Chad Powers will return to Hulu for Season 2 on September 3, 2026, and while the premise sounds like a goofy sports movie, the TV-MA rating means you should expect more F-bombs than field goals. Glen Powell is set to double down on the prosthetic chin and the "think fast, run fast" persona, but this remains a show built for adults and older teens, not the middle-schoolers who might have seen the original Eli Manning sketch on YouTube.
Chad Powers Season 2 premieres September 3, 2026, on Hulu. It will continue the story of a disgraced college quarterback who goes undercover at a Southern program to revive his career. Expect a TV-MA rating driven by heavy profanity and mature locker-room humor—if you’re looking for family-friendly football, stick to Friday Night Lights or our best shows for kids list.
If your kid has been tracking Glen Powell since Top Gun: Maverick or Twisters, they are likely already asking about this. The show is a full-length expansion of the viral "Chad Powers" sketch from Eli Manning’s Eli’s Places. In that original ESPN+ bit, Manning went undercover in a wig and mustache to try out for the Penn State football team. It was wholesome, funny, and very "dad humor."
The Hulu series is a different beast. Co-created by Powell and Michael Waldron (the mind behind Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), it takes that "man in a disguise" hook and drops it into a much grittier, more cynical world. Powell plays Russ Holliday, a hotshot QB whose professional prospects go up in smoke after a bad behavior scandal. He becomes Chad Powers not just for a prank, but as a desperate, last-ditch effort to play the game again.
Based on the production updates and the first looks we've seen, Season 2 will likely pick up right in the thick of the college football season. The stakes are set to move beyond the "will he get caught" tension of the first season and into the actual grind of the locker room.
Steve Zahn is back as a key figure in the coaching staff, and the chemistry between him and Powell looks like it will remain the show's emotional anchor. While the first season focused on the "onboarding" of the lie, Season 2 is expected to dive deeper into the consequences of living a double life in the social media age. It’s hard to keep a secret when everyone in the stands has a 4K camera in their pocket.
The biggest point of friction for parents is the rating. Because the source material (the Eli Manning sketch) was so accessible, there’s a natural assumption that the show will be a "family watch." It isn't.
Hulu leaned into the TV-MA rating for a reason. The dialogue is dense with profanity—the kind of casual, constant swearing you’d hear in a real college locker room or on a show like The Bear. It isn't "edgy" for the sake of being edgy, but it is unfiltered. If your household has a hard line on the F-word, this show will cross it in the first five minutes.
Beyond the language, the themes are more "prestige drama" than "sitcom." It deals with the ego of elite athletes, the predatory nature of college sports recruiting, and the fallout of public disgrace. It’s smart, but it’s heavy.
If you have a high-schooler who is already watching, the "disguise" element is actually a great opening for a conversation about authenticity.
- The cost of the lie: Ask them how long they think someone could actually pull this off in 2026. With TikTok and facial recognition, the "fake mustache" trope is almost a fantasy element now.
- Second chances vs. dodging consequences: Is Russ Holliday actually seeking redemption, or is he just trying to bypass the punishment he earned?
- The "Pro" mindset: The show does a great job of showing the obsessive, almost pathological drive it takes to play at a high level. It’s a good reality check for kids who think sports stardom is all NIL deals and highlights.
If the sports-drama-comedy mix hits the right spot but you want to see what else is in the neighborhood, these are the better bets:
- Friday Night Lights: Still the gold standard for football drama. It’s TV-14, much more earnest, and actually has things to say about community and family.
- Ted Lasso: If they like the "outsider in a new sports world" vibe but you want something with a much higher WISE score and a soul.
- All American: For the teen-soap version of the college/high school football grind.
Q: When is the Chad Powers Season 2 release date? Season 2 is set to premiere on Hulu on September 3, 2026. This puts it right at the start of the actual college football season, which is a deliberate marketing move by Hulu.
Q: Is Chad Powers okay for a 12-year-old? Probably not, unless you are very comfortable with heavy profanity. The show is rated TV-MA and features frequent F-bombs and adult situations that land better with a 16+ audience.
Q: Do you need to see the Eli Manning sketch to understand the show? No. The show is a complete reimagining. The sketch is just the "vibes" inspiration. The series builds its own lore, characters, and stakes from scratch.
Q: Who is in the cast of Chad Powers Season 2? Glen Powell returns as the lead (and co-writer). Steve Zahn is confirmed to return, and the show is expected to feature several real-world sports cameos, similar to the first season.
Chad Powers is a masterclass in Glen Powell’s movie-star charisma, but don't let the sports theme fool you into thinking it's a "kids' show." It’s a sharp, foul-mouthed, and often cynical look at the world of college football. Save this one for the older teens who can handle the language and appreciate the satire of the "disgraced athlete" trope.
- For shows with a similar sports vibe but a younger target, check our digital guide for middle school.
- If you're looking for more mature comedies that actually have something to say, browse our best shows for kids list.
- Ask our chatbot for a curated list of sports dramas
