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Race to the 2024 USL League One Playoffs - Week 23

By ETHAN TRIEBSCH - ethan.triebsch@uslsoccer.com, 10/08/24, 4:30PM EDT

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Final two postseason spots coming down to the wire

The Race to the 2024 USL League One Playoffs, presented by Terminix is back for the league's sixth season, where we provide weekly information on where each team stands in their bid to reach the 2024 USL League One Playoffs, presented by Terminix in November.

Following a flurry of five teams locking up their postseason positions in Week 22, two spots remain up for grabs as Week 23 concludes this weekend. Central Valley took down Spokane on Wednesday to kick off the week before a five-match weekend slate will likely see the 2024 USL League One Players' Shield claimed.

This season, we're grateful to our friend John Morrissey at USL Tactics for providing the data for playoff projections. Below, you'll find matches to watch and an overview of where everyone stands.

As a reminder, the 2024 USL League One Playoffs will be expanded to include the top eight regular season finishers - the largest postseason field in league history. The postseason will begin with the four quarterfinal matches on the weekend of Nov. 2 with the top four seeds hosting the four remaining lower seeds: No. 1 hosting No. 8, No. 2 hosting No. 7, No. 3 hosting No. 6 and No. 4 hosting No. 5.

The pair of semifinal matches will be hosted by the highest remaining seeds on the weekend of Nov. 9. The 2024 USL League One Final will be held on the weekend of Nov. 16 at the home venue of the highest remaining seed as the league concludes its sixth campaign. The seven total postseason matches will be the most in league history.

Friday, October 11

The race for the final two postseason berths will be in full swing as a pair of leading candidates face off on Friday evening. Eighth-place Richmond and ninth-place South Georgia currently straddle the playoff line and have been heating up lately, as the Kickers and Ibises have lost only once across each of their last five league matches. That said, Richmond have averaged 1.6 points per match during that span to South Georgia's 0.8. While Even though the potential final postseason spot won't be decided on Friday, both South Georgia and Richmond will be hungry to come away with a positive result as each chase their first postseason appearance since a 2022 campaign that saw both sides lift a trophy.

Saturday, October 12

It's just about do-or-die time for a Lexington SC side that has lost four of its last five matches and only barely remains in postseason contention. On the opposite end of the pitch, an equally motivated Omaha side will be fully aware that a win against Lexington opens the door to a third USL League One Players' Shield. The Owls have the easiest remaining schedule as they inch closer to their record third Players' Shield, while the Boys in Green will have to navigate the fourth-hardest schedule remaining if they want to conclude their time in USL League One with a first postseason appearance.

x - Union Omaha
Record: 12-4-3, 39 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 100%

Magic Number: Clinched

Max Points Available: 48
Best/Worst Finish: 1st/4th

Strength of Schedule: 12th

Up Next: vs. LEX (10/12)
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Union Omaha clinched a spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs in Week 20. Omaha have secured its fifth consecutive postseason appearance in its fifth season of existence. The defending Players’ Shield holders were bounced from the 2023 USL League One Playoffs by Charlotte in the Semifinals. Los Búhos are chasing their fourth trophy in club history and first since winning the 2023 USL League One Players’ Shield.

Omaha clinch the 2024 USL League One Players' Shield if the following scenario occurs:
1. Omaha win vs. Lexington (42 pts.) AND Madison lose/draw vs. Chattanooga (41 max pts.)
x - Forward Madison FC
Record: 9-2-8, 35 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 100%

Magic Number: Clinched

Max Points Available: 44
Best/Worst Finish: 1st/7th

Strength of Schedule: T-5th

Up Next: vs. CHA (10/12)
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Forward Madison FC clinched a spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs in Week 22. Forward Madison FC has confirmed its second consecutive postseason appearance and third in club history. Madison concluded the 2023 campaign with a loss in the 2023 USL League One Playoffs Quarterfinals against Northern Colorado. The 6-year-old club is seeking its first trophy in club history.
x - Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
Record: 9-5-5, 32 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 100%

Magic Number: Clinched

Max Points Available: 41
Best/Worst Finish: 1st/7th

Strength of Schedule: 3rd

Up Next: @ CLT (10/12)
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Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC clinched a spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs in Week 22. Northern Colorado secured its second consecutive postseason appearance in its third season of existence. The Hailstorm concluded the 2023 campaign with a loss in the 2023 USL League One Playoffs Semifinals against eventual champion North Carolina. The Windsor, Colo.-based club is seeking a treble after lifting its first trophy in club history as 2024 USL Jägermeister Cup champions in September.
x - Greenville Triumph SC
Record: 9-6-4, 31 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 100%

Magic Number: Clinched

Max Points Available: 40
Best/Worst Finish: 1st/7th

Strength of Schedule: 11th

Up Next: @ SPK (10/12)
+
Greenville Triumph SC clinched a spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs in Week 22. Greenville confirmed its record sixth League One postseason appearance in its sixth season of existence. Greenville concluded the 2023 campaign with a loss in the 2023 USL League One Playoffs Quarterfinals against Charlotte. Triumph SC is chasing its third trophy and first since being crowned 2020 USL League One Final winners.
x - Charlotte Independence
Record: 8-5-6, 30 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 100%

Magic Number: Clinched

Max Points Available: 39
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/7th

Strength of Schedule: 9th

Up Next: vs. NCO (10/12)
+
The Charlotte Independence clinched a spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs in Week 22. The Jacks locked up their fifth consecutive postseason appearance and seventh in club history. Charlotte concluded the 2023 campaign with a loss on penalties in the 2023 USL League One Final. The 10-year-old side is chasing its first trophy in club history.
x - One Knoxville SC
Record: 8-5-6, 30 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 100%

Magic Number: Clinched

Max Points Available: 39
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/7th

Strength of Schedule: T-7th

Up Next: vs. CV (10/15)
+
One Knoxville SC clinched a spot in the 2024 USL League One Playoffs in Week 22. Knoxville confirmed its first USL League One Playoffs appearance and second postseason appearance in club history after qualifying for the 2022 USL League Two Playoffs as South Central Division champions. One Knox finished the 2023 season in eighth place, and the 3-year-old side is chasing its first trophy in club history.
Spokane Velocity FC
Record: 7-7-5, 26 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 82%

Magic Number: 3

Max Points Available: 35
Best/Worst Finish: 2nd/11th

Strength of Schedule: T-5th

Up Next: vs. GVL (10/12)
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Spokane Velocity FC is able to clinch and unable to be eliminated from 2024 USL League One Playoffs contention in Week 23. Velocity FC controls its own destiny with a magic number of three. Velocity FC is seeking its first postseason appearance in its first season of existence. Outside of the league’s inaugural 2019 campaign, a playoff berth in 2024 would see Spokane join Omaha (2020) and Charlotte (2022) as the only clubs to qualify for the USL League One Playoffs in their first season in the league.

Spokane clinch a postseason berth if one of the following three scenarios occurs:
1. Spokane win vs. Greenville (29 pts.)
2. Spokane draw vs. Greenville (27 pts.) AND South Georgia win/lose/draw vs. Richmond (TRM/RIC max pts. drop to under 27) AND Chattanooga lose/draw at Madison (CHA max points drop to 25 or under)
3. Spokane lose vs. Greenville (26 pts.) Richmond win/draw at South Georgia (TRM max pts. drop to 26 or under) AND Lexington lose/draw at Omaha (LEX max pts. drop to 24 or under) AND Chattanooga lose/draw at Madison (CHA max pts. drop to 25 or under)
Richmond Kickers
Record: 5-9-5, 20 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 43%

Magic Number: 9

Max Points Available: 29
Best/Worst Finish: 7th/12th

Strength of Schedule: 10th

Up Next: @ TRM (10/11)
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The Richmond Kickers are unable to clinch or be eliminated from 2024 USL League One Playoffs contention in Week 23 and control their own destiny with a magic number of nine. The Richmond Kickers are seeking their 25th postseason appearance, their third since joining League One in 2019, and first since 2022 when the historic club claimed the 2022 USL League One Players’ Shield. Richmond finished the 2023 campaign in 11th place. The 32-year-old club is seeking its 10th trophy.

South Georgia Tormenta FC
Record: 4-8-7, 19 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 27%

Magic Number: N/A

Max Points Available: 28
Best/Worst Finish: 7th/12th

Strength of Schedule: 1st

Up Next: vs. RIC (10/11)
+
South Georgia Tormenta FC is unable to clinch or be eliminated from 2024 USL League One Playoffs contention in Week 23. The Ibises are seeking their third postseason appearance and second in USL League One after qualifying for the USL League Two Playoffs in 2018 and USL League One Playoffs in 2022. Tormenta FC finished one point shy of qualifying for the postseason in 2023, finishing in seventh place. South Georgia is seeking its second trophy in club history and first since winning the 2022 USL League One Final.
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Record: 5-11-3, 18 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 7%

Magic Number: N/A

Max Points Available: 27
Best/Worst Finish: 7th/12th

Strength of Schedule: T-7th

Up Next: @ MAD (10/12)
+
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is unable to clinch or be eliminated from 2024 USL League One Playoffs contention in Week 23. The Red Wolves are seeking their third postseason appearance and first since advancing to the 2022 USL League One Final. The Red Wolves concluded the 2023 campaign in 10th place and are aiming to lift their first trophy in club history this season.
Lexington SC
Record: 4-10-5, 17 pts.

Playoffs Odds: 14%

Magic Number: N/A

Max Points Available: 26
Best/Worst Finish: 7th/12th

Strength of Schedule: 4th

Up Next: @ OMA (10/12)
+
Lexington SC is unable to clinch or be eliminated from 2024 USL League One Playoffs contention in Week 23. LSC is seeking its first postseason appearance in its second season of existence. In its inaugural 2023 campaign, Lexington finished in ninth place. In its final season in League One before moving to the USL Championship in 2025, LSC is seeking its first trophy.
Central Valley Fuego FC
Record: 4-12-3, 15 pts.

Playoffs Odds: <1%

Magic Number: N/A

Max Points Available: 24
Best/Worst Finish: 8th/12th

Strength of Schedule: 2nd

Up Next: @ KNX (10/15)
+
Central Valley Fuego FC is unable to clinch or be eliminated from 2024 USL League One Playoffs contention in Week 23. Fuego FC is seeking its first postseason appearance in its third season of existence. The Fresno, Calif.-based side finished in last place in 2023 and is seeking its first trophy in club history.

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