This weekend sees every team in the USL Championship in action on Saturday night, with the potential for the teams at the top of the Eastern and Western Conference to move closer to clinching a place in the postseason and the battle around the playoff line offering some key six-pointers in the slate.  

Here are three top storylines to know going in, three players to keep an eye on, and what else you need to know before tuning in on CBS Sports Golazo Network and ESPN+.

1. BORDER BATTLE SET FOR COLORADO SPRINGS

The rivalry between Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and New Mexico United might not rank as high as some – especially on United’s side of the slate – but the clubs based in bordering states have played some great games in the past and could deliver again at Weidner Field this weekend.

• UPPER HAND: New Mexico has held the upper hand overall in the series with 10 wins in 15 regular season meetings. That included a late 1-0 victory when the teams met earlier this season at Isotopes Park when Talen Maples scored the only goal from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time.

• RAISING THE STAKES: Saturday’s clash is big for both clubs as well. New Mexico set a club record with its 14th win of the regular season last weekend and is closing in on both clinching a playoff berth but also a first home postseason game in club history. The Switchbacks, meanwhile, are looking to get back in the win column as they vie for a top-four finish.

• EXPECT ATTACK: This season’s first meeting was an exception to the rule for most Colorado Springs-New Mexico contests, which have averaged 2.93 goals per game over the 15-game series. With the attacking talent and gameplan both teams bring to the field, there should be a lot of penalty area action in this one.

A victory for New Mexico would be really big here. If the visitors come away with all three points, they could end the night with a 16-point advantage over the teams in fifth place and below in the West, which would make a home playoff a pretty good certainty.

2. ROOTS, 901 FC PURSUE HOMEFIELD EDGE

In preseason, it felt like both Memphis 901 FC and Oakland Roots SC would be fighting for a place in the postseason at the end of the season. When the sides meet this Saturday at Pioneer Stadium, though, it will be a top-four clash in the West as each vies to start the postseason at home.

• ROOTS REVIVAL: After a downturn in form in mid-July, Oakland has gotten back on track with seven points from its last three games. The side will be without veteran defender Neveal Hackshaw on Saturday due to suspension but will want to keep pushing forward to jump ahead of 901 FC in the table.

• FIRING FORWARD: 901 FC has taken consecutive wins as it heads to California with one of its younger talents shining impressively over the past month. 22-year-old midfielder Samuel Careaga scored for a third consecutive game in last weekend’s 2-0 win against FC Tulsa and now has seven goals overall this season.

• DOUBLING UP: This is the first of the two meetings between the sides this season with the return fixture coming on October 5 in Memphis. With 901 FC having played one game more than Roots, the visitors should be aggressive as they look to maintain their top-three position going into the final two months of the season.

Memphis has had a big week already, extending Head Coach Stephen Glass’ contract through at least the 2025 campaign. With both clubs sitting in the Top 10 in scoring in the Championship this season, this should be an entertaining matchup as well as a crucial one in the playoff race.

3. LOUDOUN, RHODE ISLAND MIND THE GAP

Loudoun United FC and Rhode Island FC enter this weekend in the USL Championship level on points in the Eastern Conference’s playoff positions. That alone makes their clash at Segra Field an intriguing one, but these sides might also be two of the more underrated teams to watch in the league as well.

• BRINGING THE HEAT: Loudoun United remains on course to set clubs records for wins and points in a regular season, but the way the side is playing is what’s most eye-catching. Admired by his peers when he didn’t have the squad depth for his ideas to fully come to fruition, we’re now seeing the vision of Head Coach Ryan Martin come to life with a talented group of youth and veterans.

• INSTANT IMPACT: Rhode Island FC, meanwhile, could become the first true expansion side to make the playoffs since 2019 under Head Coach Khano Smith. Coming off a 1-1 draw against Oakland Roots SC last week, RIFC is currently in eighth place, but has a four-point cushion to North Carolina FC with 10 games to play.

• STYLE PROFILE: There are some similarities between how both sides want to play. Loudoun has generally had high possession numbers, ranking fifth in the league with a 53.4 possession average and fourth in passing accuracy at 82.3 percent, but the sides have recorded almost an equal number of completed dribbles and both are in the top six in scoring with RIFC having 37 goals to United’s 36. That should make for an entertaining and tactically fascinating clash.

Saturday’s game will mark the first meeting between the sides all-time, but many of RIFC’s players will be familiar with Loudoun’s home. Rhode Island leading scorer Albert Dikwa notably has had success against United, scoring four goals in eight career games.  

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cal Jennings, Tampa Bay Rowdies – After an off-night against Detroit City FC on Wednesday night, we’re looking to see how the Rowdies’ sharpshooter responds against Miami FC.

Alex Dixon, Monterey Bay F.C. – Monterey Bay needs to find a win against last-placed El Paso Locomotive FC or risk dropping out of the playoff positions. Dixon’s veteran leadership and ability to create and finish in the final third needs to come to the fore.

Evan Conway, North Carolina FC – When he played in San Diego, Conway found success against Phoenix Rising FC with three goals in four appearances. Can he keep that going as North Carolina goes to Phoenix in massive need of a win?

AROUND THE GROUNDS

#DETvTUL: Detroit City’s two-game road trip allowed the side to get back into the top four in the Eastern Conference. They’ve got to continue that form as Tulsa comes to Keyworth Stadium, where Le Rouge have been surprisingly average at 4-3-3 this season.

#HFDvLOU: Hartford Athletic got a morale-boosting win last weekend but now must take on LouCity, which blasted them 6-0 at Lynn Family Stadium earlier this season. This is going to be a major test for the hosts.

#BHMvPIT: We’re into must-win territory for the Hounds in terms of their playoff chances, sitting five points below the line with nine games to go. There’s a bit of pressure on Legion to rebound, too, but nothing like as much as Pittsburgh should be feeling.

#CHSvOC: As disappointing as last week’s defeat was for the Battery in Louisville, they’ve generally done well to rebound from defeats this season. That might not be good news for Orange County, which desperately needs to break out of its scoring slump as it heads east.

#TBRvMIA: Tampa Bay was probably envisioning getting at least seven points out of a run of three games in eight days at home. Two defeats later, they might take out their frustrations on a Miami side that has already conceded 60 goals in 24 games.

#MBvELP: Monterey Bay pulled out a late draw early in the season when it visited El Paso. It will be hoping for all three points at home for the first win of the Jordan Stewart era even after Locomotive’s improved performance last week in Orange County.

#LVvIND: How Indy Eleven plays this with its Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup Semifinal coming on Tuesday night against Sporting Kansas City will be interesting. The Lights, meanwhile, will want to start another undefeated streak with the playoffs still beckoning.

#PHXvNC: Rising looked better in attack with Tomás Ángel leading the way against Tampa Bay, even if they couldn’t find a goal that counted. After a week off, a win here could kickstart their playoff drive, but NCFC is equally in need of all three points after last week’s setback.

#SACvSA: Given the season San Antonio is having, this matchup doesn’t quite have the same sparkle as it has in recent seasons. At the same time, we’re expecting Republic FC and SAFC to go at it hard at Heart Health Park as they meet for the first time this season.