With two weeks to go in the USL Championship season, 10 clubs’ fates still hang in the balance – a state of play that only grew thornier in Week 32. The East’s three primary bubble teams all lost outright, while the West’s lowest seeds limped their way to indecisive results. Taken together, the matchweek’s results mean that we’re due for a wild end to the 2026 season.
Who impressed at the top end of the table, and what should we make of the clubs looking to clinch a postseason berth? I’m ranking every club in the Championship to find out.
1. Lexington SC
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Result: 0-0 draw v. Tulsa
Lexington has never been to the playoffs in the USL. They missed out in their two League One campaigns, narrowly fell short of the eighth seed last year, and entered 2026 trying to get that monkey off their back. A win against FC Tulsa in Week 32 would’ve clinched a playoff berth for Lexington, and they looked like a team out to make a statement.
If you’ve seen LSC play over the last month, nothing from Friday’s match was surprising. Lexington still dropped Aaron Molloy low through the central midfield, prioritized patient build play, and varied that approach as needed. Against a Tulsa team known for their high, fairly man-centric pressure, the long ball was on the cards. Often, Lexington basically built in a 2-4-1-3 – a shape that had the low numbers to draw the press and the verticality to support striker Phillip Goodrum as a target.
I'm just a Blaine Ferri propaganda account whenever Lexington play, but he has this knack for splitting through man-centric lines and breaking into the final third that's so vital for this team. Great little dribble here to open Marcus Epps in a wide one-on-one. pic.twitter.com/RPsXCmCibG
— John Morrissey (@USLTactics) October 10, 2026
Longer service was a 50/50 proposition; the more that Lexington could keep the ball on the ground, the better they fared. In those situations, No. 8 Blaine Ferri and No. 10 Nick Firmino’s constant motion was key. That pair ostensibly faced man-to-man coverage by Tulsa’s pivot, but it took just a bit of interchange or one key dribble to break a line and force a rotation. At that point, LSC could advance with a head of steam and get at goal.
