Buzzer Beater: The Playoff Picture Takes Shape [UFA Week 9 2026]

Who has more to play for in the final quarter of the season

June 23, 2026 by Alex Rubin in Rankings, Recap

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Clinched

There are only four weeks remaining in the regular season, and just over one-third of all playoff teams have clinched their spot already in the postseason.

Undefeated Minnesota and Austin, both 8-0, are guaranteed to continue playing at least into late July if not into August. In the Central, the Wind Chill have been dominant, with the 4-3 Madison Radicals the only other team with more wins than losses. One of Indianapolis (2-4), Pittsburgh (2-5), or Chicago (1-6) will earn that last spot; mathematically all of them have a chance.

While the South Division is more competitive, Austin has survived three one-goal games and an additional two-goal game and still come out on top each time. Their toughest challenge is yet to come: a road trip to Carolina and Atlanta on July 10 and 11. At 8-2, Carolina has also clinched a playoff spot, though seeding, the first round bye, and home field advantage throughout the divisional playoffs is up for grabs. Atlanta (5-4) and San Diego (4-5) are the two remaining teams in contention for the last playoff spot. The Hustle have a tough schedule remaining (games against Carolina, Austin, and DC) while the Growlers just have matchups with Houston and Vegas left.

In the West Division, the Oakland Spiders (7-1) have clinched a playoff spot, and have the inside track at the top seed. Seattle (4-3) and Salt Lake (5-4) are the front runners battling for the other two playoff spots, with a legitimate challenge from Colorado (3-6, but with a win over Salt Lake).

The final team with their playoff spot guaranteed is Boston (9-1). New York (6-2), DC (6-3), and Toronto (5-4) are all in the playoff hunt. New York has relatively easier matchups against one-win outfits Philadelphia (twice) and Chicago left, while DC and Toronto each have a more challenging matchup. DC plays in Atlanta while Toronto has matchups with two likely playoff teams in New York and Indianapolis. How each team deals with their challenge could swing the standings and influence the playoff picture.

With just a month left in the season, seventeen of the twenty-two teams are still hanging around the playoff picture, and those who are eliminated already are still punching for wins. Read on to hear about Oregon’s upset this weekend, their first win of the season, which altered the standings in both the West and East Divisions!

News and Notes

• The Oregon State connection seemed to be all the Oregon Steel needed to earn their first cross-divisional win in franchise history. Nine assists from Felix Moren and seven goals from Ben Thoennes powered Oregon to a 22-21 victory over the Toronto Rush. There were familiar matchups all over the field; Toronto’s statistical leaders were Max Pettenuzzo and Justin Podnar, both regional opponents of the Oregon State duo during their college days.
• However, the Rush did not leave the Pacific Northwest empty handed. A 22-17 victory over the Seattle Cascades made their westward trip worthwhile. The Rush completed 16 hucks in this game,¹ and every member of their O-line completed or caught at least one.
• With six assists from Chad Yorgason and six goals from Matt Russnogle, the Salt Lake Shred beat the Madison Radicals 23-19 on Thursday night in a special weekday edition of Friday Night Frisbee.
• A day later, in a rare doubleheader edition of Friday Night Frisbee, the Minnesota Wind Chill continued their undefeated season with a 20-16 takedown of the Shred. It was a total team effort for the Wind Chill, considering that Salt Lake has the individual stat leader in every recorded category for the game.
• Despite a stellar effort from San Diego’s Max Combs (2A/4G/3B/0T), the Austin Sol continued their undefeated season with a 21-20 double overtime victory over the Growlers. Austin started the game up 6-2 but allowed a four goal San Diego run in the fourth quarter to tie it up. A two minute defensive stand from Austin at the end of the first overtime sent the game to sudden death where Kyle Henke found Matt Armour for the game winner.
• Though Houston’s Mark Turner tallied 666 total yards and eight assists, the Houston Havoc fell to the Growlers in the next day’s game, 23-20. KJ Koo’s 5A/3G/2B game helped the Growlers rebound after their loss to Austin.
• Another game against Chicago, another stellar Elliot Hawkins throwing performance. Seven assists set the AlleyCats on the right path for an 18-13 win, their second of the season.
• The Boston Glory doubled up the Philadelphia Phoenix, 30-14. For the kids reading this, the first quarter did end 6-7 before the rest were more lopsided.
• It was a productive game downfield for Montreal’s Charles Guay. He tallied six goals and five blocks on just ten completions as the Royal downed the Phoenix 25-18.
• The Atlanta Hustle continued the string of blowouts that have plagued the Vegas Bighorns. This week’s final score was 27-16.
• The Carolina Flyers did one better, knocking off the Bighorns 27-15. Zeke Thoreson had his Flyers breakout game, finishing with four assists, two goals, a block, nearly 500 yards, and no turnovers.
• On a rainy night in Evanston, the Madison Radicals took down the Chicago Union 14-11. Despite the conditions, Ian McCosky controlled the backfield on a 52/54 throwing night for three assists.

UFA Power Rankings

• The hardest team to place right now is Toronto, who lost to Oregon but beat Seattle this week. They get a slight bump for the positive win, as do the Steel.

1. if you’re curious, the record is 19 set by the Philadelphia Phoenix in their 2022 win over the Ottawa Outlaws and their 2023 win over the Rush ↩