Plot Synopsis

Directed by Greg Whiteley, LAST CHANCE U is a documentary series that follows a group of young men training to become the future stars of the NFL. The first two seasons follow the young men at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), and then the series moves to Independence Community College for its third and fourth seasons. The series ended with its fifth season, focusing on Oakland's Laney College.

The EMCC Lions have become a phenomenon in junior college sports, attracting elite athletes, some of whom have been held back by poor academic performance or behavioral issues. Under Coach Buddy Stephens, one of the most successful but least known athletic programs, EMCC graduates more than 20 players per year into football scholarships at four-year universities, and nine of his former players currently play in the NFL. In Season 1, as the Lions strive for their fourth National Championship, the players struggle to keep up the pace in the classroom. Brittany Wagner, a vivacious single-mother and an advisor to the team whose own success is equally dependent on the academic achievements of the players, does everything she can to keep the guys focused, papers turned in on time, and eligible to play ball. As the players continue to contend with their own personal challenges and teeter on the edge of success or failure, each of them has incredible drive to be the best, but each of them also has unique distractions and conflicts both on and off the field. The series follows the Lions as they enter another season of crushing their opponents, courting recruiters and enduring the physical intensity of this level of football. As their season takes an unexpected turn, the methods of this unconventional team are deeply called into question. With much to lose, they are constantly reminded of the stakes. Netflix released the six-episode first season on Friday, July 29, 2016 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT. On Friday, July 21, 2017 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT, Netflix released the eight-episode second season of LAST CHANCE U. In Season 2 Buddy welcomes a new crop of budding football stars hoping to overcome past mistakes, while coping with the attention brought by Season 1. Buddy makes changes in response to the publicity the show brought to the EMCC program. The Lions are forced to play short-handed in the season opener.

Season 3 shifts to Independence Community College in Kansas, where a tough-as-nails coach attempts to rebuild a struggling program. After decades of losing, Independence Community College looks to brash coach Jason Brown to develop a winning culture and recruit talented athletes. After the rough season opener, Coach Brown questions his D1 transfers. Malik and Carlos face tough love as they fight to meet expectations. Bad blood with his old boss fuels Brown's fire as the newly confident Pirates welcome defending national champion Garden City to Independence Despite ICC's winning streak, tensions start to boil over as Brown gets fed up with his players and coaches before and during a game in Dodge City. On Friday, July 20, 2018 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT, Netflix released the eight-episode third season of LAST CHANCE U.

The fourth season continues the story of Independence Community College's football team, as Netflix released all eight episodes of the new season on Friday, July 19, 2019 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT. This season, Coach Jason Brown experiences a new level of notoriety as he leads a loaded ICC roster into a season filled with national championship expectations. As Bobby Bruce tries to rebound from bad decisions, Brown considers bringing back a polarizing player. Bobby gets close with Kailon, who tries to keep Bobby on the right path. Assistant coach Jason Martin talks about moving his family into a dorm room. The town of Independence gets ready for the highly anticipated home opener. Visits with Chance's and Kailon's families shed light on their upbringings.
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Netflix released the eight-episode fifth season of LAST CHANCE U on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 3:01am ET/12:01am PT. The new season gives viewers a raw, authentic look at the junior college football program at Laney College in the heart of Oakland, CA. After clinching the title of state and national champions in 2018, the Laney Eagles have a hard season to follow and a lot to prove. Going into his eighth season and having built the program from the ground up, powerhouse head coach John Beam must fight to rally the team amidst countless setbacks. Season 5 brings intensity both on and off the field as players battle injuries, stress, and personal demons while finding much needed support in the community and taking pride in their scrappy mentality and motto "Laney Built."