By Brian Gertler
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (March 23, 2024) – With UFL playoffs fast approaching, Battlehawks are in a “win and in” this Sunday at home against the DC Defenders. However, most fans in St. Louis are curious about the potential of home field advantage throughout the post-season. As reported in mid-March, the UFL championship game will be in St. Louis. If the Battlehawks were able to win their conference, they would essentially secure two games in St. Louis (pending a first-round win over San Antonio or DC). Here are the scenarios needed to secure an XFL conference win:
STL: Win out
This, of course, would be the clearest path to a conference victory, but a challenge in and of itself. Playing teams that you have already seen this season is difficult. Now throw in an injured AJ McCarron and it seems even more unlikely that the Battlehawks will finish the year with three wins in a row.
STL: Win Twice (once against SA)
This is probably the most satisfying scenario where the Battlehawks lockin homefield advantage by beating San Antonio in week ten; the team they would be competing against in the first round.
STL: Win Twice, SA: Lose once against an XFL team
This is essentially the same scenario as above, except it includes the ability for San Antonio to win against the Battlehawks in week ten and still lose homefield advantage with a loss to Arlington in week eight.
STL: Win Once against DC or ARL, SA: Lose to ARL and BHAM
In this scenario, San Antonio ties with St. Louis record-wise, but loses the homefield advantage tie-breaker due to conference record even before the week ten matchup in St. Louis.
SA: Lose out
This probably won’t happen given their week eight and nine matchups, but we can dream! This scenario also opens the door for DC to sneak into the playoffs if they were to win out as well.
While the UFL has yet to officially publish playoff tiebreakers, below are the two former USFL and XFL tiebreaker rules:
2023 XFL Playoff Tiebreakers:
–Head-to-head
–Best win/loss percentage in division games
–Strength of victory in all games – combined record of opponents in wins
–Best combined ranking among division teams in points scored and points allowed in all games
–Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games
–Best net points in all games
–Best net touchdowns in all games
–Coin toss
2023 USFL Playoff Tiebreakers:
–Head-to-head
–Best won-lost percentage in games played within the division
–Strength of victory (aggregate won-lost percentage of teams defeated)
–Best net points in all games
–Best net touchdowns in all games
–Coin toss
Assuming the first three tiebreakers remain the same due to them being identical from both leagues (and doubtful that the fourth will be needed this year), the Battlehawks have the upper-hand given their current 3-0 record in division play. Two of the final Battlehawk matchups being at home against the two teams in playoff contention, DC and San Antonio, also gives the slight advantage to St. Louis. Battlehawks fans can remain hopeful that domefield advantage can remain for potentially four of the Battlehawks last five games this UFL season.
*Photo from explorestlouis.com*