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USL Championship Power Rankings – Week 31

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/06/25, 5:00PM EDT

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FC Tulsa clinches first home playoff game, is maintaining momentum as postseason approaches

It took 11 seasons, but FC Tulsa is finally going to host a playoff game.

Saturday night’s 3-0 victory against Lexington SC at ONEOK Field sealed a top-four spot for the Scissortails in the Western Conference, while simultaneously moving the side closer to claiming first place at the end of the regular season.

“The intensity was there from start to finish,” said Tulsa Head Coach Luke Spencer. “Even in the last five minutes, the guys were still pushing, hungry to score at the other end, while staying solid in transition and defending. Really proud of the effort.”

It’s been a transformative season, and Tulsa isn’t showing signs of slowing down. Since August 1, the side ranks third in the USL Championship with 21 points from 11 games, helping keep Sacramento Republic FC at arm’s length in second place.

What’s more, the Scissortails’ underlying numbers remain strong. Only Hartford Athletic has a higher Expected Points mark than Tulsa’s 18.59xP per American Soccer Analysis’ model over the same span.

Add the side’s combination of resilience and ability to hold a lead that’s been on display throughout the season – Tulsa’s +14 differential in points gained from losing positions to points dropped from winning positions is the best in the USL Championship – and there’s a recipe here for postseason success.

There have been numerous breakout stories this season – just see Hartford Athletic’s USL Jagermeister Cup victory on Saturday night – but the Scissortails shouldn’t be overlooked as the postseason approaches.

Here are this week’s rankings.

Biggest Movers

7 ELP 7 PHX

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary
1 Louisville City FC
(20-1-6)
Week 32: @ MIA
Last Week:
1		 Louisville’s six-game winning streak is its longest since the abbreviated 2020 season, and it kept Indy at bay to earn another shutout despite a late barrage from the visitors.
2 Hartford Athletic
(11-10-5)
Week 32: @ OAK; vs. SAC
Last Week:
2		 There’s more for Hartford to shoot for this season but claiming the club’s first piece of silverware is an achievement that no-one associated with the club will forget. Tremendous work.
3 FC Tulsa
(14-5-8)
Week 32: vs. SA		 2
Last Week:
5		 The red card played a part, but Tulsa’s explosiveness getting into attack was on display consistently throughout the night before it dominated the second half.
4 New Mexico United
(13-10-4)
Week 32: vs. OC
Last Week:
4		 Was there ever any question when Talen Maples stepped up to the penalty spot in stoppage time? He’s becoming as reliable as fellow center back Sean Totsch.
5 Charleston Battery
(17-5-4)
Week 32: vs. COS		 2
Last Week:
3		 The Battery got a week off due to Sacramento Republic FC’s presence in the USL Jägermeister Cup Final. At this point, they’re almost locked into the No. 2 seed in the East.
6 Sacramento Republic FC
(12-6-8)
Week 32: @ HFD		 2
Last Week:
8		 Sacramento rose to the moment to clinch a playoff berth but didn’t hit the same heights in the USL Jägermeister Cup Final. That’s a lesson to be learned for the postseason.
7 El Paso Locomotive FC
(9-8-10)
Week 32: @ LEX		 7
Last Week:
14		 Great week for Locomotive, which was only denied six points by a sparkling display from OCSC’s Colin Shutler on Saturday night. We want to see this version of the side in the playoffs.
8 North Carolina FC
(12-10-5)
Week 32: vs. PHX		 1
Last Week:
7		 NCFC backed into the postseason on Saturday after falling in Detroit but looks pretty middling at times of late. It needs to find another gear for the playoffs in attack.
9 Rhode Island FC
(9-11-7)
Week 32: vs. TBR		 6
Last Week:
15		 RIFC looked like a different team after Dwayne Atkinson and Maxi Rodriguez came on as substitutes to earn victory against Las Vegas. HC Khano Smith has some big decisions to make.
10 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
(10-10-7)
Week 32: vs. IND		 4
Last Week:
6		 The Hounds are still looking good for the postseason, but 14 points dropped from winning positions, and losing for the first time since 2021 to Miami, doesn’t feel very Lilley-ball.
11 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
(9-11-7)
Week 32: @ CHS		 5
Last Week:
16		 For the first time since Steve Trittschuh was Head Coach(!), the Switchbacks defeated San Antonio FC. With everyone around them floundering, it’s a huge boost.
12 Loudoun United FC
(11-10-6)
Week 32: @ DET		 2
Last Week:
10		 Loudoun’s still looking fine when it comes to a postseason berth, but it needs to start firing again. The final day of the season against North Carolina could be for the No. 3 seed.
13 Tampa Bay Rowdies
(8-13-6)
Week 32: @ RI		 4
Last Week:
17		 The Rowdies have put up four goals twice in the past three weeks. Saturday’s visit to Rhode Island will likely determine if this side can make the playoffs, but things are moving in the right direction.
14 San Antonio FC
(10-9-7)
Week 32: @ TUL		 5
Last Week:
9		 SAFC was held without a shot on target for the second time this season in Colorado Springs on Saturday. That matched the club’s total in that category for the prior eight seasons.
15 Lexington SC
(9-10-8)
Week 32: vs. ELP		 4
Last Week:
11		 Even before Lexington went down to 10 players, it felt like a whole lot of possession that wasn’t amounting to much. After they got caught out by Tulsa’s transitional speed, there was never going to be a way back.
16 Indy Eleven
(9-13-5)
Week 32: @ PIT		 3
Last Week:
13		 File it under numbers fibbing a little bit. Yes, the Boys in Blue had more than double LouCity’s Expected Goals mark, but almost three-quarters of it came after they’d gone two goals down.
17 Detroit City FC
(9-10-8)
Week 32: vs. LDN		 3
Last Week:
20		 We’re still a little concerned about Detroit’s finishing, but when you cash in on the best two chances you create to snap a losing streak, it’ll do.
18 Birmingham Legion FC
(5-11-12)
Week 32: ---		 4
Last Week:
22		 Say this for Legion, they’re sticking with it. Birmingham’s mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but four points from two games showed something for next year.
19 Phoenix Rising FC
(7-8-12)
Week 32: @ NC		 7
Last Week:
12		 Another week, another disappointing Rising performance. There just wasn’t enough attacking threat against New Mexico, and their late mistake to concede a penalty cost them dearly.
20 Orange County SC
(8-11-7)
Week 32: @ NM		 1
Last Week:
21		 OCSC’s eight-game winless streak is its longest since it finished last in the West in 2022. At least Phoenix continues to drop points as well to keep Orange County’s playoff hopes alive.
21 Miami FC
(6-15-6)
Week 32: @ LOU		 3
Last Week:
24		 We have no idea where that second-half performance by Miami came from, but we loved it. It wasn’t enough to stave off mathematical elimination, but let’s see more of that over the final three games.
22 Oakland Roots SC
(7-13-6)
Week 32: vs. HFD; @ LV		 4
Last Week:
18		 Roots HC Benny Feilhaber was reading his players the riot act during the first-half water break in El Paso on Wednesday, and rightly so. Awful display with the season on the line.
23 Monterey Bay FC
(7-14-7)
Week 32: ---		 4
Last Week:
19		 Monterey Bay went from hope after its win against Sacramento to a drubbing that likely draws the curtain on its playoff chances. Time to hope for the best on the upcoming bye week.
24 Las Vegas Lights FC
(6-14-7)
Week 32: vs. OAK		 1
Last Week:
23		 It’s starting to feel familiar for Las Vegas. Things look and feel more positive, but the bounces and moments simply aren’t going the Lights’ way. Better fortune in 2026.

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Tag(s): Power Rankings  San Antonio FC  CO Spring Switchbacks  Orange County SC  Phoenix Rising FC  Sacramento Republic FC  FC Tulsa  Charleston Battery  Louisville City FC  Pittsburgh Riverhounds  Tampa Bay Rowdies  Las Vegas Lights FC  Birmingham Legion FC  North Carolina FC  Indy Eleven  El Paso Locomotive FC  New Mexico United  Loudoun United FC  Hartford Athletic  Miami FC  Oakland Roots SC  Detroit City FC  Monterey Bay FC  Rhode Island FC  Lexington SC 

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