Hey all,
Just a quick question. If this has been answered already, please direct me to where I can find the answer. I was reading some of the reviews of this show and someone brought up a good point: What year are each of the characters. If I remember correctly, last year Jason was a senior. Does this mean that Layla has graduated? If so, what is she still doing in Dillon or was she a junior and now a senior? In Friday's episode, Smash referenced himself being a Senior and that Matt could be captain next year. Does this mean Matt started last year as a sophomore? There was no one older in line in front of him? Also Riggins is best friends with Street, so they are probably the same year, but Riggins is still in school. Did he flunk and re-do senior year? I love the show, but I have been wondering if there was a clear listing of what school year each character was in. Thanks!

I noticed the same thing. You would think riggins and Street's g/f would have all been seniors as well as smash. Smash was talking about going to texas and winning a national championship during the first episode of last season. Matt was a sophmore last year him and landry talked about him barely playing at all during his freshman year. The toughest thing for this show is going to be keeping the story interesting because after this season they will have to bring in some new characters and some of the favorites will leave. I was thinking smash would be the first one to go. But the way this season is going I bet he ends up blowing out a knee and having to stay in dillon because he doesn't get any offers.

As far as I know, last season Landry, Matt and Julie were all stated as being sophomores.

Jason, since he was about to sign with Notre Dame, must have been a senior.

To the best of my knowledge, we were never explicitly told what year Tim, Tyra, or Lyla were.

Billy said during this past week's ep that Tim's "a 17-year-old kid." So, depending on when his birthday is, he could either be a senior or a junior this year (hard for me to retrofit Tim to being a sophomore last year, except that he was in the same English class as Julie and Landry...though Smash was in that class, too...).

*throws up hands*

My pet theory is that Tim repeated kindergarten (at least!), so that he's about the same age as Jason, but not in the same grade.

I'd love to see if anyone has any better information on what year Tim, Lyla, and Tyra are this season!

Ya man Tim has got to be a Senior. He makes the show in my opinion him and coach are great. Anyone know how old Julie actually is I don't know what her real name is.

Aimee Teegarden born October 10th 1989....so literally just turned 18!!!

She is pretty **** hot.

I'd say that's a reasonable explanation. So Lyla, Tim and Smash are probably in the same year, seniors, And Landry and Matt are a year behind, I assume. Not too sure about Tyra though. And, as for Julie, I believe she's in the 9th grade, because her mom refered to her as her "15 year-old daughter".

I'm pretty sure that Julie was a sophomore last year. In the episode about the rally girl whose Panther was pressuring her to do a threeway, one of the things Tami griped to Eric about was that she was a sophomore like Julie. I'd have to get out the DVDs to be sure. So I think Landry, Matt, and Julie are all juniors this year.

Of course, Tim, Lyla and Landry were all driving last season...Do you have to be 16 to get a driver's license in Texas?

Nowadays lots and lots of kids (especially boys) don't start kindergarten until age 6 -- they're kept back to allow for more emotional and social maturity, so it's quite likely that Landry, Tim, and Matt could all have turned 16 as they were starting their sophomore years last year...

I can't figure out why I care so much -- maybe I just like getting all my ducks in a row?

Hey sorry, it's been awhile- I forgot how to do this! I asked the same questions last season about what grades they were in and some posters got on my case about it. I asked what the show would do if these characters graduated, that the show would really miss them. Don't get me wrong, I love this show and I realize this is probably what they had to do to make it work but last year Jason, Tim and Lyla for sure had to be seniors.(To be fair they haven't exactly shown Jason and Lyla as students yet I don't think). Not so sure about Smash and Tyra but I can buy that they were juniors. I'll buy Matt, Landrey and Julie as Juniors this year. I find it hard to believe though that in big time Texas high school football you'd find a team with a starting line up where the QB,back up QB, RB, and fullback are all juniors and sophomores. I'd say most if not all would be seniors.Also if Tyra was a soph last year that means the oil company guy had sex with her when she was what- 16? And the neighbor lady who is supposedly 32 or 3 had sex with Tim when he was 16 or 17. If those ain't crimes they're pushin' it. And by the way how does Tim keep buying beer if he's so young? That's also a crime right? Still love the show even though you have to overlook some of these things.

They never stated who was in what grade except for Jason who was a SR.

Smash was a JR because when he was trying to get on that guys list as top 100 prospects which would come out the following year so people would know who to watch so that made him a JR at the time, now a SR.

They never said anything about Tim, which I though he was a SR when his brother was talking to Coach Taylor about him playing College Ball but I guess it makes sense that he was a JR then though because when you start talking to colleges 9 times out of 10 your a JR. Yes Tim was 16 when he slept with her, why do you think she kept saying we cant do this, but if I was Tim, I would of went after her too. As far as him buying beer, I never had no problem buying when I was 16. He was well know around the town for playing ball so why wouldnt they sell it to him???

Tyra didnt sleep with the oil guy that was the other girl who left for Cali I guess her name was waverly. Tyra was a JR then, now SR. Everyone got confused when they were saying she may not graduate, but when you start planning for college, a bulk of that is done your JR year so that covers that.

Matt, Juile and Landry where all Sophs now JRS.


Hope that clears this up!!!!

OK, FNL_FTBLL_Fan, I like how you've figured this out. (I think the show has been purposefully vague about class years, so it is bit of a puzzle to put this all together.) What you posted about Jason, Tim, and Tyra makes sense to me. (And I think it was clear last season that Matt, Julie, and Landry were sophomores.)

But you didn't mention Lyla, though. Do we think she's graduated? Or is this her senior year? Either could make sense, I guess - last year she talked about following wherever Jason went to college, and a girl having a boyfriend a year older than her is still common, I'm sure, so she could have been a junior. But we haven't seen her in school yet this year - so maybe she was the same age as Jason, has graduated, but hasn't been ready to go on to college yet, with all the turmoil in her life?

I'm also in agreement with madking about the romantic relationships between these high school kids and adults. I'm not naive enough to think it doesn't ever happen, but I don't like to see this great show portraying it as somehow normal for adults (the oil guy sleeping with Tyra, the single mom sleeping with Tim) to have sexual relationships with high school kids. I am glad that the writers - after choosing to put these elements into the story - are showing the damage it has caused the kids. Tyra and especially Tim were really hurt by these relationships, and both really REALLY need the adults in their lives to act like adults. Not friends, and definitely not lovers.

OK, my understanding is that Jason was definitely a senior last year. I thought Tim and Lyla were as well, but they never explicitly stated. Lyla is definitely still in school though, because they showed her in the cafeteria in one scene from Episode 1 or 2 from this season sitting with other students praying while Tim walked by and gave her a look. Smash was definitely a junior, that was said, Matt/Julie/Landry were definitely sophomores. I thought Tyra was a senior with Tim, but I suppose they could both be seniors now, juniors last season.

Waverly did not sleep with the oil guy. That was definitely Tyra. Does anybody know where Waverly is? I swear her and Smash were doing well at the end of last season. Waverly also didn't leave for California, that was Tyra who was going to move until convinced otherwise by Counselor Tami.

For some reason I still think it was waverly who slept with the oil guy, I guess I am going to have to watch some old episodes, its been a long time.
I thought waverly was talking about leaving school to got to cali, and tyra was only be talked to by tami because of the possiblilty of her not graduateing and tami convinced her she could go to college if she buckled down. which is how I figured out she was a JR now a SR.

Lyla had to be a JR now at SR, I have no reasoning behind that though.

My bad guys, I totally forgot who waverly was at first. That she was the preachers daughter with bipolar.

There was another girl, other then tyra, who was she? I had myself confused, but I know there was some other girl on here. Now I really am going to have to go back and watch some old episodes to find out who I am thinking of. She was a waitress also at applebees.

After going through some of the recaps, It was Tyra. I dont know why I was thinking it was someone else. Maybe I got confused with another show since its been so long since I have seen season 1.

I am a little confused as to what year everyone is in school? Aren't they all suppose to be seniors except for Julie, Landry and Matt? Somehow I got the impression from reading articles concerning season 3 that Smash was the only one graduating.

Lyla too. Remember, she was discussing colleges while at the ranch for dinner with Chris. So unless I'm mistaken, both Lyla and Smash should've been graduating this year/season. Tim was in one of Julie's classes in the first season, so I'm assuming even though he's at least one year older then her (imo it's totally believable that he failed a grade at some point), that he's not graduating this year.

I remember Tim being in Julie's class but I also remember Smash being in there as well. That kind of confused me when I saw it because I didn't understand how all of them could be in a class together. I do recall Lyla discussing colleges and I remember Mrs. T telling her that she made straight A's so she definitely will be graduating. I believe that Tim and Tyra are both on the five year plan. It will be interesting to see come October how the writers work all this out.

I didn't notice Smash in the class, but I will take your word for it.

I know Jason was the oldest, as he turned 19 this past season, and I just assumed Tim was somewhere in between him and Lyla age wise. Which would also point to the fact that Tim probably failed at least one grade at some point in his life. But I do remember Taylor Kitsch making a reference in an interview to Tim being a "17 year old kid", so I don't know. Maybe he has a birthday late in the year and started school a year later then everyone else too or something. lol

Do you remember the scene where Smash was responding to the teachers question, I believe they were discussing the Odyssey and Waverly jumped in? Tim was sitting in the back of the class and Julie was aslo there. I forget exactly which episode this was in.

It is possible for kids of different grades to be in the same classes in HS, particularly Lit. classes. When I was a Sophomore I took an Honors Humanities class that was mostly Juniors and Seniors. Other classes like Math and History/Social Studies would tend to have same-grade students.

I believed you, but thanks for pin pointing the scene. I remember it now. lol

I kinda hope Tim is still in high school when the new season starts. I'd like to see how he's doing, not see him all of a sudden in college. I want to see him get there. If that makes sense.

I would like to see all of them finish their senior year. I was so looking forward to prom, graduation and all the other treats that go along with senior year, I don't want to have to fill in any blanks. We can only trust in the writers and hope they "do the right thing!"

I was looking for all of those things too! I do hope we get to see who graduates because I don't think Tim is going to graduate on time. You know, you do have to go to school and you can't go to school drunk so Tim may have some makeup work to do before he graduates (lol)! That brings me to the idea that some people think that Tim could or would go to college. My question is how would he go to college? What college is going to let him in with the grades he has made plus his poor attendance. I know there is the possibility of junior college and perhaps he can go from there. Tim is a smart kid but he is a lazy kid. He got away with being the "Lover" of the school and he had all of the girls to help him do his work! All they wanted was for Tim to say, "Yeah" and then walk off. They just wanted to have a reason to say something to him! If and that is a Big If, Tim pulls up his grades enough he may get to graduate but he will have to fight to get into Jr. college. He can play football and in the end that may save him. It would actually be a big flip to see Tim in college and Jason working. I don't even think Lyla is going to go off to school. I think she'll go to Jr. college too. My reasoning for that is the fact that Lyla has not given college a second thought. She had no plans. After the break up with Jason all of her plans went out of the window. Jr. college would be a good thing for her. I think someone said that the idea of Jr. college would also keep them in Dillon and in the story. Just some thoughts.

I agree with both of you, teach2u and frifanatic. I had wanted to see the rest of the school year, and I had even convinced myself that season three would pick up where season two left off. I know the original premise of the show would be that each TV season would show one football season, but with the way the strike ended season two so abruptly, I had hoped they would change the game plan. I was sad to see (somewhere?) that is not the case - I think I've now read that they are still planning on starting season three with the start of the next football season.

Which is why I am now more confused than ever which kids were in which year of high school! While the writers are stuck with Smash having graduated, I find it hard to believe we will go back to Dillon High School with only Julie, Landry and Matt left there. Somehow, I think we will find Lyla, Tyra, and/or Tim still in school. (And if Tim is still in school because he's flunked his final year, does he still have eligibility to play ball?) Lyla's story has recently been set mostly away from school, so I think they could lose her pretty easily - and yeah, I could see her at a Community College, to keep her in town - but I expect that Tyra and Tim will still be students at Dillon High. (Though at the beginning of season two, I thought all three of them were seniors.)

I agree that it will be sad not to see prom/graduation/etc. But I guess that is they way the producers have set up this story - we'll never see a prom or graduation or Christmas or spring break if the idea is for each TV season to be a football season.

What I'm more sad about is that we won't even see the conclusion of the football season! Did they make it into the playoffs to defend their state title? If so, that means Smash got some more games in - did he turn things around? Did they repeat as champs? And if they didn't make the playoffs, what does that do to Eric's career?? And how are we going to get all "caught up" on this info when season three starts? (Remember those discussions, just after season two premiered? Trying to fill in the gaps of what had been going on from December through August??)

Can't believe we'll have to wait so long to find out...

I wish they would start season three right where season two ended. If they want to keep Smash around and continue his story why don't they let him. And not replay Smash's story thur flashbacks. It will be like watching LOST.

I just don't see Lyla going to Jr. college, she was way too serious about her grades and going to college was her main focus. She was upset with Jason when she found out his desire to go to college had left. Straight A's for a semester and taking Advanced Trig, just doesn't add up to Jr. college. I do see her however going to a college in Texas so that she can be close to Tim. When it comes to Tim, anything could happen, I can't believe we have to wait the whole summer to find out.

I'm confused too, can't they throw us a bone? It is too bad that we won't be able to see prom, graduation, etc. I really think that seeing the characters in those situations would probably bring aboard a lot of younger fans. We have become so invested in these characters that we want to share those special moments of senior year with them. Oh well, I guess it is a blessing that we get to see them again period.

The reason I said Lyla would go to Jr. college is because she has so much going on with her private life, at home, dealing with Tim, her brother and sister until I don't think she will want to leave town just yet. You know, a lot of very smart kids go to Jr, college for two years and then transfer to a 4 year college for the last 2 years of school. Jr. college used to be a place for kids who were on the line and not really ready to go to the big college yet but now, some of them offer complete 4 year programs, some technical programs and some offer 2 year degrees and certificate programs. I think all of the Jr. colleges in GA are now Technical Colleges and there is a tech college within a short distance from any town in GA. It has really helped to bring the education level of the state up. Most states have done this or they are about to do this. It is a win/win situation for everyone. Tim can't go to a 4 year college yet. He just isn't prepared. Of course, he can get to play football at a Jr. college and then transfer too.

I just thought that Lyla was not ready to leave town with everything going on. I kind of see most of them doing that. Sometimes it is better to do that. Jr. college helps you ease into the pressures of college. I went to a small private college in Atlanta, and that saved me. Small, private, and really hard on the students about morals and ethics. Well, my school is 3 times as large as it was when I was there and they are not as concerned about ethics and morals as they once were. So, with things being the way they are now, I think they all need to enroll in Jr. college and do a bit of growing up before heading off to the big city!

So I'm confused about what topic we're discussing here. Is it about what college the kids will go to, the benefits of attending a 2 college vs. a 4 year college, whether NBC will let us see what would've happened this season, Tim & Lyla (again), or about what year the characters are in high school?

Let's try to stay on topic, folks.

Simply put, the characters are in whatever grade the writers deem convenient for whatever story they are telling in a particular season. You will never be able to make logical sense of the ages of Tim, Tyra, and Lyla.

All three, along with Jason, were clearly seniors in season 1. Lyla discussed college applications, and Tyra discussed the possibility of Jr. College for the next year. Tim might have been believed to have failed a grade at some point, so could semi- believably been a junior in S1, but no younger.

When S1 ratings were a disappointment and the future of the show came into question, they pivoted away from changing out cast every year, and retro-ed all three as seniors once again for S2. The showrunners laughed about this, saying they would try to "squeeze one more year of high school" out of them. Which they did. I was willing to give them that leap of disbelief, because I wanted all three around and I understood they wanted Tim on the team again. I also understood it would not be wise to change out cast if S2 was to be the last season of the show. Also because actual school is not that big a factor, especially for Tim and Lyla who seem to attend only occasionally when they have nothing better going on.

Now the plan seems to be to milk yet another year, the 14th grade, out of them. This time I'm not sure I can make the leap. For one thing, it would mean they were the same age and same grade as Matt and Julie, who were stated to be sophomores, in S1. No way, no how. Also, it would mean Lyla was a 15 year old sophomore carrying on a highly sexualized affair with 18 year old Jason in S1. No way, no how.

Jason Katims addressed this in his interview with TV Guide. He said there would be no cast changes, the new season would reset to next school year, and therefore some "poetic license" and another dose of suspension of disbelief would be asked of the viewers. No kidding.


Me too, big time. The obvious way to avoid the ridiculous repeat retro-aging of Tim, Tyra, and Lyla is to pick up the 13 ep season 3 exactly where they left off. Not only would that keep the older characters out of the 14th grade, it would solve what in the world they are going to do with the Smash and Jason stories, both of which will have timed out if they start S3 9 months after the incomplete ending of S2. Katims seems hung up on getting a complete football season in and cites that as the reason for leaping forward. I really hope the writers, who would have to actually do the balancing act, are talking him out of that.

JMO, no way I buy Lyla at junior college, or not going to college, unless some major life or family event intervenes. No way Dillon Community College subs for Princeton.

Ok, I have to say that Jr. college may not be for Lyla but Lyla is not Ivy League! If you will remember when Tami talked to Lyla about her plans for the future, Lyla really didn't have any plans. Her plans centered around Jason. Tami had a folder in her hand and she was ready to talk to Lyla about schools, etc. When Lyla started talking Tami closed the folder because she knew that Lyla was in lala land and she had not given up on Jason playing football and all of the plans she and Jason had together. Now, move to season 2 when she is visiting Chris's family. Lyla is still in school and Lyla has not made plans to attend college. She said that she was "thinking" about an Ivy League school. She did not say that she had applied or that she had been accepted anywhere. Lyla was a senior and she should have had her ducks in a row by the fall of her senior year. That was one of those "confusing" times in the background of Lyla. If she is a senior, why has she not talked about college?

It is totally realistic for 10th grade girls to carry on very sexual relationships with guys who are 18 and older. I see and hear it about those relationships all of the time. I also see where those relationships take the girls. I can say that it can and does happen all of the time.

If they can get the 14th grade out of the "kids" then they will have to think about including plans after graduation. They have to do something with Tim. If Tim gets together with Lyla they are going to have to keep them around together. That is where the Jr. college idea comes in. Tyra is a senior but Landry is in the 11th grade. So, how are you going to keep them together if she doesn't go to Jr. college. I think Julie and Matt are both 11th graders. They still have a senior year to deal with. Landry asked Matt something about college and he replied that some people were looking at him but he didn't give the impression that he was about to go to college. Matt would have been included in that "signing" day show along with Smash. Now, Matt would not have been sought after like Smash but he would have been included.

Don't get me wrong, I don't thinik Lyla is "po-dunk" at all when it comes to going to college but I don't think she has her mind on college and not on a big time school at all. She would have to go through some major changes to get her mind off of the house, husband, kids and the station wagon life she had in her head. She did not reach that point in the 15 shows we saw this season. She may get there but I don't think she will. She'll stay close to home. She'll stay there because she feels safe there.

In the interest of keep this thread on topic, as the moderator ask, how about if I drag my reply to the Tim/Lyla thread?

I can totally see Tim still being in high school with Landry, Matt, Julie and even Tyra. But if Lyla is still doing the whole "born again" thing in the new season, maybe she'll have decided to attend a Christian college. It's hard to say...

I did post a topic to talk about what happens to them after they graduate. I thought that might be able to cover all of the characters after high school.

You know.......for some reason it has never bother me what grade they're in. I know they won't stay in high school forever and some will probably leave Dillon. But, they're like friends. I care about them. And I want to see them as long as possible. Cuz, I'm gonna miss 'em when they leave. So, if Katims wants to be fuzzy about their age....It's ok with me. At the Paley Feast Adrianne Palicki aka Tyra asked Katims what year her character was and Minka Kelly aka Lyla asked too. Katims did not respond with an answer. So, I guess even the cast doesn't know what grade they are in. Scott Porter aka Jason said that Peter Berg had told them, that their characters could be written out of the show at any time. Because they were high school students. Right now we got a good thing goin'......I don't want it to end.

The storylines don't make sense.

Is it only me or has the grade levels of the players changed from season to season? I swear that in Season 1 this was the following grades of the people:

Lyla: senior
Smash: Freshman
Riggins: senior
Saracen: freshman
Tyra: senior
Laundry: freshman

So for season 3: how can Smash be a senior and Riggins be a senior? The show is pretty awesome I will admit but stop shifting people into different grade levels each year. It makes it confusing.

I would agree that it is a little confusing sometimes. From what I could tell, the characters started Season 1 in the following grade levels:

Saracen-sophmore
Landry-sophmore
Julie-sophmore (her mom makes a specific reference to this in Season 1)
Smash-junior (I think in the first episode he talks about how great he is and that he's "only a junior"
Street-senior (in the first episode it talks about him being recruited by Notre Dame so that would suggest he was a senior)'
Riggins-I'm in the dark on this one. In Season 1 he's referred to as being 17 years old (when he hooks up with the next door neighbor), but he's also supposed to be a lousy student, so he might be a sophomore even though he's 17.
Lyla: Don't know. I assumed Lyla was a junior or senior (because she was dating Street and talking about going to college). If I had to guess I would say junior.
Tyra-Guessing sophmore or junior but don't know. Kind of in the same boat as Riggins.

16 Solo. That's what it used to be. You have a 6 mth probationary period driving with a licensed driver of at least 21 yrs old.

I don't question their ages. This show is way beyond such mundane details. For instance, Jason is 20, I believe, an inspiring character, brilliantly written and acted, as they all are. These writers, directors, actors, etc., have the kind of talent and depth that I don't find anywhere else. This show should be the most watched and most honored drama series, and should not be struggling for survival.

I'm new to this and have no idea how it works. I do have a question, though, and hope other viewers can answer it: At any point during this last season (3) or on last night's season finale was Landry's college choice ever divulged? Everybody else's dilemma about where to go and with whom was solved (sort of), but I don't recall ever hearing where Landry planned to go to college. Did I miss it or is, OMG, Landry still a junior? Thanks.

Here's my question: Are we to believe that Landry's only a junior? I have always thought he is in the same grade as Julie and Saracen. BUt he got no mention as to what college he is going to, and we would be going to college with his 4.2 GPA.

It can go either way.

You'd assume that Landry was in the same grade as both his best friend and his on-again-off-again girlfriend in Tyra. Which would be Senior.

The writers probably want to keep their options open. Not graduate everyone too fast.

However you'd think if they were going to have him graduate as a senior...they'd of said something about it by now in the show. So he'll probably come back. They arn't really following rules. So who knows.