There’s now just a week or so to go until the EFL Championship fixtures are announced for the 2025/26 season and we’re itching for next campaign to get underway.
Last season was a belter as 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. Can West Brom return to the play-offs under Ryan Mason? Will Birmingham spend big again this summer and soar into promotion contention immediately? Can Wrexham continue their incredible momentum and survive the drop? 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.
1. Grok predicts 2025-26 Championship standings
Here's how Grok reckons the next Championship season will pan out. | Getty Images
2. 24th: Charlton Athletic (40 points, -30 GD)
Reason: Charlton are the weakest of the three promoted sides from League One and a lack of squad quality suggests they’ll finish bottom. Their negative goal difference reflects a leaky defence and weak attack. | Getty Images
3. 23rd: Oxford United (43 points, -25 GD)
Reason: As a promoted side, Oxford stayed up last season but they may struggle with the Championship’s intensity this time around. Their defensive issues and lack of experience at this level could see them relegated. | Getty Images
4. 22nd: Preston North End (46 points, -22 GD)
Reason: Preston’s high draw count (20 in 2024/25) and lack of attacking flair make them vulnerable. They’re likely to be relegated due to a poor goal difference and inability to convert draws into wins. | Getty Images