The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 4Changes galore in the rankings
We’re still quite a way off from instituting the Forge Factor; after 4 weeks FC Tulsa has still played just 2 games. Still, the league already looks to be settling into some tiers. and that’s not good for Legion fans right now.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Note |
| 1 | Louisville City | 1 | 0 | 3-0-0 | Lou City routed the Legion 5-0 in the second of a 3-game home stand. They finish with the first half of the LIPAFC. One of only two perfect teams remaining. |
| 2 | Detroit City | 7 | 5 | 3-0-0 | Outshooting Indy 16-7 seems like an overpowering performance, but Detroit needed 3 big saves from Nate Steinwascher and a late Maxi Rodriguez goal for the 2-1 win and a continued perfect record. |
| 3 | Sacramento Republic | 2 | -1 | 2-0-2 | SacRep were definitely the better side in the 1-0 win over Memphis, but it took them 87 minutes to find a breakthrough. A potentially easy trip to Colorado Springs this week. |
| 4 | Charleston Battery | 4 | 0 | 2-0-2 | The Battery traded early goals with Miami, then went on to thoroughly dominate the attack, winning 2-1 on a late goal. Up to Rhode Island this week. |
| 5 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 9 | 4 | 1-0-2 | The Rowdies went down a goal early but exploded in the second half for 4 goals, 3 of them on the fast counter. The 4-1 win over Rhode Island FC could have been more too. Off to Pittsburgh next. |
| 6 | San Antonio | 8 | 2 | 2-0-2 | San Antonio and Monterey Bay played a close one, but the Texans ended up 2-1 winners on a late goal. They stay undefeated, heading to Las Vegas next. |
| 7 | Orange County | 3 | -4 | 2-0-2 | The OC is top of the West after surviving a a tight contest with Tulsa 1-0. This was their first game not scoring 2 goals They head to Memphis next with a chance to maintain their lead. |
| 8 | Hartford Athletic | 6 | -2 | 2-1-0 | The Athletic suffered their first loss, 1-2 at North Carolina and were well beaten in the process. A late comeback was stopped, but Hartford still look good. Back home against Miami next. |
| 9 | North Carolina FC | 19 | 10 | 1-1-2 | Oalex Anderson drew a penalty and scored a second to put NCFC clear in a dominant first half. They hold on for their first win, 2-1 over Hartford. A tough road trip to Detroit coming up. |
| 10 | Indy Eleven | 5 | -5 | 1-1-1 | Indy took an early lead and had several good scoring chances they couldn’t convert on the way to a 1-2 home loss to Detroit. They put up only 7 shots and will need to improve on that against Lou City this week. |
| 11 | Loudoun United | 10 | -1 | 1-1-1 | Loudoun United were on a bye this week. |
| 12 | FC Tulsa | 13 | 1 | 1-1-0 | Tulsa, in only their second game, had chances to equalize but never managed to get on the board, losing 0-1 to Orange County. Question marks still abound but some may be answered against Phoenix. |
| 13 | New Mexico United | 16 | 3 | 2-1-1 | New Mexico had little trouble dispatching Phoenix 1-0, and should have made it at least 2-0. They get El Paso next. |
| 14 | Monterey Bay Union | 18 | 4 | 1-1-2 | The Union gave up early and late goals to go down 1-2 in San Antonio, but they were always in the game and are a much improved side. They get stumbling Oakland next. |
| 15 | The Miami FC | 11 | -4 | 1-1-1 | Miami lost to Charleston Battery 1-2 at home, but although the visitors pummeled them with 20 shots, they were never out of it. Defensively they look sound and are strong on the counter. A trip to chilly Connecticut next. |
| 16 | Las Vegas Lights | 21 | 5 | 2-2-0 | The Lights took it to Oakland with 3 second half goals for the 3-0 win. Two straight wins and they appear to be getting on track. A big test against San Antonio coming up. |
| 17 | Memphis 901 | 17 | 0 | 1-2-0 | Memphis had just 1 shot on goal all game. That’s not enough against anyone, especially not Sacramento and they go down 0-1. They welcome Orange County this week. |
| 18 | Oakland Roots | 15 | -3 | 1-2-1 | The Roots had very little attacking power and defense was also weak in the 0-3 home loss to Las Vegas. 2 straight losses to weakish opponents and they are looking iffy. |
| 19 | El Paso Locomotive | 23 | 4 | 0-3-1 | El Paso Locomotive were on a bye this week. |
| 20 | Rhode Island FC | 14 | -6 | 0-1-2 | Rhode Island looked good in the first half but were absolutely whipped in the second, losing 1-4 in Tampa for their first loss. It won’t get easier with Charleston coming to town. |
| 21 | Birmingham Legion | 12 | -9 | 1-2-0 | The Three Sparks have some serious injury issues already, but that doesn’t excuse the horrific defensive lapses and the lack of effective attack. First home game this week against Loudoun. |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 22 | 0 | 0-3-0 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds were on a bye this week. |
| 23 | Phoenix Rising | 20 | -3 | 1-3-0 | 1 goal in 4 games makes Phoenix the lowest scoring team in the USL. Rocco Rios Novo’s 8 saves, including a PK, made the 0-1 scoreline against New Mexico very flattering to the hosts. At Tulsa next. |
| 24 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 24 | 0 | 0-3-0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks were on a bye this week. |
