NBC has given a full-season order to its high school drama “Friday Night Lights,” the network announced Monday.

The move comes a few days after NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly picked up the similarly ratings-challenged “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” Given the positive critical response to the shows, Mr. Reilly has said he wants to give them a chance to find an audience, perhaps in new time slots.

“We’re proud to reward an authentic, poignant series like ‘Friday Night Lights’ with a full-season order, demonstrating our confidence in its appeal and quality,” Mr. Reilly said. “Television critics and devoted fans have supported the show with well-deserved praise for the executive producers, writers and exceptionally talented cast.”

On the surface, “Lights” has had a tougher time than “Studio 60” drawing an audience, pulling a season-to-date episode average of 2.7 rating among adults 18 to 49, compared with a 4.0 for “Studio 60.” But “Lights” is in a weaker time slot (Tuesday at 8 p.m. (ET) versus Monday at 10 p.m. for “Studio 60”) and has lacked the media visibility and star power of “Studio,” which stars Matthew Perry and was created by former “West Wing” showrunner Aaron Sorkin.

“Friday Night Lights” is a production of Imagine Television, NBC Universal Television Studio and Film 44.