriend while Riggins bonds with his alienated father.Buddy learns about Jason and Lyla's engagement.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Eyes Wide Open
star
7.60
1052 votes

#14 - Eyes Wide Open

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2006

As the team pulls together and tries to help Matt get used to his new role as quarterback after Jason's injury, Lyla offers her support to Tim. Jason learns about the extent of his injury, and Tami gets a job as the school guidance counselor.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Jason Katims
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What to Do While You're Waiting
star
7.59
709 votes

#15 - What to Do While You're Waiting

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2007

The Panther's fate is hung up on the result of a game between two other teams and there is nothing they can do about it.Meanwhile, there is tension at the Street's house because of the lawsuit they introduced against Coach Taylor.Matt's father has a hard time adjusting back to real life.

Directors: David Boyd
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nevermind
star
7.58
825 votes

#16 - Nevermind

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2007

The Panthers are preparing for another game they can't lose. Matt's father comes back from Iraq but his mother's condition is difficult to take in.Tami Taylor sees Tim Riggins regarding his grades. She believes he's not doing his homework by himself and asks Landry to tutor him for his next oral exam. If he doesn't pass, he won't play in the football team.

Directors: Jonas Pate
Writer: Liz Heldens
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
El Accidente
star
7.57
855 votes

#17 - El Accidente

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/7/2006

Ray Tatum faces the blame of his team mates after Panthers' win in the game last week might be overturned. Defensive tackle Bobby Reyes is arrested by the police during a practice for beating a student. Coach Taylor and Buddy Garrity are questioned by the Texas High School athletic administration.Lyla and Tim surprise Jason by taking him to the lake.

Directors: Dan Lerner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Who's Your Daddy
star
7.55
853 votes

#18 - Who's Your Daddy

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/24/2006

As the Panthers prepare for a match against the Tigers, who are their biggest rival, Jason's new roommate tries to help him understand the potential he has for recovery.Lyla tells Tim of her regrets about what happened between them, and Matt hits an all-time low.

Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Wind Sprints
star
7.54
781 votes

#19 - Wind Sprints

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2006

The situation in town begins to get ugly as Coach Taylor and his family is forced to endure heat from a difficult loss against the San Marco HS Rattlers.Tim and Tyra break up after he confronts her about Smash, and Lyla, after having an argument with Jason, vents her anger onto Tim.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crossing the Line
star
7.48
816 votes

#20 - Crossing the Line

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/28/2006

Julie thinks about going on a date with Matt. A discouraged Smash turns to foul play to improve his on-pitch performance. Cheered by Lyla and Tim, Jason has his first quad rugby game. A dinner turns into a fight for Coach Taylor, Tami, Riggins and his brother.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Extended Families
star
7.47
716 votes

#21 - Extended Families

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/28/2007

Lyla makes a surprise visit to the quad rugby camp where Jason is playing at, but she doesn't find the comfort she came looking for.Buddy Garrity's affair with Tyra's mother comes out. Consequently, Buddy decides to move in with the Taylors.Smash becomes suspicious about Waverly when she goes for a midnight swim with him.

Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Homecoming
star
7.43
919 votes

#22 - Homecoming

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2006

As the Panthers get ready to face the dominating Laribee Lions, the 2000 State Champ quarterback, Lucas Mize is set to join the team.Smash catches his chance to convince a college scout of his talents. A focused Tim quits drinking. Jason's suspicions of Lyla and Tim's affair grow. Tyra and Billy set up an after game homecoming party.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV