The dust has now settled on the 2024/25 Championship season and we’re already itching for the next campaign to get underway.
Leeds United were crowned victors, Burnley were promoted automatically and Sunderland won the play-offs to complete the trio rising to the Premier League. There were contrasting emotions for Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town, however, as all three teams were relegated to League One.
Coming down from the Premier League to the Championship next season are the three teams that were promoted in 2023/24: Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City. Then there are the three sides rising up from League One: world record holders Birmingham City, dark horses Wrexham AFC and play-off champions Charlton Athletic.
The new season may be months away yet but the excitement is already brewing and there are so many questions we want answered. Will Birmingham spend big again in the summer and soar into promotion contention immediately? Can Wrexham continue their incredible momentum and survive the drop? Will Ryan Mason transform West Bromwich Albion’s fortunes? Who else could be in the fights for promotion and relegation?
It’s tricky to forecast how things could pan out, especially as the Championship is one of the most unpredictable divisions in the world, let alone just in England. But with the excitement brewing, we’ve decided to have a bit of fun and ask artificial intelligence for a prediction.
Using Grok, the AI tool on X (formerly Twitter), we’ve generated a premature but detailed prediction for the 2025/26 Championship table. Without further ado, and make sure you’re prepared for shocks and surprises galore, here’s how Grok reckons the final standings will look come May 2026.
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21. 5th: Coventry City (78 points, +15 GD)
Reason: Coventry’s consistent play-off contention in recent seasons (2024/25 semi-finals) and players like Jack Rudoni (five headed goals, 12 assists in 2024/25) suggest they’ll remain competitive. Frank Lampard’s management could elevate them, but they may lack the firepower for automatic promotion. | Getty Images
22. 4th: Sheffield United (82 points, +18 GD)
Reason: Despite missing automatic promotion in 2024/25 (90 points, third place), Sheffield United under Chris Wilder are a strong Championship side. Their defensive solidity (conceding few goals in 2024/25) and players like Kieffer Moore make them playoff contenders, but they may fall short of the top two due to inconsistent finishing. | Getty Images
23. 3rd: Ipswich Town (85 points, +22 GD)
Reason: Relegated after a single Premier League season, Ipswich still have momentum from their 2022/23 and 2023/24 promotions. Manager Kieran McKenna’s tactical acumen and a cohesive squad should see them compete for the play-offs, potentially missing automatic promotion due to slight squad depth issues compared to Leicester and Southampton. | Getty Images
24. 2nd: Southampton (90 points, +28 GD)
Reason: Also relegated from the Premier League, Southampton have a talented squad with players like Adam Armstrong, who scored 24 goals in the 2023/24 Championship season. Their recent play-off success suggests they’ll push for automatic promotion. A strong goal difference is expected due to their attacking style. | Getty Images