If your teen is binge-watching Blue Mountain State, they’re essentially watching a three-season-long kegger that makes American Pie look like a Disney Channel original movie—it earns its TV-MA rating with wall-to-wall binge drinking, locker-room hazing, and enough crude sexual humor to make a Sunday dinner very awkward very fast.
TL;DR: Blue Mountain State is a raunchy, satirical comedy about a fictional college football team that is seeing a massive 2026 resurgence due to its revival on Prime Video. While it’s popular for its over-the-top humor and "bro culture" satire, Screenwise categorizes it as high-risk for younger teens due to heavy substance use and explicit themes. For a more balanced sports drama, consider All American or the classic Friday Night Lights.
Originally airing on Spike TV back in 2010, Blue Mountain State (or BMS to the fans) follows the antics of the "Mountain Goats," a powerhouse college football team at a fictional university. But here’s the thing: the show is barely about football. The actual games are often secondary to the "lifestyle"—which involves massive house parties, elaborate hazing rituals, and the constant pursuit of sex and booze.
The show centers on Alex Moran, a talented quarterback who is content to stay on the bench so he can party without the pressure of playing, and Thad Castle, the team’s hyper-aggressive, hilarious, and deeply disturbed captain. It was a cult classic for years, but it has exploded back into the cultural zeitgeist in 2026 because of the new revival series on Prime Video. If your teen is on TikTok, they’ve almost certainly seen clips of Thad Castle screaming about his "pocket pussy" or doing something equally unhinged.
It’s easy to dismiss BMS as "brain rot," but there’s a reason it’s sticky. For a 15 or 16-year-old, the show represents a hyper-stylized, consequence-free version of the "college dream." It’s fast-paced, genuinely funny (if you have a juvenile sense of humor), and it taps into that teenage desire for independence and rebellion.
There’s also a heavy dose of nostalgia-baiting happening. With the 2026 revival, the original creators are leaning into the "legacy" of the show, making it a multi-generational hit. Older Gen Z-ers are re-watching it for the nostalgia, and younger Gen Alpha teens are discovering it for the first time via short-form clips. It’s "locked in" as the go-to show for kids who want to feel like they’re watching something they probably shouldn't be.
Screenwise isn't here to tell you what to ban, but if you’re an intentional parent, you need to know exactly what’s in the water at BMS. This show doesn't just push the envelope; it shreds it.
Substance Use: The "Oil Change" and Beyond
Drinking isn't just a background activity in BMS; it’s a character. Binge drinking, beer bongs, and shots are constant. There are also frequent references to performance-enhancing drugs, marijuana, and various "party" pills. One of the show's most infamous episodes involves an "oil change"—a medically impossible and disgusting procedure where players swap their urine to pass a drug test. It’s played for laughs, but it sets a very specific tone regarding drug culture.
Sexual Content and Nudity
BMS is unapologetically raunchy. You’ll see partial nudity (lots of butts and occasionally more), and the dialogue is heavily focused on sexual conquests. The show treats sex as a sport, often lacking any emotional weight or discussion of consent in the earlier seasons—though the 2026 revival has attempted to modernize some of these themes.
Hazing and "Bro" Culture
The team culture is built on hazing. While the show is a satire—meaning it’s making fun of how ridiculous these traditions are—that nuance can sometimes be lost on a younger audience. The characters often engage in behavior that would be considered bullying or even criminal in a real-world high school or college setting.
If your kid is into the football aspect or the team dynamics but you’re not ready to let them dive into the BMS keg, there are plenty of shows that offer great storytelling without the "brain rot" factor.
- The gold standard. It deals with real issues—pressure, race, family, and injury—with incredible acting and a lot of heart. It’s the "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" alternative to the chaos of BMS.
- A modern favorite that follows a high school star from South LA recruited to play for Beverly Hills High. It’s got the drama and the sports action, but it’s much more grounded in reality.
- If they like the humor of a sports team, Ted Lasso is the ultimate "good vibes" show. It’s funny, smart, and teaches actual leadership skills instead of how to hide a hangover.
- For that "rivalry" and "training" energy, Cobra Kai on Netflix is a winner. It has the humor and the teen drama but keeps the raunchiness at a much more manageable level.
If your teen is already "all in" on BMS, don't panic. Use it as a jumping-off point for some real-talk conversations. Satire is a great tool for media literacy.
- Satire vs. Reality: Ask them, "Do you think college is actually like this?" Help them see that the show is a caricature—an exaggeration of the worst parts of jock culture.
- The "Thad Castle" Effect: Thad is a fan favorite because he’s hilarious, but he’s also a terrible person to his teammates. Talk about the difference between a "funny character" and a "good leader."
- Consequences: In BMS, characters drink an insane amount and wake up fine. In the real world, that leads to alcohol poisoning, legal trouble, and kicked-off-the-team status. It’s worth pointing out that the show skips the "boring" parts of bad decisions (like the hospital or the police station).
Ask our chatbot for more conversation starters about mature TV themes
Q: Is Blue Mountain State appropriate for a 14-year-old? Screenwise generally recommends BMS for ages 17+. While a 14-year-old might find the humor hilarious, the volume of substance abuse and sexual content is significant and often lacks any negative consequences.
Q: Why is Blue Mountain State trending in 2026? The show is trending due to a high-profile revival series on Prime Video featuring the original cast. This has sparked a "rewatch" trend on TikTok and Instagram.
Q: Does Blue Mountain State have a lot of nudity? Yes. While it’s not quite at the level of an HBO show like Euphoria, there is frequent partial nudity, including many scenes involving "streaking" or locker room antics, and very explicit sexual dialogue.
Q: Is the new 2026 Blue Mountain State revival cleaner than the original? Not really. The revival leans into the same raunchy humor that made the original a hit, though it does reflect some more modern sensibilities regarding social issues. It remains firmly in the TV-MA category.
Blue Mountain State is the ultimate "guilty pleasure" show for a lot of people, but for a developing teen brain, it’s a lot of noise. If your teen is watching it, they’re seeing a version of "manhood" and "college life" that is purely fictional and often toxic.
Screenwise suggests that if you allow it, you do so with a heavy side of conversation. If you’re looking to steer them toward something with a bit more substance, check out our guide to the best sports shows for teens to find a better fit for your family's values.