Growing from a teen drama to a full-fledged TV institution across its six seasons on the air thus far, All American is one of the CW's biggest series, and it is set to return for season 7. Beginning in 2018, the sports drama follows Spencer James, a promising high-school athlete who is recruited from South Crenshaw High to the prestigious Beverly Hills High School to play football. Over the show's run, the story has grown and evolved as Spencer struggles with the culture clash of his new life, while also balancing his complicated personal life off the gridiron.

Generally well-received by critics since day one, All American was the crown jewel in the CW's slate of live-action scripted shows that largely dominated the latter half of the 2010s. Along with hits like Riverdale and The Flash, the green-branded network became a go-to for engrossing drama TV series. In recent years, many of its most popular shows have been axed by the network, including ratings juggernauts like Walker and the aforementioned Riverdale. Fortunately for long-time fans, All American is returning for a seventh season.

All American Season 7 Latest News

A Cast Update Right Before The Season 7 Premiere

As the show's February release date looms, the latest news arrives in the form of an All American season 7 cast update. Executive producer Nkechi Okoro Carroll took a moment to assuage fears concerning the transforming cast of the sports drama's next season. All American is adding a slew of new characters as the previous ensemble takes a step back. However, Carroll revealed that all the beloved characters from the past would be present going forward. "Almost every member of the vortex comes back in some capacity multiple times this season," said Carroll.

This opens the door for storytelling opportunities, and instead of kicking the beloved characters to the curb after nearly a decade, they can transition to new opportunities.

Instead of a hard shift, which was expected, Carroll mentioned that the old cast is "transitioning into the big brother, uncle, auntie — sometimes reluctantly — roles." This opens the door for storytelling opportunities, and instead of kicking the beloved characters to the curb after nearly a decade, they can transition to new opportunities.

Read Carroll's full comments here:

Absolutely. Olivia didn’t just leave behind her twin brother, she left behind her best friend. Sam returns a couple of times this season. In fact, almost every member of the vortex comes back in some capacity multiple times this season, and for us, that’s just been so exciting. They’ve been so encouraging of our our new cast, and it’s been such a beautiful extension of their storyline. They’re all sort of transitioning into the big brother, uncle, auntie — sometimes reluctantly — roles.

Daniel Ezra, who is currently sitting across from me, is directing right now and guest-starring. Da’Vinchi, who plays Darnell, is coming back since they’re the sucess stories — the NFL players who made it big, but they’re never going to forget where they came from. Chelsea Tavares has been back as Patience a couple of times. Monet Mazur’s [Laura Baker] been back. Karima Westbrook [Grace James] has come in to direct. It’s literally just like we expanded the family. It wasn’t that anyone was replaced, we just grew it.

All American Season 7 Release Date

The Sports Drama Returns In February 2025

Though it was in doubt, The CW has opted to renew All American for its seventh season on the air. The CW's recent shift away from scripted programming has resulted in the cancelation of shows like Riverdale, even though the Archie Comics series brought in the ratings numbers. A similar situation happened with Walker earlier in 2024, and it was uncertain if All American's massive ratings would be enough to keep it afloat at the increasingly cost-conscious network. Fortunately, The CW wanted more of the sports drama and has even placed the show on their schedule.

All American season 7 will begin on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 8pm with a special sneak peek before switching to the show's regular timeslot on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9pm.

All American season 7 will have a 13-episode run.

All American Season 7 Cast

Daniel Ezra Is Demoted To Guest Star

Though the cast of All American season 7 seemed pretty secure going into the second half of season 6, the shocking news that Daniel Ezra won't return to star as Spencer James changes everything about the ensemble. Ezra will return as a guest star periodically throughout season 7, but other characters will become the focus of the episodes. Like Ezra, Samantha Logan (Olivia), Cody Christian (Asher), Karimah Westbrook (Grace James), Monét Mazur (Laura), and Chelsea Tavares (Patience) have also been demoted to guest status.

As for new additions, Osy Ikhile will play Cassius Jeremy, Beverly High’s new football coach, while Nathaniel McIntyre will play Coach Jeremy's son KJ. Amid a slew of demotions, Antonio J. Bell (Khalil) and Alexis Chikaeze (Amina) have been promoted to series regulars in season 7. Elijah M. Cooper has ed season 7 as South Crenshaw High's quarterback, Yasi. Michael Evans Behling will be back as Logan, alongside Greta Onieogou as Layla, and Bre-Z as Coop, and they'll still be series regulars.

More newcomers include Lauryn Hardy as Beverly High head cheerleader, Tori, and Terayle Hill as gang member and devoted father to Khalil, Marqui Edwards. Finally, Sasha Lance has been cast as law professor Breonna Strong who has a close connection with Coop in season 7. All three new characters will appear in a recurring capacity in the episodes.

The confirmed cast of season 7 includes:

All American Season 7 Story

With Spencer Leaving, Who Takes Center Stage?

The focus will be shifted away from Spencer, but it probably won't move to Olivia since she too has been downgraded to guest status

With Spencer in the NFL, and the confirmation that Ezra will only return in a guest capacity, season 7 is going to be very different from its predecessors. The focus will be shifted away from Spencer, but it probably won't move to Olivia since she too has been downgraded to guest status. Obviously, ing characters like Layla and Coop will get more space, but their exact plots are unknown at this juncture.

The introduction of new characters in season 7 suggests a trend toward a new cast, as the next generation of All American characters could begin to take over from the old guard. Season 7 is confirmed to introduce a new football coach at Beverly Hills High, as well as student athletes like Elijah M. Cooper's Yasi at South Crenshaw High. Even as Spencer and Olivia fade into the background, the series could find new momentum with brand-new characters to explore.

The official logline for season 7 all but confirms that suspicion, reading:

"[All American season 7 brings the drama] back to where it all began: Beverly Hills High and South Crenshaw High. It’s the same heart, same NFL dream, same crosstown rivalry, same messy hormones, ushered in by a new generation of L.A. teens, a new Beverly coach and our OG Vortex fam, who are surprised to find they’re supposed to be the responsible adults now."

All American Season 7 Trailer

Watch The Full Trailer Below

With a few months to go until the series returns, The CW dropped a trailer for All American season 7 in December 2024. The exciting teaser highlights the new generation of characters who are stepping in to replace many departing lead cast . This begins a new era at both South Crenshaw and Beverly Hills as each football program tries to blaze their own trail without recognizable names like Spencer.