Nashville SC returns from the international break with two races in view: the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS single-season points record. Saturday’s trip to Austin FC is the next step, and a matchup between the league leader and a team still chasing ground in the West offers both sides a reason to push.
Nashville has 60 points through 27 matches, putting the 74-point mark set by Inter Miami in 2024 within reach. With seven regular-season games left, Nashville needs 15 points to finish above the record; four wins and three draws would get there, while 14 points would only match it. The club has already secured a playoff berth, but the record chase gives its closing stretch a target beyond seeding.
Austin, meanwhile, enters with 31 points and sits 13th in the Western Conference. That gap makes Nashville the clear favorite on the table, but a road match is a useful test for a side that must keep collecting points. Austin can still make its remaining schedule count, and home advantage gives it a chance to disrupt Nashville’s pace.
The visitors bring a potent attack: Sam Surridge has scored 16 league goals, while Hany Mukhtar adds another proven threat. Nashville’s defensive record has been just as important, with only 21 goals conceded through 27 matches. Austin’s task is to make the league leaders defend under pressure rather than let them dictate the match.
Kickoff at Q2 Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, at 7:30 p.m. CT. Nashville has the bigger season-long prize in sight, but the points record leaves little room for a quiet finish—and Austin has an opportunity to make the chase harder.
