October has arrived, and with it comes scoreboard watching season in the USL Championship as the playoff picture becomes clearer.
The Hounds are on the cusp of securing their ninth consecutive playoff appearance — the second-longest active streak in the league — and officially locking down a chance to defend the league title in the postseason. The team’s recent history in October bodes well for the team currently holding fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Since 2019, the Hounds are 15-3-5 in October regular-season matches, with none of those defeats coming later on the calendar than Oct. 4.
But, as the schedule fell for 2026, the Hounds don’t play on the first weekend of the month, meaning this weekend will be a time for the team to rest and the fans to keep their eyes on results around the league and how they impact the USL Championship Standings.
As we hit the weekend, here are the matches that will have the biggest impact on the Hounds’ eventual playoff position.
Miami FC at Tampa Bay Rowdies, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
While it stung for the Hounds when Miami stole a point at the final whistle in their match back on Sept. 6, that result proved to be a springboard for the Floridians to get back into playoff contention. Miami has climbed back into eighth by going 3-0-2 over its past five matches, but they will have to keep the streak going against the Rowdies — who are trying to clinch the Players’ Shield and top seed — if Miami is to catch the Hounds.
Should Miami fail to score the upset in St. Petersburg, the Hounds would need only three points (if Miami draws) or two points (if Miami loses) from their remaining three matches to be assured of postseason soccer. That makes cheering for the Rowdies and their five ex-Hounds on the roster the most straightforward path to the postseason.
Indy Eleven at Loudoun United FC, 6 p.m. Saturday
While Miami has been trending upward, Indy has been moving the opposite direction with three straight losses to fall, at least temporarily, below the playoff line. The Eleven also has just one home match remaining — next weekend against Tampa Bay — but they still have the advantage of a match in hand on both Miami and the Hounds.
With the extra game to be played, Indy can’t immediately set the Hounds up to clinch next weekend. But, a Loudoun win would still work to the Hounds’ favor, as one Hounds win and any two Indy losses in their final four matches would also be a clinching combo for the black & yellow.
Rhode Island FC at Brooklyn FC, 7 p.m. Saturday
Rhode Island handed Indy its most recent defeat, and it’s for that reason that the Eleven are at greater risk than the side the Hounds defeated in last year’s Eastern Conference Final.
Rhode Island is just three points behind the Hounds, but with the two teams slated to meet in Pawtucket on Oct. 17, dropped points by the Ocean Staters between then and now could set the Hounds up to clinch with a road win on the 17th, if things haven’t yet been locked up.
Prinx Tires USL Cup Final, Louisville City FC at Hartford Athletic, 3 p.m. Sunday
Being the league cup final, the game has no bearing on the playoff picture. But by coincidence, the final pairs the two teams the Hounds are battling for the No. 4 seed and a home match to open the postseason.
The Hounds host Hartford in their next match on Oct. 10, which could be a make-or-break contest for the team’s hopes of hosting. Hartford is a point ahead of the Hounds and has one match in hand, making the next meeting vital. Louisville trails the Hounds by a point, but they also have a match in hand, meaning the Hounds will need each of those teams to drop points at least once in addition to winning head-to-head against Hartford if they hope to host again in the playoffs.
While the Hounds mathematically could catch either second-place Charleston or third-place Detroit, that would require the Battery to drop three of its last four or Detroit to drop two of its last four, at minimum, making the race for fourth the one to watch in the East.
