Why We Can’t Stop Watching ‘Off Campus’

By Alison McGill

This show currently has a chokehold on me, and according to my texts, DMs, and IG algorithm, I am most definitely not alone. 

Sexy hockey shows are the breakout hit of 2026. With the news that Season 2 of Heated Rivalry won’t drop until April of next year, Off Campus is more than filling the off-season void. The eight-episode series, based on Toronto author Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book series, dropped on Amazon Prime Video on May 13^th. Off Campus quickly became the streamer’s No. 1 and still sits at the top of the charts a month later and is only gaining momentum thanks to a massive viral buzz and rewatches.

What is it about this university era, steamy student romance that has millions of multi-generational viewers obsessed? There’s a lot to unpack here. 

At the heart of the series is the meet cute of introverted music major Hanna Wells (Ella Bright) and all-star hockey player Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), both studying at the fictional Briar University. A tutoring arrangement is the spark that brings them together as lovers and there’s plenty of yearning, which is another thing 2026 can’t seem to get enough of. While yes, the sex (and the abs) is definitely selling this series, it’s only part of the equation.

I tapped my own multi-gen circle of girlfriends to ask them what is it about this show that hits differently? Teen coming of age rom-com-drams are certainly not a new genre, but this one feels like a reinvention.

My friend Ash says for her, the show nails the nostalgia of campus life, and the way that moment in time brings people together. “There’s something really refreshing about a show that feels this fun, familiar, and easy to love in a way that makes me feel like I’m back in university. I also love that this show takes me back to 2000s TV culture when everyone was watching the same show. This is a huge part of the joy. I’ve loved being able to talk about it with friends across the country, in my group chats, and with coworkers—I have one who is on her fourth rewatch. The music is another moment for me.”

The Off Campus soundtrack is a seamless blend of old and new bangers (tracks from Billy Idol, Warrant, The Cardigans, G Flip, Jennifer Lopez, The Beaches, Kid LAROI, ROLE MODEL, and The Hives are just a few stars in a long list of standouts), which my friend Rosie says gives it a modern, spicey edge.

“This show is pure ‘90s vibe, and the chemistry between the characters, the banter, and the soundtrack all create an amazing feel for a time when romance, and life, felt a little less curated,” she shared with me on an after-dinner-text I took right before watching episode six (it’s a sizzler, IYKYK). “I read the books years ago and they are fun, addictive reads which have translated well on to the screen.”

All of these elements have made Off Campus a comfort show for my friend Anna who says the rewatch vibe feels like the days of watching Dirty Dancing (which makes a cameo appearance in episode five) on repeat. “I love the friendships, the relationships, the university life. That is a time that is so hopeful—there are so many possibilities before the weight of real adult life sets in.”

Another hook is the heavy nostalgia. “There are echoes of everything we grew up on in this show like 10 Things I Hate About You, One Tree Hill, screaming ‘Dirty Little Secrets’ at a bar,” says my friend Adele. “That familiarity hits different when you’re watching it as an adult who remembers exactly how those stories and moments made you feel the first time.”

Also, Adele speaks for us all when she points to the perfection of the characters. “They are *perfectly cast* male characters written by women. Elle Kennedy and the show writers created imperfect but emotionally intelligent men navigating university. It’s doing a lot of heavy lifting and we are not complaining.”

For me, Off Campus is a total package. Great vibes, tunes, friendship goals, iconic nods to big pop culture moments, and outstanding hair. It also delivers a mindful and honest portrayal of relationships (consent, sexual abuse and domestic abuse are real issues which are thoughtfully addressed) which are very obviously shared through the female gaze. This show gives you a contact buzz. In those moments of first love between Hanna and Garrett you can feel the energy and the addiction.

The great news is that Season 2 of Off Campus is already underway. The cast and crew are in Vancouver for pre-production, and the upcoming series will focus on hotties Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla) and Dean Di Laurentis (Canadian actor Stephen Kalyn) as the central couple. While no release date has been set, we’re guessing it’s a Spring 2027 release, likely just after Heated Rivalry. Until then, we’ll be living the rewatch life.