How AI thinks the full 2026/27 EFL Championship table will finish already | OneFootball

FLW has asked AI to predict the 2026/27 EFL Championship table

As the 2025/26 EFL Championship season comes to a close, two relegation spots are still up for debate, whilst the top six is set to undergo a reshuffle between now and the next couple of months.

The end of another enthralling second-tier season is on the horizon, as the table begins to take its final shape.

Sheffield Wednesday's place in League One next year has already been confirmed, with each of Leicester City, Oxford United, West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth, and Blackburn Rovers all hotly contested for the other two spots in the bottom three.

Meanwhile, Coventry City, barring a huge collapse in form, have one foot in the Premier League, with Frank Lampard's side edging ever closer to ending their 25-year absence from the top flight.

Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, and Millwall follow closely behind, whilst Hull City, Wrexham, Southampton and Derby County remain well within a shout for a place in the top six.

With next year's division yet to be decided, FLW has asked AI tool Gemini to predict the 2026/27 Championship table, taking into account who it thinks will be relegated and promoted from the second tier this season, as well as who will be relegated from the Premier League and promoted from League One.

24 ? ? West Bromwich Albion

Gemini said: A difficult transition year that could result in a shock drop.

AI's pick for finishing dead last in next season's Championship table, West Brom have not had an especially good season by any standards.

In fact, it's set to be their worst season in over 25 years, with the Baggies having never finished in the bottom half of the Championship table since 2000, only ever finishing in the Premier League or the top half of the Championship in that time.

Gemini has predicted that the Black Country outfit will just about stay afloat this season, led by former fan favourite James Morrison, though things are only expected to get worse at the Hawthorns in AI's eyes.

23 ? ? Queens Park Rangers

Gemini said: Long-term financial constraints could see the R's slip into League One.

Queens Park Rangers' season, at one stage, looked full of promise, with the West London outfit knocking on the doors of the play-offs for much of the early stages of the campaign.

However, a calamitous drop-off under Julien Stephan has seen the R's plummet down the table, and whilst they are in no immediate danger of relegation this season, AI believes their long-term lack of financial muscle will see them slip down the table.

22 ? ? Oxford United

Gemini said: After a miracle escape in '26, the gap in resources finally bites.

Oxford United have had one of, if not the smallest, budgets in the Championship over the past couple of seasons, and their survival last season, orchestrated by Gary Rowett, was a significant achievement for the U's.

With Rowett now dismissed, former Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield has taken the reins, and AI expects the former Hatters head coach to keep the club up this season.

However, it also expects their long-term financial disparity to catch up with them and take the final relegation place next year.

Gemini said: Mousinho’s men will have to fight tooth and nail to stay up.

Like Oxford, Portsmouth's survival last season was a monumental achievement for the club, having spent much of the last decade or so playing in the third and fourth tiers.

AI expects Pompey to survive this season, as it does next year as well, but by the skin of their teeth once again.

20 ? ? Preston North End

Gemini said: Likely to be looking over their shoulders more than usual this year.

At one point this campaign, Preston North End were in and amongst the top six conversation, with Paul Heckingbottom's side defying expectations to remain within the conversation for a play-off finish.

However, as they did in the 2024/25 season, they have suffered an abysmal dip in form, which has seen them fall down the table, as AI expects them to stay up, but to be in more danger next year as well.

19 ? ? Charlton Athletic

Gemini said: A season of consolidation after a shaky 2025/26 performance.

Nathan Jones has done an excellent job in taking Charlton Athletic from a side languishing in League One to one that looks like a sure bet at retaining their Championship status for another year.

The Addicks are one of the historically smaller clubs in London, though they are looking to change that under the guidance of the Welshman, as AI predicts another solid finish for them in the second tier next campaign.

18 ? ? Bristol City

Gemini said: Safe, consistent, and remarkably average (as is tradition).

Bristol City achieved their first top-six finish in the Championship for 17 years last season, though their chances of doing that again this time around are looking slim.

Rarely threatening at either end of the table, AI has predicted another year of stability at Ashton Gate.

17 ? ? Lincoln City

Gemini said: They’ll survive comfortably thanks to the league's best defensive setup.

Lincoln City, less than a decade ago, were playing their football in the fifth tier, and now, under Michael Skubala, look to have one foot in the Championship for next season.

The Imps have done extraordinarily well to get themselves to this stage, as AI predicts Lincoln to comfortably stay up next year and carry that momentum into next season.

16 ? ? Swansea City

Gemini said: Beautiful football, but lacks the physicality to break the top ten.

Swansea City's improvement since Vitor Matos arrived in South Wales has been exemplary, with the Swans ending any lingering potential of falling into a relegation battle.

However, AI doesn't believe that Matos can continue his upward trend heading into next season, and expects the Welsh outfit to have another lower to mid-table finish.

15 ? ? Sheffield United

Gemini said: A tough year of financial balancing after a disappointing '26 campaign.

Chris Wilder has done a great job at reviving Sheffield United's season, after Ruben Selles' appointment went far from planned, with the Blades occupying one of the bottom three spots for much of the early stages.

Since Wilder returned for his third separate stint at Bramall Lane, they have shot back up the table, though with their finances in the summer set to be tight, there will be little room to manoeuvre in the transfer market, as AI believes they will be in for another tough year.