Sports Series You Are Sleeping On (But Shouldn’t)

Sports stories on television cover more than final scores and trophy shots. They dig into recruiting pipelines, front-office politics, injuries, contracts, and the off-field choices that shape what happens on game day. If you’ve missed some of the best ones, this roundup gives you the essentials so you can jump in anywhere and know what you’re getting.

Each pick below includes a quick rundown of what the show covers, who’s involved, and where it originally aired so you can find it faster. You’ll see everything from high-school and college programs to pro leagues and combat sports, with scripted dramas and docuseries side by side.

‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006–2011)

This series follows a Texas high-school football program led by Coach Eric Taylor, tracking players, families, and boosters through seasons of change, injuries, and recruiting pressure. It was developed by Peter Berg from the nonfiction book and film, and it ran for five seasons with a total of 76 episodes. The production filmed extensively in Austin and Pflugerville, using real high-school stadiums to stage game sequences.

‘Friday Night Lights’ premiered on NBC, then continued through a partnership with DirecTV’s Audience Network before finishing its broadcast run on NBC. Cast members included Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Michael B. Jordan, and Jurnee Smollett, with recurring characters moving up in prominence as classes graduated.

‘Ted Lasso’ (2020–2023)

An American college football coach is hired to manage an English Premier League club, with episodes covering promotion battles, transfer windows, player development, and sports psychology. The series was created by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly, and it shot its football sequences at real stadiums around London.

‘Ted Lasso’ streamed on Apple TV+, which released three seasons. The ensemble featured Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and Brett Goldstein, and the production coordinated with professional clubs for match-day atmospheres and kit authenticity.

‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’ (2022–2023)

Set around the late 1970s and 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, this drama focuses on front-office decisions, coaching changes, media strategy, and the commercialization of modern basketball. It adapts a nonfiction account and recreates period arenas, uniforms, and broadcast styles across two seasons.

‘Winning Time’ aired on HBO with episodes also available on Max. The production featured John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, and Adrien Brody, and used a mix of film stocks and video formats to mirror television of the era.

‘GLOW’ (2017–2019)

The show chronicles the birth of a women’s professional wrestling promotion, covering training, character work, in-ring choreography, and the business of syndicated television in the 1980s. It ran for three seasons and staged large ensemble set pieces that required coordinated stunt and wrestling teams.

‘GLOW’ streamed on Netflix and starred Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, and Marc Maron. The production worked with wrestling coordinators to map out matches and protect performers while maintaining ring psychology and continuity from episode to episode.

‘Kingdom’ (2014–2017)

This drama centers on a family-run mixed martial arts gym, showing camp scheduling, weight cuts, sparring protocols, and promotions from regional cards to bigger events. Across three seasons, it tracks fighter contracts, sponsorships, and injury rehab with a focus on day-to-day gym operations.

‘Kingdom’ premiered on the Audience Network and featured Frank Grillo, Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas, and Kiele Sanchez. The creators consulted with MMA coaches and cutmen to design training montages and fight scenes that reflect real corners and rule sets.

‘Brockmire’ (2017–2020)

A veteran baseball play-by-play announcer rebuilds his career through minor league stops, podcasts, and front-office encounters, with episodes detailing media rights, stadium operations, and player relations. The series spans four seasons and incorporates league expansion, labor issues, and broadcast tech changes.

‘Brockmire’ aired on IFC and starred Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet. Production recorded original booth calls and layered crowd sound from real ballparks to match the pace and rhythm of professional broadcasts.

‘Playmakers’ (2003)

Set inside a pro football locker room, this single-season drama covers weekly game prep, drug testing, injuries, and the pressure around roster cuts. Storylines focus on position groups, film study, and the economics of veteran contracts versus rookie deals.

‘Playmakers’ aired on ESPN as an original scripted series. The production used football consultants to design practice sessions and game sequences that aligned with pro terminology and sideline procedures.

‘Pitch’ (2016)

This one-season drama follows the first woman to pitch in Major League Baseball, covering innings limits, pitch design, media protocols, and clubhouse dynamics. On-field scenes were staged in real MLB parks with professional players and coaches advising on mechanics.

‘Pitch’ aired on Fox and starred Kylie Bunbury and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. The series coordinated with MLB for uniforms, signage, and access, and used Statcast-style graphics to visualize pitch sequences.

‘Heels’ (2021–2023)

A small-town independent wrestling promotion manages storylines, gate receipts, and regional tours while balancing family ownership and locker room leadership. Across two seasons, the show depicts booking decisions, heel and face turns, and the logistics of running weekly cards.

‘Heels’ aired on Starz and starred Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig. The production partnered with wrestling trainers to choreograph matches and used real venues in Georgia to capture the independent circuit atmosphere.

‘Blue Mountain State’ (2010–2011)

This college-football comedy looks at program culture from recruiting visits to practice reps and depth-chart battles. It ran for three seasons with episodes that revolve around NCAA eligibility, training camp, and positional competitions.

‘Blue Mountain State’ originally aired on Spike, with a cast led by Darin Brooks, Alan Ritchson, and Chris Romano. The show used Canadian locations to double for campus and stadium facilities, building out locker rooms and weight rooms for recurring sets.

‘The League’ (2009–2015)

A group of friends participates in a long-running fantasy football league, with episodes built around draft strategies, waiver claims, trades, and game-day rituals. The series ran for seven seasons and integrated real NFL events like the draft into storylines.

‘The League’ aired on FX and later FXX, starring Mark Duplass, Stephen Rannazzisi, and Katie Aselton. Cameos from NFL figures were coordinated around regular-season schedules to secure appearances during bye weeks and off-days.

‘Ballers’ (2015–2019)

A former NFL player transitions into athlete financial management, covering salary structures, endorsement deals, stadium negotiations, and league governance. The series spans five seasons and follows client acquisition, investment risk, and collective bargaining talking points.

‘Ballers’ aired on HBO and starred Dwayne Johnson, Rob Corddry, and John David Washington. Production filmed in Florida and California to mirror franchise markets and used football consultants to shape contract and cap-space details.

‘Cobra Kai’ (2018–present)

Set decades after an All-Valley tournament, this series tracks rival dojos, competition brackets, and training regimens with tournament rules and judging criteria woven into the plot. It develops fighters across belt ranks and shows the administrative side of regional martial arts events.

‘Cobra Kai’ began on YouTube Premium before moving to Netflix, where subsequent seasons debuted. The stunt team designed kata, sparring, and tournament bouts to match point-scoring systems and safety guidelines used at open competitions.

‘All American’ (2018–present)

Inspired by a real high-school standout, the show maps transfers, eligibility, recruiting visits, and the jump from prep football to college programs. It details position coaching, playbook installs, and off-field academic requirements for student-athletes.

‘All American’ airs on The CW and stars Daniel Ezra, Taye Diggs, and Samantha Logan. The production uses Los Angeles-area fields and collaborates with football coordinators to stage seven-on-seven tournaments and full-pad practices.

‘F1: Drive to Survive’ (2019–present)

This docuseries embeds with Formula 1 teams through preseason testing, qualifying, and race weekends, covering driver contracts, car development, and budget caps. Cameras follow principals, engineers, and drivers inside garages and hospitality units across the calendar.

‘F1: Drive to Survive’ streams on Netflix, releasing annual seasons aligned with recent championships. Crews secure access to pit walls and paddocks under FIA guidelines, capturing radio communications and parc fermé procedures.

‘Sunderland ’Til I Die’ (2018–2020)

Focused on an English club’s attempt to climb the league ladder, the series documents transfer windows, academy development, and match-day operations at the Stadium of Light. It captures boardroom decisions alongside supporter culture and local business impact.

‘Sunderland ’Til I Die’ streamed on Netflix across two seasons. Production followed staff through managerial changes and used fixed cameras in scouting rooms to record recruitment meetings and data presentations.

‘A League of Their Own’ (2022)

This reimagining of a women’s professional baseball league depicts tryouts, scheduling, travel demands, and clubhouse routines during a pivotal era. It expands the roster of characters and tracks both on-field strategy and league administration.

‘A League of Their Own’ premiered on Prime Video with an ensemble led by Abbi Jacobson and Chanté Adams. The series consulted baseball coordinators to create team identities, pitcher–catcher signals, and period-accurate equipment.

‘Big Shot’ (2021–2022)

After a college coach takes over a private-school girls’ basketball team, episodes cover practice planning, scouting reports, discipline policies, and tournament seedings. The story includes athletic department oversight and admissions considerations tied to sports.

‘Big Shot’ streamed on Disney+ and starred John Stamos, Jessalyn Gilsig, and Yvette Nicole Brown. The production staged games in Southern California gyms and structured drills to reflect high-school coaching clinics.

‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ (2021–2022)

A youth hockey team forms from the ground up, tackling equipment costs, ice time, coaching certifications, and league registration. It follows roster building through tryouts and shows how amateur tournaments set brackets and travel schedules.

‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ streamed on Disney+, with Lauren Graham and Emilio Estevez featured across the run. Hockey consultants handled skating drills, line changes, and bench organization to mirror youth-league gameplay.

‘Lights Out’ (2011)

A former heavyweight contender attempts a comeback, with episodes focusing on sanctioning bodies, rankings, sparring partners, and the economics of televised bouts. The single-season story covers promoter negotiations and the medical clearances required for licenses.

‘Lights Out’ aired on FX and starred Holt McCallany and Stacy Keach. Fight scenes were choreographed to replicate round pacing, corner instruction, and referee stoppage protocols.

‘Eastbound & Down’ (2009–2013)

A former big-league pitcher navigates minor leagues and international stints, with episodes addressing roster rules, clubhouse norms, and player-agent relationships. The four-season run uses spring training settings and short-term contracts as plot engines.

‘Eastbound & Down’ aired on HBO with Danny McBride in the lead. Baseball advisers helped map bullpen sessions, mound visits, and pitch counts to reflect professional habits and regulations.

‘Spinning Out’ (2020)

A competitive figure skater manages pairs dynamics, ISU scoring systems, and the demands of choreography, jump layouts, and season planning. The series shows off-ice conditioning, mental health care, and the costs associated with international competition.

‘Spinning Out’ streamed on Netflix with Kaya Scodelario in the lead. Skating doubles performed technical elements like side-by-side jumps and throw lifts, while coaches consulted on program components and step sequences.

‘QB1: Beyond the Lights’ (2017–2020)

This docuseries follows elite high-school quarterbacks through senior seasons, focusing on film study, seven-on-seven events, and recruiting commitments. It captures coaching clinics, summer camps, and early-enrollee timelines that shape college transitions.

‘QB1: Beyond the Lights’ streamed on Netflix over three seasons. The production secured access to team meetings, sidelines, and homes to document decision points from offer lists to signing day.

‘Last Chance U’ (2016–2020)

Set at junior colleges, the series tracks players pursuing Division I opportunities, covering eligibility, study halls, strength programs, and game plans. Each season centers on a different campus, with cameras inside position rooms and practice fields.

‘Last Chance U’ streamed on Netflix and later spun off ‘Last Chance U: Basketball.’ Crew members embedded with academic advisers and compliance offices to record the steps required for athletes to regain standing and transfer.

‘Swagger’ (2021–2023)

Inspired by youth basketball circuits, this drama explores AAU schedules, shoe-circuit sponsorships, recruiting exposure, and school-team overlap. It covers player rankings, tournament showcases, and how families navigate coaches and scouts.

‘Swagger’ streamed on Apple TV+ with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Isaiah Hill. The series worked with basketball coordinators to stage practice sessions, shot clocks, and event-style weekends that mirror grassroots competitions.

Share the sports series you think more people should discover in the comments.