CUDL2025 Power Rankings - Week 5

 

First impressions

 

We’re officially halfway through the CUDL2025 regular season. We’ve seen what each team brings to the table, where they fall short, and how they play. It’s a bold statement, but I think I have enough information to make my predictions for the rest of the season. 

 

What Happened?

 

Week five brought four thrilling matchups to the table, every one of which ended in a significant or unexpected way. 

 

The GEAH-PLS game gave the Landsharks their first win of the season. 

The GTW-MMT game saw the lossless Wind narrowly upset the previously-undefeated Tugboats. 

The GS-RHT game also ended in upset, with 7-seed Scoobers knocking 5-seed HammerTime.  

The LEF-12D game saw the rapidly-improving ‘Flauge take their second consecutive upset win.

 

Three upsets in one week just goes to show how totally unpredictable CUDL can be— yet I believe that it is these games that tell us the most about each team. So without further ado, here are my power rankings for the eight CUDL2025 teams following week 5. 

 

8. Golden Scoobers (+/- 0)

Record: (1-3-1)

Latest result: 20-18 v. HammerTime (W)

The Scoobers currently sit in seventh in the standings, ahead of only Green. They’ve allowed more points to opposing teams than any other team (76) while averaging only 8.75 points per game through their first four weeks. Their high-scoring, shoot-out win over HammerTime this week made a big statement, but that was the only game this season in which Yellow managed to put more than ten points on the board. To add insult to injury, Yellow has faced the easiest schedule in the league thus far and has the second-hardest schedule for the remaining four weeks. 

 

7. Green Eggs and Hammers (+/- 0)

Record: (0-5)

Latest result: 9-12 v. Landsharks (L)

Green dropped their fifth consecutive game on Saturday, falling to 0-5-0 and securing the bottom spot in the standings for at least the next two weeks. They’re one and a half games behind seventh place, averaging only 9.4 points per game (7th) while allowing 14.6 (7th). At a glance, it would seem obvious to rank them last. 

However, not all is as it seems with the Eggs and Hammers. Green has faced the most difficult schedule of any team— by far. Four out of five of their games have been against top-four teams. Sure, they lost to Purple, but Purple has the league’s best defense. Further, Green was understaffed, perhaps making that game more of an anomaly than we realize. I think Green shows its true colors this week against a struggling HammerTime, then uses that momentum to finish out the season strong. 

 

6. Purple Landsharks (+/- 0)

Record: (1-3-1)

Latest Result: 12-9 v. Green Eggs and Hammers (W)

The two-time championship contenders don’t seem to be in the running for it again this year. Purple has scored the fewest points per game (8.6), and their only win comes against 8th-seed Green. Losing their team captain Henry Rummel to injury in week two and then valuable cutter Seth Weaver for the season in week four has left their offense with much to be desired. They sit in sixth place in the standings, ahead of Yellow by only a few points. Worst, they face the hardest end-of-season schedule in the league, playing Wind, Tugboats, and Le ‘Flauge in the next four weeks. 

Purple has two redeeming factors, however, that may earn them a higher placement than their record suggests. First, for the third consecutive year, the Landsharks boast the league’s strongest defense. They’ve allowed only 9.6 ppg to opposing teams, the only team to average fewer than ten points allowed per game. Second, Henry plans to return in 2-3 more weeks— just in time for the playoffs. It really won’t affect much, but it will at least add another strong defensive player to their roster. 

 

5. HammerTime (-2)

Record: (2-3)

Latest result: 18-20 v. Golden Scoobers (L)

HammerTime is such a good team on paper that I find it difficult to rank them in the bottom half of the order. But with a losing record and a recent loss to Yellow, I have to wonder when they’re finally going to start showing it. Based on the statistics alone, 5th place is exactly where they should be. They’ve allowed 63 points to opposing teams (5th), and scored 62 (5th). Their adjusted margin of victory is 95 (5th), essentially even with the league average of 100. Their remaining strength of schedule is also 5th. Both their wins come against teams ranked lower than them, and their three losses come against teams ranked higher than them. Not one of their games has been decided by more than three points. 

With eighteen points against the Scoobers on Saturday, it’s clear that they are capable of big things. Hopefully, some of those big things will turn into big results for them sometime soon. 

 

4. Disc-iples (-3)

Record (3-1-1)

Latest result: 18-20 v. Le ‘Flauge (L)

At this point, any one of the next four teams could be first. I am truly splitting hairs in order to rank them at all. The Disc-iples have one of the best rosters in CUDL. They are well-rounded, experienced, and athletic. But what makes Orange so good is not one specific asset or strategy— it’s how well the team as a whole works together. Each player has a role on this team, and each player performs their role well. However, it is for this reason that I must place them in fourth. Saturday’s game showed us what an understaffed orange looks like. And don’t get me wrong, they played remarkably well with no subs for 48 minutes. But without the whole team present, 1st-seed Orange couldn’t keep up with 4th-seed ‘Flauge. Orange may be attendance-dependent, which could bite them in the playoffs. 

Statistically speaking, however, Orange continues to put on a masterclass in excellent Ultimate. They lead the league in ppg (15.6) while allowing only 11 ppg to opposing teams (2nd). They haven’t had a single-digit score yet this season, and they tied 1st-place Wind in week two. This team is absolutely a championship contender. 

 

3. Mighty Mighty Tugboats (-1)

Record (4-1)

Latest result: 14-15 v. Wind (L)

Given the Tugboats impressive record and the fact that their only loss comes against 1st-place Gray, I was initially going to place them higher. Athletically, the Tugboats are more than equipped to face any team. They have a solid roster that has shown their prowess time and time again. They’re 3rd in points scored (69) and 4th in points allowed (57). I could have easily given them the top spot… but I didn’t. 

Unfortunately, the Tugboats just don’t have the high-margin wins to take the top spot in these rankings. Most of their games have been decided by 2 or fewer points— even against teams ranked much lower than them. Also important to note is that Blue has a relatively difficult schedule ahead of them compared to other top teams, facing Disc-iples, Le ‘Flauge, and HammerTime before the season ends. It is imperative that we do not underestimate this team, but I think it will be quite the close battle whenever the Tugboats are involved.

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2. Le ‘Flauge (+2)

Record: (3-2)

Latest result: 20-18 v. Disc-iples (W)

To be honest, I did not have Camo as a championship contender on my CUDL2025 bingo card. I thought they’d be a solid team that fizzled out in the second week of the playoffs. Not so. Camo’s veteran experience and athletic prowess was on full display on Saturday, as they punched in twenty scores to take down the leading Disc-iples. It was a huge upset— but in many ways, it was the performance we all expected out of Camo. This is a team that plays well under pressure, rising to any challenge and often coming out on top. They also enjoy the easiest end-of-season schedule in CUDL. Their week eight rematch against the Tugboats will be a huge game to watch. If ‘Flauge performs well in that game, I believe they have a very real shot at the title of CUDL2025 Champions. 

 

Ira summed it up well back in May: “Camo is no longer a team to overlook…If you’re not playing at your best the whole game, they’ll be sure to capitalize.”

 

1. The Wind (+2)

Record (4-0-1)

Latest result: 15-14 v. Tugboats (W)

Putting the only undefeated team in CUDL anywhere except the top spot would be a crime. At the beginning of the season, I anticipated Gray being a solid team— but I didn’t expect the absolute powerhouse they’ve become. Wind is 4th in points for (64) and 3rd in points allowed (56), which doesn’t quite adequately portray how well this team plays. Gray tied the Disc-iples and defeated both the Tugboats and ‘Flauge. They were certainly close games— Wind has not won a game by more than three points— but Wind’s speedy, decisive offensive style makes it feel like they’re in control on every possession. Similar to the Disc-iples, Gray’s success comes not from any one aspect of their play but rather uniformity on all sides of the disc. Gray boasts speedy cutters, a disciplined defense, and a brilliant handling corps. 

Gray still has one more big matchup ahead— a week 9 rematch with the Disc-iples that could preview the championship. 

 

The Call

 

As is my habit, I make an educated guess as to what the ending scores of next week’s games will be. This is merely my opinion, and I am often woefully mistaken. Comment your own predictions below!

 

GS @ GTW: 13-9, Wind

 

LEF @ PLS: 19-11, Le ‘Flauge

 

MMT @ 12D (Game of the Week): 14-12, Disc-iples

 

RHT @ GEAH (Upset watch):  17-15, Green Eggs and Hammers