The first season of Hulu‘s football comedy Chad Powers came to a dramatic close on October 28, 2025, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. The finale saw Russ Holliday’s carefully built double life as quarterback Chad Powers unravel after a desperate attempt to save his coach’s life.
How Coach Hudson’s Crisis Exposes Chad
The sixth episode, titled “6th Quarter,” picks up immediately after the shocking events of the previous week. Coach Jake Hudson is having a heart attack, and with Ricky’s Jeep on campus and his own truck keys at the bottom of a lake, getting him to a hospital seems impossible. The only vehicle available is Russ Holliday’s distinctive Cybertruck—the same truck that Wendy Hudson recently confessed to sleeping with Russ in.
Chad makes the split-second decision to reveal the truck to save his coach, telling Ricky that his friend Danny owns it. However, Ricky immediately sees through the lie. At the hospital, she quietly tells Chad to leave, having already figured out his true identity. The next day at practice, she confirms her suspicion by pulling off his arm band to reveal Russ Holliday’s distinctive tattoo, telling him, “You’re Russ Holliday.”
Russ’s Escape and Emotional Reunion
Confronted and exposed, Russ decides to run. He packs his bags, planning to disappear before his secret can hurt the team further. Danny, however, convinces him that before he leaves for good, he should make amends with his father, Mike, from whom he stole the makeup used to create the Chad Powers disguise.
The visit to Mike’s movie set becomes a turning point. Russ, without his prosthetics, confesses everything to his father. Instead of anger, his father expresses pride, telling him he hasn’t seen him this happy since before his mother died. This emotional support gives Russ the courage to return to the team for one last game.
A Tense Confrontation on the Team Bus
Russ, back in his Chad prosthetics, finds Ricky alone on the team bus before the big game against Georgia. He delivers a heartfelt apology, insisting that his feelings for her and his connection to the team were genuine. “The realest part about this whole goddamn thing is how I feel about you, Coach,” he says.
Ricky’s response is not forgiveness but fury. After gently touching his prosthetic face, she slaps him. She reveals the depth of her anger, telling him she wished he had taken his own life after his career-ending failure at the Rose Bowl. She threatens to expose him to the world, but Chad counters with a stark warning.
He explains that if she reveals his true identity, the South Georgia Catfish would be forced to vacate all their wins, and Coach Hudson would be the one held responsible for signing an ineligible player. The entire program would face ruin.
Faced with this impossible choice, Ricky reluctantly agrees to let him play, telling him, “I hate you.” Russ simply replies, “I know.”
An Unresolved Finale and Future Hopes
With the secret kept for now, Chad Powers leads the team onto the field at Sanford Stadium for the crucial game. The episode ends on a major cliffhanger, cutting to black just as the ball is snapped, leaving the game’s outcome and the future of Chad and the Catfish completely unknown.
While Hulu has not yet officially announced a second season, the creators and cast are eager to continue the story. Co-creator Michael Waldron stated that they have story arcs planned for up to three seasons. In an interview, series star Glen Powell echoed this enthusiasm, saying, “When you feel that way, you always make time.” Waldron added simply, “If folks dig it, we’ll make more.”
Also Read: Chad Powers Season 2 Needs to Address These Questions from the First Chapter’s Finale
