The 2026 regular season is officially in the books, and before we turn our attention to the highly anticipated Play-In matches, it’s time to hand out this season’s monthly awards one final time.
Austin FC II led the way claiming Team and Goalkeeper of the Month, while Minnesota United FC 2's Darius Randell took home the Player of the Month honors.
Out East Columbus Crew Academy forward Jamil Danjaji earned the the Rising Star award winner, while Chattanooga FC's Richard Dixon claimed the honor for Coach of the Month.
Let’s take a closer look at all the winners:
Team of the Month: Austin FC II
Austin FC II ended the regular season on a three-match winning streak, securing the number one seed in the Western Conference with an eight-point cushion.
Victories over Houston Dynamo 2, Colorado Rapids 2, and St Louis CITY2 to end the season served as another reminder of just how difficult ATX FC II will be to break down in the playoffs.
All three wins came via shutout, helping VerDos finish the regular season with a league-low 21 goals conceded.
"We’re incredibly proud to be named Team of the Month again," said Austin FC II head coach Jason Shackell. "The team and training staff have shown great commitment all season, and we’re looking forward to continuing that work in playoffs."
Shackell’s side will now await the winner of the Tacoma Defiance-Earthquakes II Play-In Game for their opening match of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
Player of the Month: Darius Randell, MNUFC2
Not a bad way to gear up for the playoffs.
Darius Randell earned the September Player of the Month award after recording six goal contributions across four appearances.
The 19-year-old helped lead MNUFC2 through an unbeaten September, with his side earning three regulation wins and a shootout victory to secure the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Randell’s strong month also earned him a call-up to the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team as the group begins preparations for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Coach of the Month: Richard Dixon, Chattanooga FC
Chattanooga FC ended their 2026 campaign with four consecutive victories to lock down the second seed in the Eastern Conference — their best-ever finish since joining MLS NEXT Pro.
At the helm is September’s Coach of the Month, Richard Dixon, the club’s first-ever signing, who now leads Chattanooga into the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs in search of their first trophy since joining the league.
"This is all down to the team and their willingness and ability to take on information and to implement it and express themselves on the field," said Dixon.
"While I'm excited to be the one to come up with the plan and give the players a clear path forward, they're the ones that do the work. It's obviously a good feeling and honor to have, but I'd prefer to get team of the month, because the guys deserve it. They've done a fantastic job this season and we hope to continue the form we've been on."
With a four-match winning streak, a home playoff match, and a coach with deep ties to the club, Chattanooga FC may have the perfect recipe for a deep postseason run.
Goalkeeper of the Month: Charlie Farrar, Austin FC II
Two appearances. Two clean sheets. Two great performances earned Charlie Farrar September’s Goalkeeper of the Month award.
The 23-year-old keeper played a key role in Austin FC II locking down the number one seed in the Western Conference, recording shutouts against Houston Dynamo 2 in a potential playoff preview and against Colorado Rapids 2 in a 1-0 victory.
Farrar’s performance against Dynamo 2 stood out: he made four saves and denied a penalty to preserve Austin’s lead heading into halftime, setting up a 2-0 win.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized as Goalkeeper of the Month," said Farrar. "I’m grateful for all the support from my coaches and teammates; this award reflects all of our hard work this season."
Could his strong September be enough to help Farrar lock down the starting spot for Austin FC II come playoff time?
MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Month: Jamil Danjaji, Columbus Crew 2
Jamil Danjaji finished his first MLS NEXT Pro season on a strong note, making four appearances in September while scoring his fourth goal of the campaign.
The 16-year-old forward finished as Columbus Crew 2’s third-leading scorer, providing another attacking option for a side that will need all the firepower it can get during their 2026 postseason run.
"I’m very grateful to earn this recognition, and I’m hoping to continue contributing at the NEXT PRO level," said Danjaji.
"I want to say thank you to my coaches and teammates for pushing me every day and helping me work as hard as I can."
Danjaji’s strong play also earned him a call-up to the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team under former MNUFC2 head coach Jeremy Hall, where he continued to show his goal-scoring abilities in a 4-1 win against Spain.
