8 Shows That Aren't Completely Out of Touch With High-School Life Today

If you think Friday Night Lights is just a show about football, well, you couldn't be more wrong. In fact, you don't even need to be a sports fan to be completely captivated by this TV drama. The 2006 series is set in Dillon, a small town in rural Texas, where social order revolves around a high-school football team, whether you're an athlete or not.

Friday Night Lights explores issues of race, class, and identity through an uncensored lens, as well as the intense stress that is put on football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and the players on his team. The future of these students is in the hands of a game — one good play can land an athlete a college scholarship, while an injury could destroy their future.