By Tyler Gullahorn, Staff Writer
Nashville SC set the Major League Soccer record for most points in a single regular season Saturday, defeating FC Cincinnati 2-0 at TQL Stadium on Decision Day to finish the 2026 campaign with 77 points.
The total surpasses the previous record of 74 set by Inter Miami CF in 2024. Nashville matched that mark one week earlier with a 3-2 win over Red Bull New York in which they overcame a two goal deficit.
Harris (left) attended Saturday’s game. He is a Xavier club soccer player and is a fan of Nashville SC.
Forward Sam Surridge scored both goals Saturday. He opened the scoring in the 61st minute, finishing into the bottom corner after a pass from Andy Nájar. He added his second in the 86th minute, finishing after midfielder Patrick Yazbek played him through on goal. The two goals were Surridge’s 20th and 21st of the MLS regular season.
Goalkeeper Brian Schwake recorded his 16th clean sheet of the season, tying the MLS single season record for a goalkeeper set by Tony Meola in 2000. Nashville’s 17 team shutouts also tie the league record.
The match was evenly contested statistically. Nashville held 51 % of possession, and each team took 14 shots with five on target. Nashville’s expected goals total was 1.50 to Cincinnati’s 0.99. Cincinnati was credited with five yellow cards to Nashville’s two.
Nashville finished the regular season 23-3-8 in 34 matches. Its three losses are the fewest by any team in a single MLS regular season. The club allowed only 25 goals over the campaign. Nashville averaged approximately 2.26 points per game compared to the 2.18 Inter Miami recorded in 2024.
“It’s really special to watch this team perform as well as they have all year. It is nice to watch the right side of history for once. Being a Nashville fan is redeeming Tennessee professional sports and giving us a stronger representation,” junior finance and accounting major Austin Harris said.
The result extends a record setting stretch for the club. Nashville clinched the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, on Oct. 24 with a 2-0 win at CF Montréal. The club went undefeated at home in 2026, finishing with a league record of 15 home wins and 47 home points. Nashville also became the first team in league history to reach 74 points through 33 matches.
The 2026 season is the second time Nashville has finished undefeated at home, since doing so in 2021. Hany Mukhtar, the club’s captain, and Nájar were among the players who created chances in the match. Mukhtar had a first half shot saved by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
“Its a big deal that Nashville can set this record for the regular season. We still need to see how they perform under pressure in the playoffs. If they can prove themselves in the post season they would go down with the best MLS season of all time,” first-year sport management major Spencer Higgins said.
Nashville enters the MLS Cup Playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They will host the winner of the wild card match between Orlando City SC and FC Cincinnati at Geodis Park on Nov. 22.