At the Mall

So Spock says to Spiderman: "That's not how lightsabers work."

US Combined Soccer Leagues 2020

UPDATED February 2, 2021: Final Standings edited for who's playing in 2021.

Just suppose that many years ago, the US Soccer Federation required all professional teams to play in the same league system. Just suppose that they decided to divide teams vertically into Division 1, Division 2, etc. Just suppose that, each year, they promoted the best teams from Division 2 and relegated the worst teams from Division 1.

And here's the big leap. Just suppose that we didn't have any more teams playing than what we actually have.

In 2020, the USSF has 81 professional men's teams. After the 2019 season, Fresno and Lansing United folded, while the Ottawa Fury moved to Miami to become The Miami FC. Since there are now too many teams for two divisions with two leagues each, a Division 3 was created. New teams added to Division 3 West are 1904, California United Strikers, Los Angeles Force, Oakland Roots, San Diego Loyal and Union Omaha. New teams in Division 3 east are Chattanooga FC, Detroit City, Inter Miami and their B team Fort Lauderdale, Michigan Stars, New England Revolution II and Stumptown Athletic.

Here is a map of the teams. Click the rectangle tab thing in the upper left to get to the list where you can deselect the separate divisions.

Here are the final standings:

Since a wonderful home-and-away round robin doesn't actually happen in each league above, I substitute that with ranking the teams by points-per-game, including each team's league and cup games played in 2020, only counting games against teams in its division (Division 1, 2 or 3).

Four teams will be relegated from Division 1, while the best two of each Division 2 league will be promoted. Three teams will be relegated from each Division 2 league and three promoted from each Division 3 league. If there are more new teams for next year, this may be adjusted. At least one team from each Division 2 league will be relegated no matter how many teams are added next year.

B teams must be in a division below their A teams (unless both are in Division 3), so if an A team is relegated from Division 1 to Division 2, then the B team will be relegated to Division 3, no matter its place in the table. Fort Lauderdale is Inter Miami's B team, so Inter Miami would be promoted in their place if Fort Lauderdale ended the season in a promotion position.