The second season of Taylor Sheridan’s contemporary Western drama, Landman, premiered on Sunday, November 16, 2025. It picks up after the explosive end of Season 1 and continues to follow Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) as he assumes a leadership role at M-Tex Oil in the rough-and-tumble world of the West Texas oil boom.A significant storyline in Season 2 focuses on Tommy’s daughter, Ainsley Norris. Her relationship with Season 1 boyfriend, quarterback Ryder Sampson, faces a major setback. The pair planned to attend Texas Tech together, but when Ryder scores too low on his ACT, he is forced to enroll in a junior college hundreds of miles away. Ainsley, having scored well, decides to abandon their joint plan.Ainsley and Ryder's relationship severely strained as Landman season 2 sees her head to TCU View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe second season of Landman heavily impacts the life of Ainsley Norris, particularly her relationship with her boyfriend, Ryder Sampson. While the couple seemed strong at the end of Season 1, their different outcomes in life goals create a huge strain that makes their relationship nearly impossible to keep going.In the first season, Ainsley and Ryder, who is a high school quarterback, had planned to go to Texas Tech University together. Ryder was a highly-regarded football player and expected to receive a scholarship to the university. However, in Landman Season 2, their shared future plan falls apart as Ryder scores a low 17 on his ACT, a required test for college admission, which is too low for major universities like Texas Tech. As a result, Ryder is forced to enroll in Kilgore College, a junior college located far away in East Texas.Ainsley, on the other hand, is academically successful, scoring a 29 on her ACT. She decides to give up the Texas Tech plan and pursue her own goals. Ainsley focuses on getting a spot at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, where she aims to join the cheerleading squad. Her stated goal is to gain independence and have a fresh start in a different social scene.With Ryder forced to attend a college far from Fort Worth and Ainsley focused on her new life at TCU, the distance and their very different paths severely strain their relationship. Ainsley is pursuing her college ambition, which involves wanting to date college athletes and be part of the wealthy culture at the school. This new direction and her desire for "space" from the constraints of the relationship with Ryder suggest their pairing has ended as Ainsley moves into a different stage of her life.Actor Mitchell Slaggert portrays Ryder Sampson, who appears as a guest cast member in the series. He first appeared late in the initial season of the drama, making his debut in Landman Season 1, Episode 7.Stay tuned for more updates on Landman.