The road to Daytona is entering its final stretch on NBC.
After a brief disruption in February due to coverage of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, NBC’s cheerleading mockumentary Stumble has returned to its regular Friday night time slot as the first season approaches its finale. The series now heads into its final two episodes, with the championship trip to Daytona serving as the season’s central storyline.
New episodes air Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and stream the following day on Peacock.
The sitcom, which debuted earlier this season, follows the unpredictable world of junior college competitive cheer through a mockumentary format similar to shows like The Office. The series centers on the fictional Courteney Potter, played by Jenn Lyon, and her team, the Buttons, as they navigate the pressures of qualifying for the national championship in Daytona Beach, Florida.
As of March 6, only two episodes remain before the season concludes.
A Season Building Toward Daytona
The final arc of Stumble focuses on a storyline familiar to many in the cheer community. After securing a qualifying bid, the Buttons now face the logistical and emotional challenges of preparing for the sport’s biggest stage.
Episode 11, titled “Hildebünch,” aired Feb. 27 and focused on the reality that many cheer programs face after earning a bid. The team must raise the money needed to travel to Daytona while also strengthening the roster in hopes of competing for a title.
To do that, Potter makes a deal with a wealthy figure known as Augustus Schlimpf, played by Jeff Hiller, adding another layer of chaos to an already unpredictable season.
The penultimate episode, “Making Mat,” premieres tonight, March 6. The episode centers on one of the most difficult decisions any cheer coach faces before a championship event.
Potter must determine which athletes will make mat for Daytona.
The episode highlights the emotional weight behind those choices. Each member of the team explains why Daytona matters to them, while Potter ultimately makes the final call based on performance rather than sentiment.
For athletes and coaches familiar with the final weeks before a national championship, the storyline reflects a common reality. As teams finalize their routines and competition rosters, difficult cuts and adjustments are often part of the preparation process.
The Season Finale: Daytona
The first season concludes March 13 with an episode simply titled “Daytona.”
The finale brings the Buttons to the championship stage, where they will compete against rival programs including Sammy Davis Senior Jr. College. The episode also introduces a surprising competitor tied to Potter’s past, raising the stakes for the final performance.
Within the show’s fictional universe, Daytona represents the pinnacle of junior college cheer. In real life, Daytona Beach hosts the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship, widely considered one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
That real-world connection has been a recurring element throughout the show’s first season. While Stumble leans into comedy, it frequently draws from recognizable elements of competitive cheer culture, including fundraising, roster cuts, and the intense pressure of performing on a national stage.
A Cheer-Centered Comedy
Stumble features a cast that blends comedy veterans with rising actors, including Taran Killam, Ryan Pinkston, Jarrett Austin Brown, Anissa Borrego, Arianna Davis, Taylor Dunbar, and Georgie Murphy. Broadway and television star Kristin Chenoweth appears as a recurring guest.
The series attempts to balance satire with respect for the sport. While the mockumentary format allows for exaggerated personalities and awkward interviews, many of the situations presented in the show mirror real challenges that programs face during a competitive season.
As the series approaches its finale, the central question remains straightforward.
Can this unconventional team deliver when it reaches Daytona?
The answer arrives next week. Until then, the pressure of making mat and preparing for the championship takes center stage.
For fans of competitive cheer, the final two episodes arrive at a fitting moment. Across the country, many teams are entering the same stage of their season, refining routines and preparing for championship events of their own.
Stumble airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streams the following day on Peacock.
