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+---- Thread: *The Best ISFL Franchises Since S25 (/showthread.php?tid=47626)
*The Best ISFL Franchises Since S25 - caleb.grim - 09-22-2023
As a new player to the league this past season, I wanted to learn about league history and get a sense of the success of each of the franchises. What better time than right before the ISFL draft presentation when I will find out which team I get to join! So I've taken a look back at the past 19 seasons (as season 25 was the most recent expansion) to rank the 14 ISFL franchises in terms of historic success.
Before we begin, I have made a visual to help us see season success for each team.
First off, ASFC results for the past 19 seasons:
![[Image: Screenshot-2023-09-22-at-10-08-45-AM.png]](https://i.ibb.co/zN15zNJ/Screenshot-2023-09-22-at-10-08-45-AM.png)
And the NSFC:
![[Image: Screenshot-2023-09-22-at-10-08-05-AM.png]](https://i.ibb.co/K2Xpn45/Screenshot-2023-09-22-at-10-08-05-AM.png)
14.
New Orleans Secondline Regular Season Record: 114 - 190 - 0 (.375)
Division Championships: 0
Playoff Appearances: 6
Playoff Record: 5 - 6
Ultimus Record: 0 - 2
The Secondline have had a difficult time recently as they have only managed 1 win in each of the last three seasons. Even before then, success has been hit and miss with a decent amount of playoff appearances (6) but never managing more than 9 wins during the regular season.
13.
Orange County Otters Regular Season Record: 136 - 166 - 2 (.451)
Division Championships: 1
Playoff Appearances: 5
Playoff Record: 3 - 5
Ultimus Record: 0 - 1
The Otters have the distinction of finishing 4th the most times out of any team in the league over the last 19 years (and thus barely missing the playoffs the most). Most recently, it has been a bit of a mixed bag with playoff appearances for two consecutive years before missing the playoffs the past two seasons.
12.
San Jose SaberCats Regular Season Record: 131 - 171 - 2 (.434)
Division Championships: 0
Playoff Appearances: 3
Playoff Record: 3 - 2
Ultimus Record: 1 - 0
The SaberCats would be even lower on this list if not for their lone Ultimus in Season 25. Since then, they've only made the playoffs twice in season 36 and season 38.
11.
Colorado Yeti Regular Season Record: 142 - 159 - 3 (.472)
Division Championships: 2
Playoff Appearances: 5
Playoff Record: 3 - 5
Ultimus Record: 0 - 2
With only 1 winning record in the past 10 seasons, the Yeti have not had a lot of success recently. However, with their first playoff appearance this past season since season 31, are they due for a turnaround? Or was it just a blip as they slide back into obscurity?
10.
Austin Copperheads Regular Season Record: 149 - 153 - 2 (.493)
Division Championships: 1
Playoff Appearances: 8
Playoff Record: 2 - 8
Ultimus Record: 0 - 1
Austin is one of those teams that do fairly well during the regular season but everyone knows they aren't a real contender. Their three consecutive fourth place finishes is pretty indicative of their historical success.
9.
Cape Town Crash / 
Philadelphia Liberty Regular Season Record: 148 - 155 - 1 (.488)
Division Championships: 2
Playoff Appearances: 5
Playoff Record: 3 - 4
Ultimus Record: 1 - 0
I think the rebrand should have happened sooner, as 4 of the 5 playoff appearances for the Crash have come after the rebrand between seasons 38 and 39. Most recently, the Crash and the Hawks have been battling it out for supremacy of the NSFC.
8.
Baltimore Hawks Regular Season Record: 123 - 180 - 1 (.406)
Division Championships: 3
Playoff Appearances: 5
Playoff Record: 6 - 3
Ultimus Record: 2 - 0
The defending champion Baltimore Hawks have has a really nice run recently but in an exercise like this we can't forget the struggles that have plagued them in previous seasons. The Hawks are one of two teams to go 0 - 16 in the past 19 seasons and had a stretch of six seasons where they only managed 18 total wins. Though if they make the playoffs, watch out!
7.
Berlin Fire Salamanders Regular Season Record: 148 - 154 - 2 (.490)
Division Championships: 3
Playoff Appearances: 7
Playoff Record: 8 - 7
Ultimus Record: 0 - 4
The Fire Salamanders are frequently in the playoffs and have made the Ultimus 4 times but have yet to come away with a victory. Recently, they have had only one winning record over the past five seasons, though it did result in an Ultimus appearance.
6.
Chicago Butchers Regular Season Record: 161 - 142 - 1 (.531)
Division Championships: 2
Playoff Appearances: 11
Playoff Record: 7 - 10
Ultimus Record: 1 - 1
While the Butchers have had consecutive last place finishes, historically they have had a lot of success. They have reached 10 wins nine times and are one of only 4 teams with a regular season record above .500. However, a lack of consistent playoff success keeps them further down the rankings.
5.
New York Silverbacks Regular Season Record: 149 -154 - 1 (.492)
Division Championships: 2
Playoff Appearances: 8
Playoff Record: 9 - 6
Ultimus Record: 2 - 1
With a regular season record hovering right around .500, the Silverbacks come in 5th on the strength of their playoff runs. While this past season ended up with their first Ultimus defeat, their 14 regular season wins ties for the most in the ISFL over any of the past 19 seasons.
4.
Honolulu Hahalua Regular Season Record: 146 - 157 - 1 (.482)
Division Championships: 5
Playoff Appearances: 9
Playoff Record: 10 - 6
Ultimus Record: 3 - 1
Honolulu has historically been the one team in the ASFC to challenge Arizona. Their 5 division championships is second in the league over the past 19 seasons. However, they have had quite a few rough years as well, including an 0 - 16 record during season 38.
3.
Yellowknife Wraiths Regular Season Record: 173 - 131 - 0 (.569)
Division Championships: 3
Playoff Appearances: 10
Playoff Record: 10 - 7
Ultimus Record: 3 - 1
While the Wraiths have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, they have historically been a playoff regular. A solid playoff record with 3 Ultimus victories puts them in the top 3.
2.
Sarasota Sailfish Regular Season Record: 185 - 116 - 3 (.613)
Division Championships: 4
Playoff Appearances: 14
Playoff Record: 10 - 12
Ultimus Record: 2 - 2
The Sailfish come in as the second most successful team based on the strength of their regular season record. Winning over 60% of their games, the Sailfish have made the playoffs 14 of the 19 seasons since expansion. However, mixed playoff results keeps them out of the top spot.
1.
Arizona Outlaws Regular Season Record: 213 - 90 - 1 (.702)
Division Championships: 10
Playoff Appearances: 18
Playoff Record: 16 - 14
Ultimus Record: 4 - 3
The Outlaws are far and away the most successful franchise of the past 19 seasons. They have had a winning record all 19 seasons and only failed to make the playoffs once. With that many good teams, a league leading 7 Ultimus appearances and 4 Ultimus wins is not surprising. And that doesn't even mention that they win over 70% of their regular season games.
To help other new players out, I thought it would be a good exercise to compare the success of the ISFL teams to NFL or CFB counterparts. However, I need the help of veterans here who have experienced the league to make the connections. Let me know which teams resemble each ISFL in the replies!
RE: The Best ISFL Teams Since S25 - Raven - 09-22-2023
There are three things certain in life. Death, Taxes and Arizona making the playoffs.
RE: The Best ISFL Teams Since S25 - Opera_Phantom - 09-22-2023
(09-22-2023, 03:03 PM)Raven Wrote: There are three things certain in life. Death, Taxes and Arizona making the playoffs.
And @Z-Whiz messing up draft picks
RE: The Best ISFL Franchises Since S25 - UptownCord - 09-22-2023
Hey, so can you do the first 24 seasons? Asking for a friend.
RE: *The Best ISFL Franchises Since S25 - Z-Whiz - 09-25-2023
S26 was the famous 5-way tie. So our worst season in the last 19 seasons was tying for 1st place.