[1] The series' future was once again placed in doubt as it did not return to production once the strike ended, and it continued to suffer from low ratings in its new Friday at 9:00 pm time slot.

Supporting characters who also returned include: Brad Leland as Lyla's father and head of the Dillon Panther's Booster Club Buddy Garrity, Derek Phillips as Tim's brother Billy Riggins, Louanne Stephens as Saracen's grandmother Lorraine Saracen, Liz Mikel as Smash's mother Corrina Williams, Kevin Rankin as Herc, Blue Deckert as Panther coach Mac MacGill, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Tyra's mother Angela Collette.

New guest stars this season included: Glenn Morshower as Landry's father and Dillon police officer Chad Clarke, Daniella Alonso as Lorraine Saracen's new live-in nurse Carlotta, Jessalyn Gilsig as Tami's sister Shelley Hayes, Benny Ciaramello as Santiago Herrera, Chris Mulkey as Coach Bill McGregor, and Matt Czuchry as Lyla's boyfriend Chris Kennedy.

Matt, upset over both the breakup and Coach Taylor's absence, faces even more challenges as a rift between himself and Smash emerges, and caring for his grandmother becomes a bigger struggle as her dementia slowly worsens.

With Taylor watching, Coach McGregor angers the boosters by switching the final play, resulting in Smash and Matt's getting into a physical confrontation.

Street quits his position as assistant coach, fed up with the team and with learning that his condition will not improve, even after he regains full motor control in one of his hands.

After losing the second game and seeing another physical confrontation between Smash and Matt, the boosters fire McGregor and offer Taylor the position if he'll leave TMU.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Despite an ill-advised story that threatens to puncture its aura of realism, Season Two of Friday Night Lights continues to deepen the show's winning portrayal of small-town America.