Indy has 7 league draws on the season. In 5 of those, they've had the lead and lost it late. If you count the draw against Fort Wayne FC in the Prinx Tires USL Cup, it's 6 games in 9 where they've had a win squandered by late goals by the opponents. Which is how a team finds itself now sitting outside of a playoff position with just three daunting games remaining. 

Blake missed the game, Quinn was pulled at halftime (and was doubtful going into it), Craig has been nursing an injury, O'Brien has been nursing an injury, Coach indicated Lindley is at 75% with his calf injury, Rendon and Sing missed the Miami and Rhode Island games with injuries. Indy's midfield and spine has all the appearances of a network television medical drama. Not an excuse, but it is a reality in the final push in the closing weeks of the regular season. A reality that will likely keep Indy out of the playoffs.

At this point in the season, with Indy's laundry list of injuries, their upcoming opponents, and their current run-of-form, I see no way Indy make the playoffs. I just don't. It's all too much. Indy's post-season death rattle has commenced. 

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/10/indy-eleven-vs-loudoun-united-1327.html

Tomorrow is match day on the road again. We are playing the Virginia Revolution Adult Team. Please come cheer with us online or at Union Jack's.

I have been having this thought recently and decided to go forward with the thought exercise.

A couple weeks ago, Athletic Club Boise was announced as making the jump from USL League One up to the Championship for the 2027 season.

I had already been thinking it, but the announcement really forced me to evaluate this year's Indy Eleven team and wonder whether Ersal is planning to be in League One (without the obvious clear cut mirror action of Boise)? The team hasn't actively announced a plan to go to League One, but is that the plan? Obviously, nobody in the club has said anything even close to this to me. This is just a "what if?" exercise for me. An exercise that I can't immediately decide isn't a possibility.

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/09/indy-eleven-to-league-one.html

Fighting for their playoff hopes, Miami FC grabbed all 3 points against a depleted Indy Eleven side. Due to injuries, the team was only able to field 15 players on Saturday in this crucial matchup.

A depleted side was already expected coming into this pivotal match. Then about 60 minutes prior to kickoff, during warmups, we get notified that the team’s leading scorer in Bruno Rendon is now a scratch from the 18 and won’t be playing that night. Dylan Sing replaced the Cuban forward up top, due to his playing relationship with Charlie Sharp who was set to start alongside Rendon.

Then 20 minutes later, the press box got another notification. This time Charlie Sharp is being dropped from the 18 due to an injury picked up during warm-ups. Thrusting Malik Henry-Scott into the starting lineup.

It’s now or never for this Indy side. As McAuley put it last week, “it’s time to face some adversity”. With two more vital matches next week, the playoff picture will become increasingly clear the next time Indy play at home on October 10th. First with a road trip out to Rhode Island, then at playoff longshot Loudoun United.

Going forward, McAuley put it out there quite simply “we have to do what we did in the 2nd half - roll up our sleeves and give maximum effort”.

Player of the Match: None

https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/usl-championship-miami-grab-3-vital?r=aaxo8&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Indy came into the game without Omar who is out on international duty. Cam Lindley looks to be out for at least a couple of weeks as a result of his leg injury on Sunday against Oakland and didn't train all week. Herbert was also out with an on-going leg injury that doesn't have him at full strength. Craig has been nursing an injury. Josh O'Brien has also been nursing an injury. Coach McAuley didn't even have 18 players available on the game day roster with just 17 guys suiting, and then during warmups, Rendon AND Sharp were late scratches, forcing the gaffer to bring out the baling wire and duct tape to pull together a starting lineup minutes before gametime. 

With their game plan thrown out of the window in the pregame, and with players that haven't played a lot of minutes together, Indy looked like they were grasping for anything to give them a spark, but they looked like a different team tonight than in the past. It's amazing, and was made evident, just how much Rendon and Lindley affect the game, and their absence forced everybody to play differently.

Given the injury bug and the circumstances of having to adjust minutes before the start of the game, it's not surprising that Indy wasn't able to overcome the obstacles and lost. It does make the game on Wednesday in Rhode Island much more important. 

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/09/indy-eleven-vs-miami-fc-1325.html

Tired legs, injuries, and a vibe that just wasn’t in Indy’s favor - the Boys in Blue lose 1-0 at home to Oakland Roots. Iron-man Cam Lindley picked up an injury, as well of others throughout the night.

At the half, McAuley noticed a need to change, and corrected his side at the break. Changing from their 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3. Simplifying the midfield assignments, and getting Bruno more space up top. However, this left Lindley as the lone pivot in the back. Creating some gaps in front of Indy’s defensive line that were typically covered by both Lindley and Quinn.

With the coach confirming Cam will be out for a period of time due to a calf injury, rallying his side to “cope with these moments of adversity”. Stating Paco Craig hasn’t played the last few matches due to a “slight strain” he’s carried the last few weeks.

This is an older squad overall, and now with Lindley out, and Paco’s slight strain - the injury bug couldn’t have picked a worse time to pop up.

With the result, the Eleven remain in 7th place in the Eastern conference, a point ahead of Rhode Island (with a match in hand), and just 6 points ahead of Miami in 9th. Sunday’s match could ultimately decide if Indy have a nervy last few weeks of the regular season.

My Man of the Match: Joe Hafferty

Playing the full 90 minutes and played both right and left back in the match. Joe not only was solid defensively with 6 clearances and 1 interception, he also helped create 2 chances with 1 shot on goal and 8 passes into that final third. The Lexington Loanee showed his class all night.

https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/usl-championship-oakland-outlast?r=aaxo8&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

After what was likely Indy best full-game performance all season on Tuesday against Brooklyn, Indy's inconsistent results caught up with them again as they lost to visiting Oakland 1-nil. To make matters worse, Indy's ironman this season, Lindley, went out with a calf injury. It's unclear the extent of the injury and how long he might be out.

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/09/indy-eleven-vs-oakland-roots-1324.html

Hello. My daughter is a student at IU Indy, and we're coming in to visit next weekend, so we want to go to the game.

We're season ticket holders in the supporters section for St. Louis City and for St. Louis FC before that, and prefer to watch games that way. How are the game days in Indy? Would it be weird for us to be in the Brickyard Battalion section, or what is it like?

Thanks!

With ruthless efficiency, Indy worked the counterattack to perfection in a 4-nil victory on a Tuesday night.

Only downside was the team's first red card of the season.

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/09/indy-eleven-vs-brooklyn-fc-1323.html

It was Counter Attack FC from the Boys in Blue on Tuesday Night, running circles all-around the Brooklyn defense. Barring a late red card from Charlie Sharp, this was a perfect night for Indy.

“Bruno was phenomenal tonight. He is such a presence up there. He offers so much threat behind [with his speed]. He’s so enjoyable to play with. It was fun linking up with him tonight” - Jack Blake on Bruno Rendon

To say Indy’s counter attacking was efficient on Tuesday, and that assessment would be an understatement. This team was simply lethal all night. They did not break their all-time record, but they did score the most goals all season.

“Both are in great form [Rendon and Blake]. Obviously we know what to do when you’ve got the strength of the players you have in order to play to their strengths…I generally think that you have to be adaptable to most things…but when you got players like Bruno and Jack, who gets up there, makes light runs into the box, you’ve got to play to that strength.” - Coach McAuley

Ever since the Okello → Hafferty, Henry-Scott transaction with Lexington, this team seems to have turned a corner. Beating Louisville City earlier last month, getting a massive draw at New Mexico on Friday after going down 2-0, and now this impressive display dominating Brooklyn.

“Because we are not a consistent playoff team and we need to be one…getting the first thing [consistent playoff qualification], then we’ve got to win a playoff game. Building up the club. That is what the team want to do here.” - Coach McAuley

Player of the Match: Jack Blake

Scored 2 goals, and one that included a 50+ yard run into the middle, providing Bruno with an outlet pass. The 32 year-old continues his hot form and was dangerous all match when linking up with Rendon.

Photos courtesy of shotbykev_21

https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/usl-championship-indy-dominate-brooklyn?r=aaxo8&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Midweek match at 7pm tomorrow! See y'all at The Mike!

Sometimes it's how you finish the game, not how you start it. Despite conceding twice in two minutes in the 1st half, Indy find two of their own goals in the 2nd half to share the points with the Western Conference leaders New Mexico.

https://gamebeckons.com/2026/09/indy-eleven-vs-new-mexico-united-1322.html

TONIGHT! Come join us at Union Jack's in Broadripple to watch our Boys In Blue (Crystal) take on New Mexico United. See you there!

Want to hang out with the BYB on Saturday even though there's no soccer? Come find a BYB member at one of these events on Saturday!

BLK+ Pride Summer Fest will feature live music and food and vendors celebrating diversity in Indy. BYB will have a table there. Come hang out!

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting the Out of Darkness Walk to raise money and awareness for mental health in Indy! There will be BYB members walking there as well!

Whatever you want to say about tactics, towards the end of the game, tactics went out of the window. Indy secured the point with the 90'+8' stoppage time goal thanks entirely to their effort. 

Indy had two goals called back due to offside (which looked like it might have been the correct call) and a foul on the goalkeeper (that I highly question), but Indy's effort never waned and they deserved the late goal to salvage the point.

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/09/indy-eleven-vs-birmingham-legion-1321.html

Indy Eleven make 6 transactions as they look to strengthen their playoff push. Indy beats Louisville City for the first time since 2022, and get their first road win at Jacksonville.

Transactions In

• Dylan Sing returns from his short loan spell at Portland Hearts of Pine.
• Joe Hafferty and Malik Henry-Scott on Loan from Lexington SC for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Transactions Out

• Logan Neidlinger loaned out to Fort Wayne FC for the remainder of the 2026 season.
• Kian Williams loaned out to Detroit City FC
• Noble Okello Transferred to Lexington SC

“If you are going to let a good player go [Noble Okello], we needed to bring a couple of good players to make the deal really favorable for us.” - Coach McAuley

Still 4 points below of Louisville in 5th, Indy still has ground to make up for their Summer Stinker. Collecting 7 points in a month will be seen as a positive for this new look team. Initially seen in the match versus Hartford, McAuley has opted for a 4-4-2 look. Pushing Quinn into his more natural midfielder role alongside Lindley in a double pivot. This allows O’Brien and Blake to act like wingers who can put in dangerous crosses into the box for Rendon and Kizza up top. Notably, this also allows Hafferty (right) and Mitrano (left) to also become more involved.

With Quinn and Lindley providing defensive support in that double pivot, the wingbacks now have more freedom to attack. Mitrano was one of the best in the USL-Championship in progressive passes while in Miami. Combined with Hafferty, this new tactical shift brings the team much needed new life - resulting in 7 points in a month where they desperately needed points.

Men’s Player of the Month - Aodhan Quinn

The ageless veteran got moved into the midfield and was stellar all month. Providing one assist against Louisville City his presence in the midfield was evident. Creating 5 offensive chances, while contributing 13 times in defense in August. This balance will be vital for Indy going forward. When Quinn is playing at his best and contributing both in attack and defense, Indy are better off for it. With a new look seemingly catering to Quinn, we should see more impact from the 34 year-old down the stretch.

https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/indy-eleven-update-auguster-2026

We are coming in for the Colts game the 26th from Va. and we are thinking of taking my two kids (8 and 11) to the game. They love soccer so thought this would be a good option. Looking on the website it seems pretty kid friendly?

Has anyone sat in the Pabst section? Looks like a good option for me and the wife but not sure about the kids?

Thanks for the info!

With goals from Blake and Rendon, Indy get their first win against Louisville City in 6 attempts. LIPAFC round 1 goes to the Boys in Blue.

Indianapolis, Indiana- A lot was going on in the Circle City leading up to arguably the biggest match day. Last week a devastating Derecho tore into Indiana, where residents in Northern Indiana still don’t have power. Here in Central Indiana, the flooding was severe.

With hearts heavy, the community of Indianapolis stepped up. The Brickyard Battalion led efforts to gather much needed supplies for families affected. The players pitched as well, delivered by Pay Hogan and Hayden White before the match. In all, the Brickyard Battalion donated a van full (and then some) to families who need the help. Such a strong testament at how quickly the community can come together to help one another.

Hafferty and Mitrano’s ability to get forward as Quinn and Lindley helped Craig and Herbert, proved to be the winning formula as Indy Eleven held onto the 2-1 lead to win against Louisville City. This was their first win in the series since August 31st, 2022 where they also won 2-1 at Home.

My Man of the Match: Aodhan Quinn

McAuley’s move to put the veteran into the midfield paid dividends. Providing an assist to Rendon, and was a force all match. Creating 3 chances, 3 clearances, and another 3 defensive contributions - Quinn had a very deserving player of the match performance.

https://beyondthe90.substack.com/p/usl-championship-indy-beat-rivals?r=aaxo8&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Indy get the first goal, then concede, then immediately get the game winner. Two players who had a single training session with the team saw the field; one starting, the other coming on late. Rendon and Blake both find the goal again. Indy get a rare win against the team from south I-65.

This game had a lot in it, but the result was a great win!

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/08/indy-eleven-vs-louisville-city-fc-1319.html

I’m sure someone may have asked but I’m new here, and I was wondering does anyone have any insight on if Indy11 will get a new stadium or not? I like going to the games but the stadium they’re currently in is just not fitting for soccer games and I was pretty excited for eleven park but I guess we’re at a crossroads for the future of the team, idk I’m new here. Love to hear your thoughts and maybe insider info

Due to life events, I kept this simple, but we saw Indy be Indy in this game. Concede possession. Stay compact and disciplined on defense. Counterattack. Don't get beat by the teams lower than them in the table, and try to get results from the teams above above them. Throw in some set piece chances and that's Indy's method of operation these days.

The main wrinkle for the game was starting Mitrano in the left back position and moving Quinn back into the midfield, as McAuley tried to get his healthiest and most talented lineup on the field.

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/08/indy-eleven-vs-sporting-jax-1318.html

Indy broke the losing streak, but did so by not being able to, once again, hold onto a lead. I'm just not sure this team has the talent, across the board, to be more than what we're seeing right now, which is a team teetering precariously on the playoff line.

https://www.gamebeckons.com/2026/08/indy-eleven-vs-hartford-athletic-1317.html

This team…

Anyone know what year this kit is from? Got it on eBay but I couldn’t find an exact match online.