Amid the carnage of the opening weekend in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix, one element might have gone overlooked.

Of the seven clubs that entered as former USL Championship title-winners, only two in Orange County SC (2021) and Phoenix Rising FC (2023) were left standing.

As the doors closed on the likes of two-time winner Louisville City FC and others, a new door opened for five of the eight clubs in this weekend’s Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals. For each of Detroit City FC, New Mexico United, North Carolina FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and FC Tulsa, a win would mark their deepest postseason run in the USL Championship era.

Let’s look at each club’s prospects.

1. Detroit City FC – Le Rouge have been here before. In 2023, they delivered what was at the time the biggest upset in USL Championship Playoffs history as the No. 8 seed against Players’ Shield winner Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, but came up short against Louisville City in the Conference Semifinals.

Now, after defeating Players’ Shield winner Louisville in an even greater upset, DCFC heads back to Highmark Stadium to face a Hounds side that’s this year’s No. 4 seed looking to make history. Detroit earned victory when it visited Pittsburgh in the USL Jägermeister Cup group stage earlier this year and would love nothing more than to advance to its first Eastern Conference Final in its four years in the league.

2. New Mexico United – A Western Conference Final berth was within New Mexico United’s grasp last year. As the No. 1 seed in the conference, United had outplayed Las Vegas Lights FC for most of the contest at Isotopes Park until a late error gave Lights forward Khori Bennett a chance he buried for a 1-0 win, sending New Mexico out.

This season, United is the No. 3 seed, but of late it has at least been the equal of last year’s squad. New Mexico’s eight-game undefeated streak across the end of the regular season and last week’s postseason win against San Antonio FC is its longest in USL Championship play across its seven-season history. That may be a good omen as the side faces former title-winner Orange County SC.

3. North Carolina FC – This week’s announcement that NCFC would not be part of the USL Championship in 2026 as it pursues a place in USL Division One was a massive damper on what should have been a celebratory week for the club. After all, last Saturday night’s win against Loudoun United was its first in the USL Championship Playoffs across its two stints in the league, and it now held the top seed in the East after Louisville City and the Charleston Battery’s elimination.

With the former news in mind, North Carolina has a big task ahead. As a side that’s found ways to win consistently this season without necessarily outplaying its opponents, the mentality it’s brought game-in and game-out has been key. Hosting defending Eastern Conference title-holder Rhode Island FC – which showed plenty of the gumption we got familiar with in its run last year in eliminating Charleston – NCFC is going to need to measure up to have a chance to go out in a blaze of glory.

4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – Like their foes on Saturday night, Detroit City FC, the Hounds have been here before. They’ve also suffered heartache twice at this stage, being eliminated despite having led in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in both their prior trips to this stage. Louisville City did the damage both times, winning at Highmark Stadium in extra time in 2019 and in a penalty shootout at Lynn Family Stadium in 2022.

This time, Pittsburgh is aiming to change that. They have positive momentum – despite two scoreless outings in the past two games, including its shootout victory against Hartford Athletic, the performances have looked good overall – and have a chance at revenge against a Detroit team that robbed it of a postseason run two years ago. After years of postseason disappointment, this is the Hounds’ big opportunity.

5. FC Tulsa – Last weekend was a landmark moment for FC Tulsa. Its victory in extra time against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC was the club’s first postseason win across its 11-season history, sending it through to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time.

For most, that would be a sign of progress, but it’s unlikely Tulsa is satisfied regardless of how far the club has come this year. The Scissortails are now the highest remaining seed in the playoffs and would be in line to host the USL Championship Final should they advance that far. Sporting a 12-game home undefeated streak and four consecutive shutouts on home turf, the opportunity to make their mark this postseason is clear.