Following the full season drop of Chad Powers Season 2 on September 3, 2026, fans have quickly propelled the series to a 100% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show, which is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu, continues the saga of Russ Holliday, a disgraced star quarterback who adopts a prosthetic-heavy disguise to play for the South Georgia Catfish.
Co-created by Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, the series balances the absurdity of Holliday’s “Chad Powers” persona with the genuine grit of Southern football culture. If you have already finished the six-episode binge of Season 2, here are five shows that capture the same blend of sports comedy, redemption arcs, and locker-room dynamics.
1. Eastbound & Down
If the draw of Chad Powers is the spectacle of a fallen athlete desperately clinging to their glory days, Eastbound & Down is the essential predecessor. Starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers, the series follows a former major league pitcher with an inflated ego who is forced to return to his hometown as a substitute physical education teacher. Much like Russ Holliday, Kenny Powers is a “disgraced” figure whose quest for a comeback is paved with social gaffes and a refusal to admit his own decline. The humor is significantly more abrasive, but the DNA of the “failed pro athlete” trope is nearly identical.
2. Blue Mountain State
For viewers who enjoy the collegiate atmosphere of the South Georgia Catfish, Blue Mountain State offers a high-energy, satirical look at the “big man on campus” lifestyle. The show focuses on the rowdy antics of a fictional powerhouse college football team, emphasizing the party culture, hazing rituals, and the immense pressure placed on players. While Chad Powers has a more grounded emotional core, both shows find their best moments in the specific, often ridiculous subculture of locker room camaraderie.
3. Friday Night Lights
While Chad Powers is a comedy, its setting within the world of SEC-adjacent football culture shares a spiritual bond with Friday Night Lights. Set in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, this acclaimed drama explores how high school football serves as the lifeblood of a small community. For fans who appreciate the “South Georgia” authenticity of Glen Powell’s series, Friday Night Lights provides a more serious but equally immersive look at how a sport can define a person’s entire identity and social standing.
4. Ted Lasso
Though the sport is soccer rather than American football, Ted Lasso mirrors the “fish out of water” and “reinvention” themes seen in Chad Powers. The Apple TV+ series features an American football coach who moves to England to lead a struggling Premier League team. Both shows rely heavily on the charisma of their lead actors and a supporting cast of athletes who eventually warm up to their unconventional leader. If you enjoy the underdog spirit of the walk-on tryouts in Chad Powers, the optimism of Ted Lasso is a natural next step.
5. Stick
As a contemporary alternative for 2026 viewers, the Owen Wilson-led series Stick has emerged as a top recommendation for those who enjoy the specific comedic rhythm of Glen Powell’s performance. Premiering in 2025 and seeing continued success through 2026, Stick follows a former pro golfer navigating a career resurgence under bizarre circumstances. Like Chad Powers, it leans into the eccentricities of sports veterans who are forced to play by a new set of rules in order to stay in the game.
Whether you are drawn to the prosthetic-based physical comedy of Glen Powell or the high-stakes world of Southern football, these series offer plenty of content to fill the gap while waiting for news on a potential third season of the South Georgia Catfish’s favorite walk-on.
