As Spencer (Daniel Ezra) crept into the gymnasium, his intention to find solitude before the game's eve unknowingly led him to stumble upon Mac (Jamel King) and Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) in the midst of an impromptu press conference. A reporter queried Jordan about his sentiments upon being a finalist for the coveted Heisman trophy. While he would have relished the win, he held it as a privilege to be in the conversation. When asked about his intentions to enter the NFL draft, he professed his focus on GAU's playoff game the next day. Just as the conversation was wrapping up, a journalist noted that Coach Boone (Mustafa Speaks) was absent for another game, leaving Mac in charge. Mac simply mentioned that Coach Boone was dealing with a family emergency.
After the press conference, Jordan caught up with Spencer, who had finally started his workout routine. Jordan apologized for assuming Spencer would have been invited to speak to the reporters, but Spencer expressed his joy that Jordan was getting the well-deserved attention. Jordan nodded and then shifted the conversation to Layla (Greta Onieogou), who had been guarded about her feelings regarding her lounge being vandalized.
Later, Jordan spoke to Layla at the lounge, inquiring if she had followed up with her doctor about adjusting her antidepressant medication. She promised to eventually reach out to her doctor but was more concerned about the status of her place, as the security footage for the lounge had been scrubbed, and the police had no leads on who had trashed it. Jordan's worries about his future wife were unalleviated.The morning of the game dawned, as Spencer and Olivia (Samantha Logan) strolled into the beach house's kitchen to find Charissa (Melissa Jane Rodriguez) whipping up pancakes with glee, her chef's hat perched atop her head. The culinary artist beamed with happiness as she offered them the chance to indulge in tacos prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Spencer and Olivia eagerly accepted her offer, determined to spend New Year's Eve together after the game.
Meanwhile, Jordan paid a visit to Layla's lounge for a heated exchange with Ryan (Brian Borello). The GAU quarterback unleashed his ire on Ryan for persuading Layla to discontinue her medication and for leaving town for two weeks, leaving Layla to fend for herself in the aftermath of the break-in. Ryan defended himself, urging Jordan to stop using him as a punching bag and to speak to Layla directly.
Back at Spencer's mom's house, he stopped by for the annual gameday tradition of breakfast with his family. Unfortunately, he was still full from his earlier meal, which prompted Grace (Karimah Westbrook) to joke as if she were offended. The family's banter was interrupted by a phone call announcing that Dillon (Jalyn Hall) had been accepted into the Boston Benwood School of Arts. The family was ecstatic, but Dillon had to move to the East Coast by the following Monday.
Before Olivia could leave for the stadium, Ashley (Chibuikem Uche) appeared at her doorstep, announcing his impending departure the next day. She apologized for not being as available for him, but he shrugged it off and suggested hanging out after Spencer's game. He proposed sketching a portrait of her, but she was hesitant, noting that their friendship in London had meant everything to her but that they might have gotten a little too close.
As the second quarter began, the score was tied at zero, and Jordan noticed that Layla was nowhere to be found, disrupting his game. It wasn't until halftime in the locker room that Mac reluctantly allowed Spencer to share his plan with the team to get Jordan's mind back on track, which resulted in a successful offensive drive and touchdowns from both Jordan and Spencer, leading to a team victory.
As the team later celebrated their win in the locker room, Olivia walked up on Spencer as he eyed Mac lounging comfortably in Coach Boone's office. Spencer told his girlfriend that Coach Boone had been assisting his sister with an emergency involving his nephew.
Their conversation was interrupted by Kai (Tre Hale), who inquired about their plans for celebrating their trip to the championship game. Spencer stated that he was grabbing tacos with Olivia, which Kai misinterpreted as an invitation for the entire team. When Spencer tried to clarify, Olivia simply announced that Spencer was hosting a taco party at the beach house. The couple agreed that the party wouldn't last long and they would continue with their plans later.
With a clean bill of health from his physician, Asher (played by Cody Christian) is given the green light to fully participate in practices with the Coastal football team. As the team engages in drills, he emerges as a standout, outshining even Jabari on the field. However, Jaymee (Miya Horcer), accompanied by their baby, appears on the scene and rebukes Asher for endangering his heart. During a later conversation at Spencer's impromptu taco party, she continues to chide him for his recklessness. Despite sharing that his new cardiologist had given him the go-ahead to practice, the news only upsets Jaymee further, as she was unaware of the update or even his new doctor's involvement. Thankfully, Asher and Jaymee smooth things over when he asserts that she and their child are more important than risking his life for football. However, he glances away longingly, as if his football aspirations may not yet be over.
Meanwhile, Jordan pays a visit to Layla's place and confronts her about missing the game. She apologizes, but he immediately presses her on why she hasn't been more proactive about discussing her medication with her doctor. This sets off an argument that he vents about to Spencer and Olivia at the party. Olivia suggests he take a moment to be helpful rather than combative with Layla, which sparks an idea in him to look up alternatives to antidepressants – a move that Olivia later appreciates.
Elsewhere in the story, Patience (Chelsea Tavares) tells Coop (Bre-Z) that she wants to meet with Miko (Courtney Bandeko) to clear her reputation. Coop discourages the idea, which Patience doesn't appreciate and storms off. As soon as Patience is gone, Coop remembers that Layla keeps a gun in a safe in the Baker house, and when Coop goes to look for it, it's gone. Patience and Preach (Kareem Crimes) rush to find Patience sitting outside Miko's home with the weapon. The duo rebukes Patience for her carelessness and inform her that attacking Miko will only land her in prison. Patience ultimately realizes they are right.
Back at the taco party, Ashley arrives with a portrait he created of Olivia. She sees the gift as inappropriate and suspects he brought it to Spencer's with the intention of creating drama. When Spencer enters the conversation, tensions arise between him and Ashley, but Olivia defuses things by asking Spencer to let her handle it. The night ends with Spencer and Olivia ringing in the new year with a kiss at a closed museum, just the two of them.
