As we head into the final week of the NOSL's 2024 regular season, a lot remains on the line for teams in all three divisions. By the end of the weekend, the league playoff brackets for both the men's and women's first divisions will be set, a champion will be crowned in the men's second division, one men's team will be relegated and one promoted, and the promotion & relegation playoff will be finalized.

 

Men's First Division

1. Ohio City (8 MP, 24 pts, +34 GD): Ohio City has already clinched the No. 1 overall seed for the playoffs.

2. Delaware Rising (8 MP, 18 pts, +22 GD): DRFC already knows they will be playing AFC Ohio in the NOSL Playoffs Semifinal, but they have a say in whether it will be at home or on the road. A win at Ohio City would clinch the No. 2 seed but a tie or loss will give Ambassadors a chance to get a result at Mahoning Trumbull and claim home field advantage.

3. Ambassadors FC Ohio (8 MP, 17 pts, +25 GD): Ambassadors are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season. At the very worst, they will be the 3-seed and have to travel to Delaware. However, a win at Mahoning Trumbull United would be enough to lock AFC Ohio into the 2-seed if Delaware drops points at Ohio City.

4. Mansfield Liederkranz (8 MP, 12 pts, -6 GD): After a strong start to the season, it looked as if Liederkranz was a lock for the postseason. However, some unfavorable results has them pushing for the playoffs in the final week of the season. Good news for the Germans, though, their fate is in their own hands. A home victory vs Stark County would clinch them the final spot in the 2024 NOSL Playoffs. However, a loss or draw leaves the door wide open for a hot Inter Columbus team to leap-frog the 2021 runners-up.

5. Inter Columbus (8 MP, 10 pts, +5 GD): The early season wasn't kind to the NOSL newcomers but they stayed in every game they played and turned things on as of late to surge into playoff contention. However, they will need a little help from Stark County. Though two points behind Liederkranz, the Columbus-based team has a far superior goal difference. If you're Inter, your path to the playoffs requires a win and a Liederkranz draw or loss to Stark. If this happens, Inter will have a date with Ohio City next weekend.

6. Pali United (8 MP, 9 pts, -16 GD): Pali is all but eliminated from playoff contention. An up and down year saw the newcomers mid-pack for most of the season. They would need both Liederkranz AND Inter to lose this weekend and would need to make up 10 goals worth of goal difference.

7. Ashland United cannot make the playoffs and is safe from both relegation and having to compete in the Pro/Rel Playoffs.

8. Stark County United cannot make the playoffs and is safe from both relegation and having to compete in the Pro/Rel Playoffs.

9. Greater Columbus (8 MP, 4 pts, -35 GD): An odd, rebuilding season could not have gone worse for the back-to-back defending champs. At best, Greater finds themselves in the Pro/Rel playoff spot after only picking up a win and a draw through eight league matches. They will avoid automatic relegation to the Second Division with a win against Pali United or if they match Mahoning Trumbull's result against Ambassadors. However, a loss paired with a MTUSC result will push Mahoning Trumbull into ninth and send GCFC down due to goal difference.

10. Mahoning Trumbull United (8 MP, 3 pts, -12 GD): Despite playing most opponents tough in 2024, the Youngstown-area team could not conjure up a win to this point. Their best bet is getting a result against Ambassadors while hoping Greater Columbus lose to Pali United. This would bring MTUSC up from the cellar and move them into the Pro/Rel Playoff spot while sending Greater Columbus down. However, if Greater Columbus draws Pali, MTUSC will need a win vs AFC Ohio to secure temporary safety in the ninth place position.

 

Men's Second Division

1. Twinsburg United (6 MP, 14 pts, +10 GD): Twinsburg has done all they can in the regular season as they played their final game of the season on Friday evening, July 5 and earned a 2-0 win over Süsserfuss Ballverein to jump Wooster FC into first place. However, they need a huge favor from Amish Country United to secure the league title and gain automatic promotion.

2. Wooster FC (5 MP, 13 pts, +21 GD): Despite Twinsburg jumping into the top spot after a big win on Friday night, Wooster holds their destiny in their own hands. With both teams around them finishing their seasons on Friday, Wooster only needs a win or draw vs Amish Country United to snatch the title back from Twinsburg and gain automatic promotion. On the other hand, a loss at ACU would see them face off with Süsserfuss in the Pro/Rel Playoffs semifinal.

3. Süsserfuss Ballverein (6 MP, 12 pts, +2 GD): Süsserfuss had their dreams of a trophy and auto promotion crushed with a 2-0 loss to Twinsburg to finish the regular season. However, their season is not over and they will be the #3 seed for Friday's Pro/Rel Playoffs semifinal. If Twinsburg holds onto first place, SFBV will travel to Wooster but if Wooster can find a result against ACU, Suusserfuss will head to Twinsburg for a quick rematch with the Tigers.

4. Ohio City SC II cannot be promoted as their parent club plays in the NOSL's top flight.

5. Mansfield Liederkranz II cannot be promoted as their parent club plays in the NOSL's top flight.

6. Amish Country United cannot clinch a spot in the Pro/Rel Playoffs.

7. Panthers FC cannot clinch a spot in the Pro/Rel Playoffs.

 

Women's Division

1. Süsserfuss Ballverein (7 MP, 16 pts, +16 GD): Süsserfuss currently sits atop the women's division by a single point but has played one more game than second-place Ohio City. A win cannot clinch them the No. 1 overall seed but it will if Ohio City lose one of their final two matches. At worst, SFBV will be the two-seed.

2. Ohio City (6 MP, 15 pts, +9 GD): Ohio City has two games left in the regular season and will finish first with a victory and a SFBV loss. If SFBV draws, Ohio City can still get No. 1 with two victories to close the season.

3. Delaware Rising (7 MP, 10 pts, +5 GD): The defending champions have already clinched a playoff berth but their seeding is yet to be determined. A win at Ohio City on the final weekend will lock in the 3-seed for Delaware. A loss or draw will make them wait to see what Panthers does this weekend.

4. Panthers FC (7 MP, 9 pts, +1 GD): Panthers have clinched a playoff spot but will need to win with a DRFC draw or draw AND make up the goal difference WITH a DRFC loss to jump Delaware for the 3-seed.

5. Mansfield Liederkranz has been eliminated from playoff contention.