After locking up a playoff berth, One Knox SC is now pushing to bring the postseason's biggest matches to Knoxville.
The defending USL League One champions enter the final stretch of the regular season in fourth place, the last position that guarantees a home game in the first match of the postseason. Back at Covenant Health Park for a 3 p.m. Oct. 11 matchup against Spokane Velocity FC, the margin for error is shrinking.
"Clinching the playoffs is one thing," coach Ian Fuller said Oct. 7 after a 3-0 win over Chattanooga. "But it's what do you want to do with that position?"
Why Sunday's match is important for One Knox
One Knox's hold on fourth place is far from secure, with Forward Madison, Spokane, AC Boise and Chattanooga all within striking distance.
Spokane is the biggest immediate threat
to One Knox's chances of hosting a playoff match, entering Sunday's match at Covenant Health Park with five total regular-season games remaining. One Knox has just two matches remaining, giving the Velocity extra opportunities to collect points and climb the table.
One Knox can prevent Spokane from gaining ground Sunday. A win would move Knoxville to 54 points while leaving Spokane at 47, creating a seven-point gap between the teams.
"We're going to have to take care of business," midfielder Nico Rosamilia said. "We need three points at home to push for playoffs."
The match comes after One Knox's dominant rivalry win over the Red Wolves. Knoxville scored three goals and turned in a clean sheet against Chattanooga after producing just three wins in 12 matches since August.
Earlier this season, Knoxville beat Spokane 4-0 on the road, a match Fuller said was one of their "most complete performances" of the season. One Knox also defeated Spokane in the 2025 USL League One title match.
"We feel like it's a bit of a rivalry," he said.
Weekend rooting guide for One Knox SC fans
Before One Knox takes the field Sunday, several results from Saturday could change the pressure on Knoxville.
One Knox enters the weekend one point behind Forward Madison, two points ahead of AC Boise and four points ahead of Spokane. That makes Saturday's results worth watching.
Portland Hearts of Pine vs. AC Boise: Root for Portland.
- Boise is two points behind One Knox. A loss would keep Boise at 49 points, while a win would push them to 52.
Union Omaha vs. Fort Wayne FC: Root for Omaha.
- Fort Wayne is farther back in the standings and has two matches remaining after Saturday. A loss would limit its chances of climbing into the top four.
Westchester SC vs. Forward Madison FC: Root for Westchester.
- Madison is one point ahead of One Knox. A loss would keep Madison from extending its lead and could open the door for Knoxville to move up in the standings.
Why hosting USL League One playoffs matters for One Knox
One Knox went undefeated at home during its championship run a season ago. Though Knoxville is 7-3-5 at Covenant Health Park this season, the opportunity to host again could be significant for a team trying to defend its title.
"We love playing in front of our fans at home," Rosamilia said. "We have a great fan base who continue to support us every single game."
The alternative is a much tougher path through the postseason. In fact, a road team has never won the title match since USL1's inaugural season in 2019.
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com; X: @TrevorMcGee12
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox clinched the playoffs. Now it wants postseason soccer in Knoxville
