With the start of the Sky Bet EFL season days away, James Cantrill attempts to predict the League One table for 2026/27, going from 24th to first, giving his verdict for each team.
24. BURTON
League One survival has to be the aim for Burton. After spending big when they first took charge, the owners have had to make cutbacks each season.
The latest saw last top goalscorer Jake Beesley depart for Bradford. His goals will be a huge miss (13) but so too his ability to hold up the ball and link play. Without a suitable replacement it’s tricky to see how Gary Bowyer will approach the campaign tactically.
Matthew Dennis is a promising signing from Notts County but in no way like-for-like.
The Brewers will have to keep hold of Tyrese Shade and Charlie Webster if they are going to make a bid for survival, with the latter's set-piece delivery crucial.
But having finished between 15th and 20th over the last six seasons, it’s hard to see them beating the drop this time around.
23. WIMBLEDON
Wimbledon finished four points above the drop last season, averaging a little over a goal a game and conceding the third most goals in the division (72).
The acquisition of Jayden Stockley looks to address the former but after scoring three goals for relegated Port Vale in this division last term, I’m not sure he is the man to provide that extra firepower.
The Dons have a small, core group of players who can cut it at this level but beyond that look threadbare.
Avoiding injuries to key men will be crucial if Johnnie Jackson’s side are going to beat the drop for a second successive campaign.
22. NOTTS COUNTY
Notts County won six games on the spin after the turn of the year last season, hoisting them to second in the League Two table, nine points clear of eighth spot. Despite an inconsistent end to the campaign (W7 D1 L7) they just about clung on to a play-off finish.
Notts edged past Chesterfield in the semis and breezed past Salford in the final to become the fourth and final promoted side.
Despite coming up on a high, survival hopes for the new campaign have been dented over the summer with the departures of Alassana Jatta and Matthew Dennis, who scored a combined 28 league goals last season.
Without that firepower, much of their season hinges on the fitness of Jodi Jones, who had a hand in 12 goals last term. The additions they’ve made this summer suggest it could be a long season.
21. STEVENAGE
Last season’s sixth place finish was miraculous, albeit extremely fine-margin with Stevenage one-nilling their way to the play-offs.
In his maiden managerial role, the job Alex Revell has done cannot be understated. Taking over from Steve Evans he inherited a one-dimensional side of overpaid, aging players. With a bottom-half budget he first secured a mid-table finish in 24/25, then took them into the top six last term.
I can’t help but feel that they have missed a golden opportunity though. Defensively, only title winners Lincoln conceded fewer goals last season (46) but they’ll have to rebuild the backline having lost Dan Sweeney and Charlie Goode in the summer.
Scoring goals was the big issue, with only the bottom three netting fewer goals than Boro (49) and so far, this issue hasn’t really been addressed in the transfer market.
Stable ownership and the strong foundations in place could steer could them clear of relegation but regression seems inevitable.
20. CAMBRIDGE
New boys Cambridge are another club set for a long campaign.
Their third place finish in League Two last season was built on an unbelievably stoic backline, as the U’s only conceded 33 goals. Keep that defensive record intact, and they’ll have a fighting chance of survival.
The issues are at the other end of the pitch. Put simply, will they score enough goals?
Of the four promoted sides, Cambridge scored the fewest (66). They’ve looked to address the issue in the transfer market, signing Barnet’s top goalscorer from last season Callum Stead (13). He scored 46 goals across the last three seasons in the National League and League Two (0.52 goals per 90) but remains unproven at this level.
Manager Neil Harris is revered at the club but the loss of stalwarts James Gibbons and James Brophy could prove fatal.
19. LEYTON ORIENT
It's been a couple of tumultuous campaigns for Leyton Orient who went from losing the play-off final to surviving relegation on the final day. Based on Richie Wellens' general demeanour this summer I get the sense he is quietly confident.
A spiky character at the best of times, he seems happy with recruitment this time around which is a complete contrast to last season.
The O’s have got their business done early and Wellens has gone for a typical blend of experience, youth and potential. Getting Isaac Hayden from QPR looks a smart move and Armando Dobra will be missed by Chesterfield.
The departure of last season's top goalscorer in League One’s is a major blot on their chances, obviously.
Dom Ballard scored 23 league goals last season, 39% of his Orient's overall total making it the second campaign in a row they have had and then lost the division's leading scorer after former loan striker Charlie Kelman.
They should improve on last season's 20th place and a top-half finish has to be seen as a huge success.
18. WIGAN
Wigan parted ways with Ryan Lowe just in the nick of time last season. He left them teetering towards League Two but fortunately for the Latics his replacement hit the ground running to avert disaster.
With Gary Caldwell leading them into the new season, the Latics could improve on last season's 16th place.
The problem is, the squad needs investment which simply isn’t available. Plus Sam Tickle - one of the best keepers in the division - has left.
17. DONCASTER
Last season's 14th place marked a decent return to the third tier for Doncaster after winning the League Two title the season before.
Grant McCann is a top manager and they’ve made some interesting signings in the window.
Isaac Hutchinson joins from Bristol Rovers after a couple of successful loans at Cheltenham, and England youth international Tommy Simkin joins on loan from Stoke.
The headline signing has to be Alfie May though. Back for his second spell at the club, he’s scored 89 goals in 206 appearances in the division so will fancy his chances of getting into double figures.
Rovers were dealt a blow with the departure of Luke Molyneux who’s dropped down to Salford. The winger has chipped in with 44 goal contributions across the last two campaigns, which will obviously be hard to replace.
16. BLACKPOOL
Steve Bruce’s side finished the 24/25 season strongly, meaning Blackpool went into last term with high hopes but ultimately finished in the bottom half.
There’s a case of déjà vu heading into 26/27 because, once again, Blackpool ended on a high.
Ian Evatt spent the majority of last term trying to clean up the mess left by Bruce before his side won seven of their last nine games.
If they are going to maintain a play-off push this season they’ll have to tighten up defensively after conceding 65 goals last season.
They’ll also have to account for the loss of Ashley Fletcher, who scored 15 goals but has moved to fellow third-tier side Huddersfield.
15. READING
Reading will be looking to build on their mid-table finish in what will be the new owners' second season in charge.
They brought a sense of optimism back to the Madejski after a sticky spell in the club's history and have made some exciting signings.
Jacob Brown is a good player for the level, an energetic, willing runner although not the most clinical. Kyreece Lisbie brings some razzle-dazzle after having a hand in 16 goals in League Two with Colchester last season and picking up nine cards. Josh Stokes, who joins on loan from Bristol City, is another player with a high ceiling. He netted 15 goals for Aldershot in the National League and seven on loan at Cambridge last term.
Most importantly, Reading have kept Lewis Wing. The midfield metronome has scored 30 league goals across the last three seasons.
The issue for the Royals is their manager. Leam Richardson divides opinion in Berkshire. He didn’t really develop the team last term and can be quite hostile when things aren’t going his way.
With him in the dugout, it would be a surprise to see them kick on.
14. PETERBOROUGH
Luke Williams took charge at the end of October and his tenure started well as Peterborough won their first four games, including the 3-0 annihilation of Stockport.
Consistency was hard to come by though, epitomised by the fact Posh lost their next four and then won their next four after that.
Having looked upwardly mobile at the turn of the year, Peterborough’s form fell off around Valentine's Day with the club ultimately limping to safety with only a game to spare.
Williams has built a reputation on possession-based, attacking football achieving relative success in the National League and League Two with Notts County but failed in the Championship with Swansea.
It remains to be seen if he can cut it in League One but at their best last season Posh were unplayable. The issue is this style of play, coupled with the youthful squad, is a vulnerable concoction, which leads me to believe another inconsistent season is in store.
13. MANSFIELD
Mansfield’s rag-tag group of old heads could surprise a few this season.
Manager Nigel Clough has certainly been around the block and with a vast pool of experience to lean on, his side should consolidate on last season's tally of 65 points.
The average age of the squad makes them the oldest in the EFL and their transfer policy hasn’t changed this summer.
The club has brought in Michael Smith and David McGoldick at a combined age of 72 to add some depth upfront alongside 37-year-old utility man Lucas Akins and 31-year-old Rhys Oates.
Liam Roberts will be crucial in goal again this term, he backed up of one of the best defences in the division last season. Even with the addition of McGoldrick, who scored 15 league goals last season, it’s difficult to see Mansfield delving too far into the top half.
12. BROMLEY
Andy Woodman has had Bromley on an upward trajectory since he took charge.
The Ravens direct style of play, combined with their serious set-piece threat and strong home form saw them make light work of League Two.
After a top-half finish in their maiden EFL season Bromley won the fourth tier title last term going unbeaten at Hayes Lane. They come into League One as the relegation favourites but I fancy them to go well.
As ever, they have utilised their location on the outskirts of London to make some shrewd signings bringing in Victor Adeboyejo, JJ McKiernan and Ethon Archer.
Speaking in pre-season - albeit before the 7-0 loss at QPR - Woodman said he was delighted with his new signings, fitness and the all round hustle and bustle of the side.
If they can find a way to score more goals from open play and keep Michael Cheek fit I wouldn’t be surprised to see them hit 60 points.
11. BARNSLEY
After four seasons of ‘managed decline’ the outlook at Oakwell is broadly positive.
The return of Daniel Stendel to the dugout is a big factor, with the German back for his second stint in South Yorkshire after securing promotion from League One in 18/19 with a club record points tally.
Stendel will bring back his rock and roll brand of football which combines a high press with a strong, defensive base. His focus on youth bodes well as the Reds have assembled an exciting crop of youngsters.
Of the club's six permanent summer signings to date, new captain Cameron McGeehan (31) from Northampton is the only player over the age of 24.
Barnsley’s best business so far, though, is keeping hold of Luca Connell, Patrick Kelly and Reyes Cleary, a trio who should thrive under Stendel. The same can be said for Vimal Yoganathan, although he is expected to miss the early part of the season through injury.
The main issue for the Reds will be replacing the goals they have lost from last campaign. Davis Keillor-Dunn, David McGoldrick and Adam Phillips scored 37 league goals between them, albeit the former left in January.
Nonetheless, after regressing from fourth to sixth to 12th to 15th across the last four seasons, Barnsley should finish in the top half this time around, and may even flirt with the play-offs, providing they hit the ground running.
10. OXFORD
Oxford come down to League One with a bit of a thump.
A temporary transfer embargo prohibits them from signing any players until they are “compliant with their salary cost management protocol (SCMP) regulations.” Whatever that means.
They also parted company with Matt Bloomfield in the summer and replaced him with rookie manager Aaron Ramsey. He was a great player but his lack of experience in the dugout could hamper the U’s season.
How they fare will largely come down to how quickly Ramsey can adapt or if the appointment is a disaster, how quickly they can find a suitable replacement because although the squad is a little threadbare, the core is relatively strong.
9. WYCOMBE
Wycombe are one of the toughest sides to pin down. It’s perfectly plausible to see them finishing anywhere from mid-table obscurity to challenging for the automatics.
Michael Duff is a good manager. He had a great spell at Cheltenham, guiding them from League Two to their highest ever EFL finish, and took Barnsley to the League One play-off final. He wasn’t a great fit for Swansea and then had Huddersfield in the play-off mix before he was dismissed with 10 games to go.
He’s a good fit for Wycombe and they have made some smart signings.
Cauley Woodrow made his move from Luton permanent, a striker of real quality who perhaps should be playing higher but for his injury record. Conor Hazard signed on a free from Plymouth, a great keeper for the level, and experienced defender Steve Cook joins from QPR.
Last season the Chairboys were the biggest underachievers in terms of expected points (xPTS) finishing seven places lower than the data suggested.
They finished last season with a whimper as well, losing four of their last six and only winning three of 11, ultimately sinking to 11th in the table and 12 points off the top six.
Obviously that isn’t ideal but it will have allowed Duff to work out what he needed to do with the squad this summer, who he can trust and who he can’t, which should stand them in good stead.
8. BRADFORD
Bradford quickly reacquainted themselves to this level after a six-season absence by finishing fourth, with their form at Valley Parade continuing to be a massive factor - they have lost only five of their last 46 league games there.
Recruitment this summer has been impressive. The Bantams have moved on some of the players not up to the level and signed proven League One quality, most notably Jake Beesley, Adam Phillips and Callum Connolly.
Losing Jenson Metcalfe to Millwall is a blow, his range of passing and defensive contribution will be hard to replace. He made 41 appearances last term and with him on the pitch, Bradford kept 0.25 clean sheets per 90.
That said, they should be in the play-off mix and while they may match last season's haul of 77 points, the improved standard of the league could see them fall short of the top six.
Besides, Graham Alexander’s in-game tactics and substitutions needs some fine tuning.
7. SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Although it promised so much, Dejphon Chansiri’s reign at Sheffield Wednesday led the club into one of the darkest periods in its history, culminating in relegation last season with zero points and just two wins.
But after a summer of upheaval, there is a lot to be positive about ahead of the new campaign.
The Owls have reported a record number of season ticket sales and behind the scenes, the owners are making all the right moves, not least with the appointment of the club's first ever sporting director, hiring Simon Wilson formerly of Stockport.
The squads had a much-needed overhaul as well. Barry Bannan is back after a brief stint at Millwall, highly regarded ball playing centre back Sil Swinkels arrives from Aston Villa, as does Louie Barry.
While the ceiling of this squad looks high, dispelling the ghosts of last season could prove tricky with Henrik Pedersen still in the dugout.
Tactically, he leaves a lot to be desired and with the club essentially starting from scratch, mounting a promotion charge could prove to be a bridge too far. Unless they make a managerial change.
6. MK DONS
Big things are expected from last season's runners-up in League Two.
MK Dons jump back into the third tier with a promotion specialist in the dugout. Paul Warne took the club out of the bottom division at the first time of asking to achieve the fifth promotion of his 10-year managerial career. The other four have come from League One with Rotherham and Derby.
The Dons were last season's powerhouse in the division below. The bookies had them as title favourites which was probably fair as they built a side suited to compete at the top end of this division last summer.
Ben Wiles, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Callum Paterson, Aaron Collins and Will Collar to name a few.
This summer they have added more proven quality in the shape of Sam Nombe, Dan Barlaser, Ryan Wintle, Charlie Goode and Cohen Bramall. The majority of which on free transfers.
They were the early movers in the outright market, getting cut from 18s to 12s but seem to have settled at 16/1 sixth favourites.
With a serious operator in the dugout, and a very handy squad at his disposal, it would not be a surprise to see the Dons follow in the footsteps of Bradford, Stockport and Wrexham and finish in the top six.
5. STOCKPORT
Dave Challinor has gone and despite guiding Stockport from the National League to the third tier, his poor record in the play-offs ultimately cost him a shot in the Championship.
Stockport have finished third in both their seasons at this level since winning League Two, losing in the final last term and the semis the campaign prior. Athough Challinor had them on an upward trajectory, it all went a bit stagnant at Edgeley Park.
The Hatters are such a well run club, they shouldn’t regress too much in 26/27 with a top-six finish the benchmark.
The appointment of the highly-rated Jim McNulty from Rochdale looks a smart move and he’s brought defender Kyron Gordon with him, which should help with the transition.
Stockport have also added Ryan Glover from Barnet, experienced defender Eoghan O’Connell from Barnsley and made the signings of Owen Dodgson and Ben Osborn permanent.
After averaging 82 points across the last two campaigns, it would be a surprise to see them fall short of the play-offs, even if it is a bit of a transitional season.
4. HUDDERSFIELD
As ever, Huddersfield’s stature and quality of the squad can be offset by the instability at the club.
Rookie manager Martin Drury leads them into the new campaign, he was their third manager last term and 13th since Carlos Corberan led the Terriers into the 20/21 season.
Drury drew four of his seven games as acting boss last season (W2 L1) but will have Alan Knill as assistant to lean on this term, which looks a really shrewd appointment. Knill’s vast experience and set-piece nouse could prove to be the difference in a competitive play-off picture.
If Huddersfield can find a bit of continuity in the dugout, the foundations for a successful campaign were laid last season. Although they finished in ninth, the underlying data had the Terriers ranked third behind only Bolton and Lincoln, both of whom were promoted.
3. PLYMOUTH
Since Derek Adams was appointed as Plymouth’s director of football in mid-November Argyle took the third most points, scored the third most goals and conceded the fourth fewest in the third tier.
It was a staggering turnaround considering Tom Cleverley’s side were at the foot of the table when Adams returned.
Last season's top goalscorer Lorient Tolaj (17) has left for the Championship and second top goalscorer Aribim Pepple (16) could also follow him out the door before the window shuts.
The pair's goals will be tough to replace, but Owen Oseni looks primed to take over the mantle and if the funds are reinvested into the squad, Plymouth should kick on.
2. LUTON
Luton suffered back-to-back relegations from the Championship and arrived in League One as favourites for the title, but a challenge under Matt Bloomfield never materialised.
Jack Wilshere took over after Bloomfield's October dismissal, and concerns over his lack of experience given this is his maiden managerial role were quelled with the appointment of Chris Powell as assistant, a man who has previously won this division with Charlton.
After a strong finish last season, the Hatters look well equipped to challenge for the automatic places, albeit in a slightly stronger looking division.
Luton went 11 unbeaten (W7) at the end of last term, won the EFL Trophy and under Wilshere boast an impressive record against the sides who finished above them (W4 D3 L3). If the season began when Wilshere was appointed, Luton would have finished fifth, averaging 1.66 points per game.
The permanent signing of Kasey Palmer after a successful loan last term helps with continuity and strengthens an already talented group.
The Hatters head into the season with an identity and confidence which should see them go well.
1. LEICESTER
Even with the points deduction Leicester’s relegation from the Championship was a shock but they arrive in League One with a squad that, on paper, should prove too good for the level.
Anything other than promotion will be seen as a disastrous season, although this is a notoriously tough division to get out of. They are heavy favourites for the title, and should they fall short the blame will lie with Russell Martin; looking at his CV you would be fair to have question marks.
In two seasons at MK Dons in League One, Martin’s side never broke into the top half - but only Manchester City and Barcelona averaged a higher perfect possession in 20/21.
His Swansea side finished 15th in 20/21 then 10th in 21/22 in the Championship. Southampton were promoted via the play-offs from the second tier in 23/24 but after one win from the Saints' opening 16 Premier League games, Martin was sacked leaving them bottom.
He then only lasted 123 days at Rangers - the shortest managerial stint in the club's history - with them eighth in the Scottish Premiership.
If it clicks though, Martin could thrive at this level and with the acquisitions of Conor Chaplin, Liam Cullen and Tommy Watson, they might even rival Birmingham’s record points tally.
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