"Friday Night Lights" Season 3 Promos

Award-winning drama "Friday Night Lights" has begun its 3rd season on Wednesday night, but the show won't be coming to NBC before early 2009. Instead, DirecTV is airing the 13 episodes ordered this year, following fans' efforts to save the low-rated series.

The critically-acclaimed drama is airing on channel 101 on the DIRECTV dial in a commercial-free and extended format for the entire season.



This season, Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) has to cope with an uncertain team after the graduation of star running back Smash Williams (Gaius Charles).

Smash is dealing with his own demons after a season-ending injury causes him to lose his college scholarship while Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) is in danger of having his starting quarterback position taken away from him when a new freshman phenom arrives on the scene.

Meanwhile Tami (Connie Britton) faces stressful challenges as the new principal of Dillon High School as she continues to struggle with raising her teenage daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden).



Tyra (Adrienne Palicki) is determined to get out of Dillon and into a good college by overcoming her past academic problems and with the help of a few friends, she's encourage her to make a run for student body president.

But a budding romance between Tyra and a rodeo star leaves her ambitions and Landry on the sidelines.

And finally, this season gives fans what they have been waiting for as Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) and Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) finally become a couple!