The chase for AUSL playoff position is coming down to the wire.
Two teams are in. Two more are still alive for the third and final spot. And entering the final weekend of regular-season games, seeding is up for grabs across the board.
The reigning champion Utah Talons and the Chicago Bandits, currently tied with matching 15-8 records, have each clinched a postseason berth. First-year expansion teams the Portland Cascade (13-10) and the Oklahoma City Spark (11-11) remain in contention.
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The top overall seed earns a first-round bye, while the second and third seeds face off in a one-game playoff next Thursday. The winner will then move on to face the No. 1 seed in a three-game championship series from July 25 through July 27. All postseason games will be played at Texas A&M’s Davis Diamond.
The Talons and Bandits go head-to-head twice this weekend with the top seed on the line, while the Spark have three games against the Carolina Blaze and the Cascade have two games against the Texas Volts. You can catch the action on MLB Network, ESPN, CBS or ABC, depending on the game.
Here are all the playoff scenarios as the 2026 season heads toward an exciting finish:
- Utah will clinch the No. 1 seed with one win against Chicago this weekend. The Talons already own the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bandits by virtue of their three-game sweep earlier this season.
- Chicago has clinched no lower than the No. 2 seed for the postseason. If the Bandits and Cascade finish with identical 15-10 records, Chicago earns the No. 2 seed after taking four of five head-to-head meetings with Portland. If Oklahoma City earns the final spot (see below for scenario), the Spark cannot pass the Bandits in the standings as OKC's best possible record is 14-11 while Chicago's is 15-10.
- Portland has a magic number of two to earn a playoff berth. Any combination of Portland wins and OKC losses totaling two will secure the final playoff spot for the Cascade. Portland CANNOT clinch a playoff berth Friday.
- Oklahoma City is still mathematically alive for a playoff berth, but MUST WIN AT LEAST two of three games against Carolina this weekend. Both teams would end up at 13-12 if OKC wins two games and Portland loses both of its remaining games. If OKC wins all 3 games against Carolina and Portland loses one of its last two games, the teams would end up tied at 14-11. Oklahoma City owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with Portland due to winning three of five meetings.