EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. New York Red Bulls II – IN
Current Record: 20-3-6, 66pts
Maximum Points Available: 69
Last Game: W 4-0 vs. FC Montreal
Next Game: 9/24 at Charleston Battery, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Red Bulls II now have three major records wrapped up, as well as the USL Regular Season Championship, with the club setting new marks for total wins, total points and goals scored in the regular season. They visit Charleston to close the season on Saturday with a chance to equal Rochester’s tally of 17 shutouts in a regular season.

2. Louisville City FC - IN
Current Record: 17-4-8, 59pts
Maximum Points Available: 62
Last Game: W 5-1 at Saint Louis
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Charlotte Independence, 7:30 p.m. ET
Louisville is locked into the No. 2 seed thanks to its win against Saint Louis and will now have the chance to play spoiler against Charlotte. The Independence look to claim the No. 4 seed in the playoffs with both Charleston and Rochester snapping at their heels on the final Saturday of the season.

3. FC Cincinnati - IN
Current Record: 15-6-8, 53pts
Maximum Points Available: 56
Last Game: W 1-0 vs. Orlando City B
Next Game: 9/24 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7 p.m. ET
Cincinnati is locked into the No. 3 seed in the East and will close out the regular season on the road against Pittsburgh before hosting its first playoff game in club history on Oct. 2 at Nippert Stadium.

4. Charlotte Independence - IN
Current Record: 14-8-7, 49pts
Maximum Points Available: 52
Last Game: L 1-0 vs. Rochester Rhinos
Next Game: 9/24 at Louisville City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Independence missed out on the chance to clinch a home playoff game with their loss to the Rhinos and now go into their final game of the regular season against Louisville knowing a draw may not be enough to keep them in the top four. There will be motivation here to avenge a stoppage-time loss to Louisville that opened the season, and a big performance will be needed to take a victory on the road, and the No. 4 seed.   

5. Charleston Battery - IN
Current Record: 13-7-9, 48pts
Maximum Points Available: 51
Last Game: W 2-1 at Richmond Kickers
Next Game: 9/24 vs. New York Red Bulls II, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Battery’s comeback victory put the side in with a chance at a top-four finish should Charlotte fail to take a victory against Louisville on Saturday. Charleston gets a big test of its own in the form of the New York Red Bulls II, however, and a win is necessary to have a chance at fourth thanks to the Independence holding the edge in total wins should the Battery draw and the Independence lose.

6. Rochester Rhinos - IN
Current Record: 12-5-12, 48pts
Maximum Points Available: 51
Last Game: W 1-0 at Charlotte Independence
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Toronto FC II, 5:05 p.m. ET
The Rhinos will also need to take a victory to have a chance at overtaking both Charlotte and Charleston in the standings, but Rochester gets on paper the easiest matchup of the three in Toronto FC II. The Rhinos also have a slight advantage in their schedule; should they take a victory, the pressure on the Independence and Battery will ramp up just that little bit more.

7. Richmond Kickers - IN
Current Record: 12-7-9, 45pts
Maximum Points Available: 48
Last Game: L 2-1 vs. Charleston Battery
Next Game: 9/24 at Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 7 p.m. ET
The Kickers were denied a chance at a top-four finish thanks to their loss to the Battery, but could still boost their position if both Charleston and Rochester fall in their final outings. A Kickers victory on Saturday could see the side move as high as fifth in the standings, and would also eliminate the Hammerheads from playoff contention.

8. Orlando City B
Current Record: 8-13-8, 32pts
Maximum Points Available: 35
Last Game: L 1-0 at FC Cincinnati
Next Game: 9/25 at Bethlehem Steel FC, 3 p.m. ET
Orlando will know what it has to do going into the final game of the USL regular season on Sunday against Bethlehem Steel FC, and could have clinched a place already thanks to its eight victories compared to Wilmington’s seven should the Hammerheads only draw with Richmond. Should the Hammerheads take a victory, however, Orlando will have to defeat Bethlehem to claim the No. 8 seed.

9. Wilmington Hammerheads FC
Current Record: 7-12-10, 31pts
Maximum Points Available: 34
Last Game: D 1-1 at Harrisburg City Islanders
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Richmond Kickers, 7 p.m. ET
The Hammerheads face a must-win against the Kickers on Saturday night after letting their lead slip against the City Islanders. Anything else, and Orlando will claim the No. 8 seed before it kicks off on Sunday.

Mathematically eliminated: Toronto FC II, FC Montreal, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Harrisburg City Islanders, Bethlehem Steel FC

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - IN
Current Record: 14-8-7, 49pts
Maximum Points Available: 52
Last Game: W 2-1 vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2
Next Game: 9/24 at Orange County Blues FC, 10 p.m. ET
The Switchbacks moved into the box seat for the No. 1 seed in the West thanks to their stoppage-time victory against Seattle, and Sacramento Republic FC’s home draw against the LA Galaxy II. With a win against Orange County on Saturday, Colorado Springs would claim the top spot in the West, and might also get some thanks from the other teams fighting for the No. 8 spot.

2. Sacramento Republic FC - IN
Current Record: 13-6-10, 49pts
Maximum Points Available: 52
Last Game: D 1-1 vs LA Galaxy II
Next Game: 9/24 at Tulsa Roughnecks FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Sacramento no longer controls the path to the No. 1 seed, but it could put a little pressure on Colorado Springs if it can jump out to an early lead against last-place Tulsa on Saturday. With Orange County needing at least a draw, and maybe more, to have a shot at a playoff berth, Republic FC could get a big favor from its California rival as it looks to regain first place.

3. Rio Grande Valley FC - IN
Current Record: 13-7-9, 48pts
Maximum Points Available: 51
Last Game: W 1-0 at Orange County Blues FC
Next Game: 9/24 vs. San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Toros will play at least one home game in the playoffs thanks to their victory against Orange County on Saturday, and could jump into first place with a win that might also sink San Antonio’s playoff hopes completely in their home finale. Should RGVFC take a victory, and both Colorado Springs and Sacramento fail to win, the Toros would jump into first.

4. Swope Park Rangers - IN
Current Record: 12-10-6, 45pts
Maximum Points Available: 48
Last Game: W 3-1 at Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Rangers completed their two-game sweep in Oklahoma on Wednesday night with its victory against the Roughnecks, and can clinch a home playoff game with a victory against Seattle on Saturday night. Holding the total wins tiebreaker over both Vancouver and OKC, the lowest SPR can finish is fifth, with the LA Galaxy II the only side that can usurp it for the No. 4 seed.

5. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 - IN
Current Record: 12-9-9, 45pts
Maximum Points Available: 45
Last Game: W 2-1 vs. OKC Energy FC
Next Game: Western Conference Quarterfinals, TBD
With a win against OKC on Wednesday night, WFC2 moved ahead of the Galaxy II, and gave itself a nice confidence boost ahead of the playoffs. The postseason will start on the road for Vancouver, however, thanks to Swope Park’s 13 wins, but WFC2 can’t drop lower than the No. 6 seed no matter what Energy FC (10 wins) does this weekend.

6. LA Galaxy II - IN
Current Record: 11-7-11, 44pts
Maximum Points Available: 47
Last Game: D 1-1 at Sacramento Republic FC
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 10:30 p.m. ET
The Galaxy II will need a win against Real Monarchs SLC, and for the Swope Park Rangers to fail to take a victory against Seattle on Saturday to claim a home playoff game in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. With a three-game undefeated streak going into Saturday, another victory would be a welcome boost and make sure the side sits in at least fifth position.

7. OKC Energy FC - IN
Current Record: 10-7-12, 42pts
Maximum Points Available: 45
Last Game: L 2-1 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Saint Louis FC, 7 p.m. ET
Thanks to Swope Park’s victory on Wednesday night, Energy FC is officially out when it comes to the chance of hosting a postseason contest, with the No. 6 seed the highest the side can finish with a win against Saint Louis. Should the side take a victory, and the Galaxy II draw, OKC would need to make up a six-goal difference in the goal differential between the teams to claim sixth place, meaning Energy FC fans will be rooting for the Monarchs should their side have claimed a victory at Taft Stadium.

8. San Antonio FC
Current Record: 10-11-8, 38pts
Maximum Points Available: 41
Last Game: W 2-0 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC
Next Game: 9/24 at Rio Grande Valley FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
The good news for San Antonio: win on Saturday and SAFC is into the playoffs. The bad news for San Antonio: the team is going on the road to take on an RGVFC side that still has a shot at first place with a win of its own. The final South Texas Derby of the regular season should be a must-see, but could leave SAFC hoping those behind it falter as well.

9. Portland Timbers 2
Current Record: 11-14-4, 37pts
Maximum Points Available: 40
Last Game: W 2-0 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Arizona United SC
Portland’s fourth consecutive victory, combined with losses for Seattle, Orange County and the Real Monarchs, has put the side on the verge of one of the most improbable playoff-clinching runs in league history. The easy way in for T2 is now to claim a victory against Arizona on Saturday after San Antonio has failed to take a victory against Rio Grande Valley FC, while also maintaining its goal differential advantage against Orange County Blues FC should the Blues take victory against Colorado Springs – the Blues could edge past T2 on goals scored if they can match the one-goal difference in goal differential. The difficult way would need T2 to draw with United, San Antonio to lose to RGVFC, Orange County to fail to win against Colorado Springs, and the Monarchs to fail to win against the Galaxy II. That would move T2 ahead of San Antonio on total wins (11-10), and leave Portland in the No. 8 slot.

10. Orange County Blues FC
Current Record: 11-13-4, 37pts
Maximum Points Available: 40
Last Game: L 1-0 vs. Rio Grande Valley FC
Next Game: 9/24 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 10 p.m. ET
The Blues lost their grip on the eighth seed in the playoffs, and saw Portland jump ahead of them on goal differential with both teams tied on 11 wins going to the final game. The Blues would need San Antonio to falter, and take a victory against the Switchbacks by a wider margin than Portland in the case that T2 takes a victory against Arizona. A draw would also work for the side in the case of San Antonio losing to RGVFC, Portland losing to Arizona, and the Monarchs failing to win against the Galaxy II. Those results would move the Blues level with San Antonio on points, and back into the playoffs on the total wins tiebreaker, 11-10.

11. Real Monarchs SLC
Current Record: 10-13-6, 36pts
Maximum Points Available: 39
Last Game: L 3-2 at Arizona United SC
Next Game: 9/24 at LA Galaxy II, 10:30 p.m. ET
The Monarchs will likely be kicking themselves for losing their second-half lead against already-eliminated Arizona, and now need not only a win against the LA Galaxy II, but help from elsewhere to earn a first playoff place. A Monarchs win would move the side to 39 points and 11 wins, however, which means the side would advance should all three of San Antonio, Portland and Orange County fail to take victories – a draw for San Antonio would move it to 39 points and 10 wins – but if any of those three win, the Monarchs’ chances are over.

12. Seattle Sounders FC 2
Current Record: 9-12-8, 35pts
Maximum Points Available: 38
Last Game: L 2-1 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Next Game: 9/24 at Swope Park Rangers, 8:30 p.m. ET
It’s a longshot, but Seattle is still mathematically alive for a place in the playoffs going into its game with the Swope Park Rangers. S2 would need to take a victory in that game, and it would need to demolish a USL record in the process, but should San Antonio, Portland, Orange County all lose, and Real Monarchs fail to win, all Seattle would need to do is make up the 16-goal difference between itself (minus-13GD) and San Antonio (plus-3GD) to move even on wins with SAFC and advance to the No. 8 seed.

Mathematically eliminated: Tulsa Roughnecks FC, Arizona United SC, Saint Louis FC