North Texas SC Announces 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Schedule | North Texas SC (2024)

2023 SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS:

FRISCO, Texas (March 14, 2023)–North Texas SC announced its full 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season schedule today.North Texas SC opens the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular seasonagainst Los Angeles Football Club 2on Sunday, March 26at 7PM CT at Titan Stadium in Cal State Fullerton. The match will be streamed onMLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. This will be the club’s first ever season opener on the road and the first time NTSC faces LAFC2.

2023 SHCEDULE NOTES

SCHEUDLE FORMAT
The schedule consists of 378 regular season matches among the 27 clubs. Each club will play 28 intraconference matches over 27 weeks – an increase from 24 matches per club in 2022.Matches will be primarily played on Friday and Sundaynightsin 2023. North Texas SC will play each conference opponent twice (once at home and once on the road) and will have a third match with two select division or conference opponents to complete its 28-match schedule.

NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT
The 2023 season will feature an expanded playoffs format that includes a pick-your-opponent element in the first two rounds. Within each conference, the two division champions and the five clubs with the next highest points (seven clubs total) will advance to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. The Playoffs will consist of three rounds followed by MLS NEXT Pro Cup, taking place over four consecutive weeks beginning the weekend of September 29.

The club with the most regular season points in each conference (#1 seed) will earn a first round bye, automatically advancing to the Conference Semifinals.

Conference Quarterfinals:

Conference Semifinals:

Conference Finals:

MLS NEXT Pro Cup:

The team with the most regular season points (higher seed) will host MLS NEXT Pro Cup

RETURNING RULES
There will be no ties in MLS NEXT Pro once again in 2023, the extra point shootout will return this season to decide a match that is tied after regulation. Both teams will receive one point each for the tie, with the winner of the shootout receiving one additional point (two points total). In 2022, 20% of all matches resulted in a shootout.

Implemented midway through last season, both the Off-field Treatment Rule and Red Card Suspension Rule will also return in 2023.

Under the Off-field Treatment Rule: If a player is suspected to have an injury and is on the ground for longer than 15 seconds, a medical crew will come onto the field to evaluate the player and assist him off. Once the player is off the field, the player will be treated by the medical staff and will be required to remain off the field for three minutes.

Under the Red Card Suspension Rule: if a player receives a red card, he will serve the resulting one-game suspension against that same opponent.

NEW RULE
To further decrease preventable match delays and increase effective match time, this season will see the addition of a new Timed Substitution Rule, which will allow a maximum of 10 seconds for a player to leave the field when he is substituted off. If the player does not leave the field of play within the 10 seconds, the replacement player will only be able to enter the field after a 60 second holding period, resulting in the offending team playing a man down during that minute.

MLS SEASON PASS ON APPLE TV
Majority of regular season matches, all Decision Day matches, Playoffs and MLS NEXT Pro Cup will be streamed on MLS Season Pass. The rest of the regular season matches can be found streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com.

TICKETS
Individual tickets for North Texas SC home matches can be purchased at NTSCTickets.com. Season tickets can be purchased HERE. Fans who purchase season tickets prior to the first North Texas SC home match on April 9 against Whitecaps FC 2 will receive an early pricing discount.