TKFL 2025 Regular Season Wrap-Up with Week 7 & Playoff Kickoff Review

Rafet Gökce
Jul 10
4 min read

The 2025 TKFL regular season has officially come to an end, and what a final week it was. While the last round of games brought clarity to the standings, it also brought emotion, surprises, and a high level of football. The regular season wrapped up with postponed and rescheduled games, and the playoffs kicked off shortly after with two big-time semi-final matchups. We also saw the playout game and the Division 2 finish, deciding promotions and relegations.

Here’s everything that went down.

Week 7 Recap

ITU Hornets (***1st) 17-9 Izmir Halcyons (4th***)

In a close battle between two playoff-bound teams, the Hornets came out on top and locked in the #1 seed. The game was physical and tight throughout, but the Hornets' consistency on both sides of the ball once again made the difference. The win capped off a strong regular season for a team that has looked like a top contender from Week 1.

**Koç Rams (2nd) 26-0 Gazi Warriors (*6th***)

Another dominant defensive performance by the Rams, who shut out the Warriors and secured the #2 seed heading into the playoffs. The Rams’ offense did its part as well, putting up points early and never letting go of the lead. They head into the postseason looking sharp and dangerous.

**METU Falcons (5th) 19-0 Istanbul Bisons *(3rd)***

This was one of the surprising results of the final week. The Falcons completely shut out the Bisons in a dominant defensive showing and closed out their season with a statement win. While the Falcons had already been eliminated from playoff contention due to tie-breakers, they didn’t back down and finished the year on a high note. For the Bisons, it was a tough loss right before the playoffs and seemed to carry over into their later performance in the semi-finals.

**IU Bulls (8th) 17-20 Hacettepe Red Deers (*7th***)

This game was delayed due to the heartbreaking passing of Emre Vural, a beloved member of the Red Deers community. The entire league sends its condolences. When the game was played on the same weekend as the semifinals, the Red Deers showed incredible heart, pulling out a close win over the Bulls. It was a meaningful victory in many ways and pushed the Red Deers to 7th place, while the Bulls finished 8th and were directly relegated.

With the 7th week results, final standings are shaped as follows:

ITU Hornets (6-1)
Koç Rams (6-1)
Istanbul Bisons (5-2)
Izmir Halcyons (4-3)
METU Falcons (4-3)
Gazi Warriors (1-6)
Hacettepe Red Deers (1-6)
IU Bulls (1-6)

Tiebreakers were crucial for the standings; some teams were pleased to have gained the edge in earlier weeks, while others were disappointed due to their unlucky results

Semi-Final Recap

ITU Hornets 31-16 Izmir Halcyons

The Hornets looked sharp and in control from the opening whistle. They moved the ball with ease and kept the Halcyons at arm’s length throughout the game. It was a strong performance on both sides of the ball and showed exactly why they’ve been sitting at the top of the standings all season.

Koç Rams 40-15 Istanbul Bisons

The Rams put on a complete performance against the Bisons, controlling the game from start to finish. Their offense exploded, scoring 40 points, while the defense shut down a Bisons team that never quite found its rhythm after back-to-back tough weeks. With this win, the Rams move on to the final in top form.

Playout Game – Dolphins 6-10 Red Deers

The Red Deers held on in a tight and tense playout game to secure their place in the TKFL for another season. It wasn’t flashy, but they did just enough to get the win. The defense stepped up when it mattered most, keeping the Dolphins from taking the lead late in the game. After a tough regular season, this win gives the Red Deers something positive to build on.

The Dolphins put up a strong fight and kept it close all the way through, but they fell just short in the end. With back to back 2nd seed finishes in the second league, they showed that they can compete at the top level and will likely be back in the promotion mix next season.

Promotion & Relegation News

Boğaziçi Sultans won the Second League and have officially been promoted to TKFL Division 1 for the 2026 season.
IU Bulls, finishing in 8th place, are relegated directly to the Second League.
Hacettepe Red Deers survive the playout and will stay in the TKFL next season.

What’s Next

The biggest game of the season will be broadcast live on the national TV channel TRT Spor Yıldız. With the finals set, we’re heading toward one last game to decide who will be crowned the 2025 TKFL champion:

Final: ITU Hornets vs.Koç Rams (13th of July, 20:00)

Two top-tier teams that have been on a collision course all season long. One is a reigning champion ready to defend the title and has been a regular for final games, with an 11-year streak making the final of the TKFL 1st Division, which is Koç Rams. The other, which has a strong football culture, is one of the oldest teams and top contenders in Turkish football but has never been in the final game: ITU Hornets.

Stay tuned for the championship coverage of the final matchup. We will observe which will come out on top, the regulars or the hungry first-timers. We know for sure it’s going to be a good one.