West Ham, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers dropped into English football’s second tier after suffering relegation from the Premier League last season. That trio – which, for the first time in four years, was not made up of the same three clubs that had won promotion the season before – will all be desperate to bounce straight back at the first attempt.

Meanwhile, Lincoln City, Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers would surely be more than content with consolidation after securing their Championship status on the back of impressive League One campaigns. For those clubs, simply keeping their heads above water and establishing themselves at a higher level may be viewed as success.

However, if the Supercomputer’s projections, courtesy of Opta (as of 12/09/26), are to be believed, there could be plenty of twists and turns ahead. The Championship rarely follows a script and has a habit of throwing up surprises when least expected, and this predicted final table suggests several clubs may be in for a rollercoaster ride. In fact, the standings look markedly different from how many supporters and pundits would have expected the season to unfold.

Relegation Places

Preston North End have been perennial mid-table finishers in the Championship for over a decade. However, after a poor start to the 2026/27 campaign, Opta’s Supercomputer thinks they will finish rock bottom this campaign and drop to League One alongside Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City.

Stoke City spent big in the 2026 summer transfer window, with Ethan Galbraith and George Hirst among the players who arrived for big money. However, following a poor start to the campaign, they are being predicted to only just survive the drop with 53 points.

Blackburn Rovers have flirted with relegation in recent years, while Watford also finished in the bottom half in 2025/26 after a dismal end to the campaign. Both are expected to struggle again this time round but ultimately just have enough to stay up.

Derby are also expected to have a poor season. A 19th-place finish would be a huge disappointment for the Rams, who narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season.

With just five points predicted to separate 18th from 22nd, however, nobody in the bottom half will be able to rest on their laurels.

Mid-table Security

Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes

Portsmouth are expected to finish well clear of relegation in their third season back in the Championship. Lincoln are riding the crest of promotion, but it could be a tough campaign for them, having lost manager Michael Skubala to Bristol City in the off-season. However, a win away at Bolton has helped rocket them up into a much safer predicted position.

Charlton Athletic enjoyed a tremendous start to the 2026/27 campaign, picking up victories against Derby County, West Ham United and Preston. Now without a win in three matches, the Supercomputer thinks they won’t be able to maintain their early form and finish 15th with 58 points.

Burnley, who were relegated from the Premier League in 25/26, are expected to finish 14th with 60 points. That would be a huge disappointment for the Lancashire side, who will have aspirations of returning to England’s top tier at the first time of asking.

Wrexham narrowly failed to make the playoffs last season as they finished seventh. After being crushed 6-0 by West Ham, they are again expected to miss out, with the Supercomputer predicting them to finish 13th with 63 points. Queens Park Rangers are expected to finish a place higher than the Welsh side.

Bristol City have firmly established themselves in the English second tier, qualifying for the playoffs in the 2024/25 season. However, despite success in recent years, the Supercomputer thinks they will finish in mid-table.

Race For Playoffs

Sheffield United endured a torrid campaign in 25/26. At one point, it looked as if they would have a battle on their hands to maintain their Championship status. They eventually finished mid-table, and they are predicted for a similar result this time round.

The 2026/27 season will be the first year in which six teams qualify for the playoffs, expanded from four. According to the Supercomputer, Tom Brady’s Birmingham City just about miss out on those spots, finishing the campaign with 65 points.

Wrexham’s Welsh rivals, Swansea City, are tipped to come eighth, followed by Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion.

Millwall came so close to achieving promotion to England’s top tier in 2025/26, eventually having to settle for third-place and a spot in the playoffs. Opta’s Supercomputer thinks they will just miss out on automatic promotion once again this time round.

Southampton are predicted to make the top four despite starting the campaign on -4 points after being punished for spying on other teams. A 5-1 win over Millwall at the end of August has lifted the mood on the south coast.

Wolves boast an enviable mix of youthful excitement and older, wiser players, so with the resources at their disposal, it would be a shock if they didn’t get that automatic promotion place. The Supercomputer thinks they will fail to make the top two, though, finishing four points behind second.

via Reuters

Middlesbrough, who were beaten by Hull City in the playoff final in May, will be delighted if they don’t have to go through the playoffs again this term as they chase a return to the Premier League. They are tipped to finish second on 76 points.

West Ham, the favourites in the eyes of many to win the Championship and return to the Premier League at the first time of asking before a ball was kicked, had an awful start to the campaign. They failed to win their opening three matches, with draws against Burnley and Watford, as well as a 2-1 defeat to Charlton at the London Stadium. However, they have since bounced back, and after four consecutive wins, are expected to finish four points ahead of Middlesbrough in first.