USL League One named the finalists for its 2026 awards on November 6, and seven of them are still chasing a place in the 2026 USL League One Playoffs this weekend. The list puts league honors and postseason pressure on the same calendar, with winners due between Monday, November 9 and Friday, November 13.
For Forward Madison FC goalkeeper JT Harms, the timing matters because he is one of the finalists still playing. Harms started 31 of the club's 32 regular-season matches in 2026 and finished with 10 clean sheets, tied for the most in League One. He also posted a -2.03 Goals Prevented mark while making 74 saves on a 71.3% save percentage, a profile that shows why he is in the conversation even though it is not the only one that does.
The finalists were voted on by team management after the 2026 League One regular season ended, and the group reflects different kinds of production across the league. Cole Jensen led all qualified goalkeepers with a 78.3% save percentage, but Harms and Matt Levy reached the finalist stage through other strengths. Levy started 19 of Charlotte Independence's 20 regular-season victories, made 102 saves, posted a 72.5% save percentage, and led the league with four penalty kicks saved. He also finished with a -3.68 Goals Prevented mark.
That split is part of what gives the awards race some edge. Jensen allowed 15 goals in 17 matches started and finished with a -7.16 Goals Prevented mark and five clean sheets, while Harms and Levy each bring a different case to the ballot. The league's voting rules are not public here, so the finalists' numbers matter more than any neat hierarchy. One keeper can lead in save percentage, another in clean sheets, and another in volume and late-game stops.
The playoff picture only sharpens that comparison. Charlotte Independence, which set a new League One record with 20 regular season victories and won the 2026 Players' Shield, will face Forward Madison FC on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Athletic Club Boise will host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET at Athletic Club Boise Soccer Stadium. With seven finalists still active, the awards list is no longer just a season recap; it is part of what happens next on the field. The winners will be announced next week, and by then the players still in the bracket may have added one more result to the resume that voters have already read.
