Off Campus Season 2 Is Changing the Playbook — And Fans Are Ready for More Briar University Drama

Prime Video’s breakout hockey-romance sensation Off Campus is heading into its second season with major cast changes, a surprising storyline pivot, and even bigger expectations from fans of Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book series. After Season 1 turned the fictional Briar University into one of streaming’s hottest campuses, Season 2 is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched young-adult romance releases on Prime Video.

The streaming adaptation, which blends sports, romance, friendship, and emotional drama, quickly became a hit after debuting on May 13, 2026. Even before the first season premiered, Prime Video renewed the show for another season — a sign of confidence in the franchise’s growing popularity and passionate fan base.

Now, with filming preparations underway and scripts reportedly completed, viewers are getting their first look at what’s next for Briar University’s hockey stars and complicated love lives.

A Major Character Will Not Return in Season 2

One of the biggest developments surrounding Off Campus Season 2 is the confirmed departure of Josh Heuston’s character, Justin Kohl.

Showrunner Louisa Levy revealed that Justin will not appear in the upcoming season due to scheduling conflicts, officially closing one chapter of the Season 1 love triangle involving Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham.

“Not next season, but I love Josh and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point,” Levy explained. “We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book. So maybe we’ll find a way to fold him into a future season. We don’t have him [available] next season, but never say never.”

Justin played a key role in Season 1 as Hannah Wells’ emotionally complicated connection before her eventual romance with hockey captain Garrett Graham. His absence marks one of the first major deviations from the ensemble structure fans expected from the original novels.

Still, Levy’s comments strongly suggest the character could reappear later if scheduling allows.

Season 2 Will Focus on Allie and Dean

Perhaps the most talked-about creative decision for Season 2 is Prime Video’s choice to skip ahead in Elle Kennedy’s book timeline.

Instead of adapting The Mistake — the second novel in the series — the show is reportedly shifting focus toward The Score, the third book centered on Allie Hayes and Dean Di Laurentis.

Season 1 quietly laid the groundwork for this transition. Hannah’s best friend Allie Hayes, played by Mika Abdalla, and hockey star Dean Di Laurentis, played by Stephen Kalyn, developed a secret friends-with-benefits dynamic that now appears set to become the emotional center of the new season.

Louisa Levy confirmed the direction in interviews following the finale.

“I wanted viewers to know who they were going to be tuning in for next,” Levy explained. “Allie felt so organic, because she’s Hannah’s best friend and Dean is already there, and their love story in the book is a secret—so why not let it be a surprise, even to book fans?”

The move has surprised longtime readers because the second book in Kennedy’s series traditionally follows Grace Ivers and John Logan rather than Dean and Allie.

But according to Levy, the restructuring serves a larger television strategy.

“It was always in an effort to keep the momentum going,” she said. “Happily ever afters are wonderful and so important for this genre of novel, but they’re not that helpful for television because we have to keep telling stories.”

Why the Timeline Change Matters

The decision to reorder the books represents a major shift from the source material, and it highlights how Prime Video wants Off Campus to function less like a direct page-to-screen adaptation and more like a serialized streaming drama.

In the novels, each installment focuses heavily on a different romantic pairing while maintaining connections to previous characters. The television series appears to be blending storylines to create stronger season-to-season continuity.

That strategy mirrors the structure used successfully by shows like Bridgerton, where romantic leads rotate while supporting characters remain central to the broader universe.

According to Levy, preserving ongoing emotional tension was essential.

“So part of that was my attempt to give [viewers] the Hannah and Garrett happily ever after that I wanted, that I know fans will want, but still leaving something hanging and some question going into Season 2 of, ‘How is this going to be resolved, and how is this going to drive story forward?’”

For television audiences, that means relationships may unfold more gradually than in the books — potentially creating longer-running arcs and deeper emotional investment.

Grace Ivers Is Finally Entering the Story

Even though the series is pivoting toward Dean and Allie, Season 2 will still introduce Grace Ivers, one of the most beloved characters in Elle Kennedy’s universe.

India Fowler has officially joined the cast as Grace, opposite Antonio Cipriano’s John Logan. Their chemistry has already generated excitement among fans of The Mistake.

Elle Kennedy herself praised the pairing.

“I did get to see the chemistry tests with Antonio and India, who is cast as Grace, and they are spectacular together,” Kennedy said. “That’s what I’m probably most excited for.”

Kennedy also described Grace as one of her favorite characters in the franchise.

“She rambles when she’s nervous and she’s just so random,” the author explained. “I’m really excited to see Grace onscreen. I think people will really resonate with her because she is just awkward.”

This suggests Season 2 may simultaneously build Dean and Allie’s romance while laying the groundwork for Logan and Grace’s larger storyline in future seasons.

Production Is Already Moving Forward

Despite limited official release details, production momentum for Season 2 appears strong.

Louisa Levy confirmed that all eight scripts have already been written.

“All eight scripts are written and we have a very exciting plan for the season,” she said. “I don’t want to say anything yet—but I think book fans will be very excited.”

Meanwhile, stars Belmont Cameli and Ella Bright revealed during a Today show appearance that filming was about to begin.

“We’ll be there in a few days,” Cameli said, while Bright joked that she still had unread scripts waiting in her inbox.

Industry reports indicate filming began in Canada in May 2026, fueling speculation that the second season could arrive in spring 2027 if production follows a similar timeline to Season 1.

The Cast That Fans Can Expect to Return

Although Justin Kohl will be absent, many familiar Briar University faces are expected back for Season 2.

Returning cast members are likely to include:

• Belmont Cameli as Garrett Graham
• Ella Bright as Hannah Wells
• Mika Abdalla as Allie Hayes
• Stephen Kalyn as Dean Di Laurentis
• Antonio Cipriano as John Logan
• Jalen Thomas Brooks as John Tucker
• Khobe Clarke as Beau Maxwell
• Charlie Evans as Hunter Davenport

Hunter Davenport’s expanded role could become especially important after Season 1 introduced tension between him and Dean.

Levy hinted that his inclusion was designed to complicate Dean and Allie’s evolving relationship.

“We needed to throw a wrench into Dean and Allie’s arrangement to elongate their story,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Broadway star Phillipa Soo has reportedly joined the series in a recurring role as a theater director connected to Briar University’s arts scene.

Why Off Campus Became a Streaming Success

The rise of Off Campus reflects the exploding popularity of hockey romance adaptations in modern streaming culture.

Shows centered on emotionally intense athletes, complicated friendships, and slow-burn romance have found massive audiences online, especially among younger viewers and BookTok communities.

Prime Video appears to understand exactly why the formula works.

“Off Campus captures the kind of emotionally charged, character-driven storytelling that truly resonates with our global Prime Video audience,” Amazon MGM Studios television head Peter Friedlander said when announcing the renewal.

The series also benefits from an established literary fandom. Elle Kennedy’s novels have spent years building devoted readers who were eager to see Briar University come to life onscreen.

Combined with social-media buzz, romantic cliffhangers, and an attractive ensemble cast, the adaptation quickly became one of Prime Video’s most discussed new releases of 2026.

What Fans Should Expect Next

While Prime Video has not released an official Season 2 synopsis, the direction is becoming increasingly clear.

Fans should expect:

• A larger focus on Dean and Allie’s emotionally messy romance
• The introduction of Grace Ivers
• Continued appearances from Hannah and Garrett
• More interconnected storytelling between multiple couples
• Expanded tension involving Hunter Davenport
• A tone that balances romance, friendship, humor, and sports drama

Most importantly, Season 2 appears committed to evolving beyond a straightforward adaptation.

Instead of simply retelling the books in order, Off Campus is becoming its own television universe — one designed to sustain multiple seasons and keep viewers emotionally invested in Briar University long after individual romances begin.

For fans of hockey romance, that may be exactly what keeps the franchise winning.