League Two 2026/27 Predicted Table: Full 24-Team Breakdown

League Two heads into the 2026/27 season with something it rarely gets: genuine uncertainty at the top. There's no runaway financial juggernaut and no squad that looks obviously too good for the division, just half a dozen sides all with a realistic case for going up. Below is a full breakdown of where each of the 24 clubs is likely to finish, based on the summer's business, the managerial picture at each club and recent form. Odds and squad news move fast in this division, so check the latest prices before backing anything and gamble responsibly.

1. Bristol Rovers

Steve Evans has built a career out of getting clubs out of League Two and there's every reason to think he can do it again. He completely transformed the mood at the Memorial Stadium last season, with Rovers finishing as one of the division's on form sides after looking destined for a relegation battle under Darrell Clarke. The club have backed him properly in the market too, with Jack Aitchison arriving as a proven performer at this level and Bobby Kamwa adding pace and unpredictability up front. A squad built entirely in Evans' image, with momentum already behind it, makes Rovers our pick for the title.

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2. Salford City

There are no excuses left for Salford this season. Parting with Karl Robinson after play-off heartbreak raised eyebrows, but it's been followed by one of the most ambitious recruitment drives anywhere in the division, and the message from the Class of '92 ownership is clear. The arrivals of Macaulay Langstaff and Luke Molyneux would be eye catching business at League One level, let alone the fourth tier and they significantly raise the ceiling of a squad that was already strong. The risk is new manager Peter Cklamovski, largely unproven at this level, but the individual quality on the pitch should be enough to get Salford over the line this time.

3. Chesterfield

Stability tends to be an underrated advantage in a division with as much managerial and playing turnover as this one and Chesterfield have plenty of it. Paul Cook has quietly built steady progress since returning in 2022 and keeping veteran defender Kyle McFadzean tied down on a new contract says a lot about the culture he's created. The additions of Jack Simpson and Alfie Pond from Leyton Orient look shrewd, and after finishing just three points off the top three last season, there's no reason Chesterfield can't go one better this time and secure automatic promotion.

4. York City

An outstanding National League title winning campaign, finishing on 108 points, has York well placed for an immediate impact back in the EFL and the momentum from a dramatic promotion tends to travel well into a new season. The decision to sack Stuart Maynard and bring in Scott Lindsey raised eyebrows given the timing, but the incoming business has been smart, blending proven League Two experience like Mark Shelton with promising young talent such as Zak Johnson. Losing Malachi Fagan-Walcott stings, but tying down top scorer Josh Stones to a new deal is a real coup. A top-four finish looks realistic.

5. Grimsby Town

Grimsby have come agonisingly close in recent seasons and after a memorable EFL Cup run that included a win over Manchester United before playoff heartbreak against Salford, there's a real sense this could finally be the year they reach League One for the first time in over two decades. Keeping hold of exciting striker Jaze Kabia, who finished as the division's second top scorer last season, gives them a strong platform to build from. The squad and manager both look settled enough for another serious promotion push.

6. Port Vale

Last season's relegation from League One was a real blow, but reaching the FA Cup quarter finals along the way showed there's real quality still in this squad and Jon Brady gives the club every reason for optimism about an instant return. Keeping hold of Onel Hernandez could prove to be the summer's best piece of business: if he hits the ground running, he has more than enough quality to be a difference maker at this level. A top-six finish and a real promotion push look the likely outcome.

7. Barnet

Barnet were excellent on their return to the EFL last season, missing the play-offs by a single place and there's clearly talent in this squad to build from. The concern is holding onto that progress: Dean Brennan now has to prove last season wasn't a one-off and second season syndrome has undone plenty of promoted sides before. Losing key contributors over the summer adds to the uncertainty. There's enough quality here for a top-half finish, but second season syndrome is a risk.

8. Rotherham United

Rotherham's fall from the Championship in 2023-24 to League Two now is a remarkable one, and this new era with Alex Bruce taking his first EFL managerial job and Steve McClaren installed as director of football, is a bit of an unknown. There's still residual quality here from a squad built for a higher division and the additions of Jamie Jellis and Ossama Ashley look sensible enough. Losing Sam Nombe and Joe Powell hurts though, and the mood around the club hasn't fully recovered from relegation. A top-half finish, just outside the play-offs, looks the fair prediction.

9. Northampton Town

Immediate promotion back to League One is the clear expectation at Sixfields and handing the reins to first-time manager Chris Hogg, previously Liam Manning's assistant, is a bold but modern call. Hogg's methods have earned plenty of admirers and there's enough talent retained in this squad from their League One days to be competitive near the top of this division. It's a gamble on an unproven head coach, but one with real potential upside and a play-off finish will be what the Cobblers are hoping for this season. Unfortunaly we think they'll just miss out.

10. Oldham Athletic

It took a while for Oldham to get going last season, but once they found their rhythm they became one of the toughest sides in the division to break down. Micky Mellon's teams are rarely the most watchable, but he knows exactly what it takes to get results at this level and the additions of Southend duo Gus Scott-Morriss and Keenan Appiah-Forson look like smart, low-key business. Another comfortable top-half finish looks the likely outcome, even if a serious promotion push may be a step too far.

11. Rochdale

Rochdale look well equipped for an immediate return to competitiveness in the EFL after an outstanding National League promotion campaign, capped by victory over Boreham Wood in the play-off final. Losing Jimmy McNulty to Stockport County is a blow, but appointing promising young coach Ian Watson from South Shields and retaining Cian Hayes while adding Laurence Maguire and Zain Silcott-Duberry, shows real ambition. Promoted sides often carry momentum into their first season back in the EFL, and Rochdale look set to do exactly that with a solid mid-table finish.

12. Crewe Alexandra

Under Lee Bell, Crewe have quietly become one of the more consistent outfits in this division, regularly flirting with the top end without ever quite taking the final step. Budget constraints make it difficult to compete with the division's bigger spenders and this season's recruitment, while sensible, hasn't fundamentally changed that picture. Expect more of the same: a solid campaign that will frustrate some supporters but ultimately falls short of a serious promotion push.

13. Walsall

After falling short under Mat Sadler, Walsall have turned to Lee Grant in the hope he can finally get them promoted. Grant talks a good game, but there were signs during a difficult spell at Huddersfield that he can look out of his depth and it remains to be seen whether he's the right man for this level. Reece Smith and James Connolly could be useful additions, but the rest of the recruitment hasn't stood out. A mid-table finish, without much drama either way, looks the most likely outcome.

14. Shrewsbury Town

Gavin Cowan did an excellent job steering Shrewsbury clear of trouble after arriving last season and a more settled, stable campaign looks likely this time around. A transfer embargo will limit what's possible in the market and could cap the club's ambitions somewhat, but there's enough organisation and know how here to avoid any serious relegation scare. A solid, unspectacular mid-table season looks the fair prediction for Salop.

15. Colchester United

The Cowley brothers' project appears to be losing a little momentum after a couple of steady but unspectacular seasons, and losing Kyreece Lisbie to Reading while missing out on re-signing Will Goodwin leaves the squad looking short of firepower up front. There's enough know how in the dugout to keep Colchester clear of any relegation trouble, but pushing towards the top of the table looks unlikely without considerably more end product added before the window shuts.

16. Fleetwood Town

Fleetwood have kept the core of last season's squad largely intact, but it's difficult to see enough strengthening to suggest a serious push up the table. There are also fair question marks over Matt Lawlor, who remains relatively inexperienced in the dugout for a club with the infrastructure to expect more. A lack of consistent goals and a fairly small squad look like they'll hold Fleetwood back again, with a finish in the bottom half of mid-table our expectation.

17. Gillingham

Another significant squad overhaul has taken place at Priestfield and this really does feel like a season that needs to work for Gareth Ainsworth, whose reputation still rests largely on a Wycombe success story from a long time ago. James Brophy looks a smart enough addition, but the rest of the recruitment hasn't obviously moved the needle. There remain real doubts over the long term direction of Brad Galinson's ownership project and it's hard to see Gillingham making a serious push up the table this season.

18. Swindon Town

Swindon fell away alarmingly at the end of last season, throwing away what looked a nailed-on play-off place after topping the table in mid-November. The worry is that kind of collapse carries a psychological cost into a new campaign and Ian Holloway's public frustration with the squad during pre-season doesn't inspire much confidence. With only a handful of signings made so far, there's a real risk Swindon slip further away from the top half rather than recovering the ground they lost.

19. Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere have been on a steady downward trajectory for several seasons now, and last term did little to suggest that trend is about to reverse. There are genuine doubts over whether Darrell Clarke, whose second spell at Bristol Rovers ended in disappointment, is the right man to arrest the slide. Tom Ince's arrival is an eye-catching one and should add quality in the final third, but on balance this still looks like a club fighting to stay clear of relegation trouble all season.

20. Crawley Town

Crawley only just retained their EFL status last season, and survival will again be the primary objective at the Broadfield Stadium. Appointing Colin Kazim-Richards is an intriguing gamble: he articulates his ideas well, but this is a demanding first job in management. There's been plenty of transfer activity, though much of it looks speculative rather than a clear upgrade. Simply staying in the division for another year would represent a solid outcome given where this squad currently sits.

21. Accrington Stanley

Financial constraints mean Accrington always face an uphill battle relative to most of this division, and that isn't going to change this season. A 16th-place finish last time out was a respectable effort, but with the division looking stronger overall this season, there's a real chance they slip a few places lower. The club has again leaned on non-league recruitment to fill gaps, and how quickly those signings adapt will likely decide whether it's a comfortable season or a long one.

22. Exeter City

Exeter face a genuinely difficult rebuild after relegation, with well documented financial issues making it hard to strengthen or even fully replace what's been lost. The squad already looks light on numbers, and with forward Jayden Wareham expected to depart before the window closes, the attacking options look particularly thin. Without significant late investment, this looks like another difficult season for the Grecians, fighting to stay clear of the bottom of the table.

23. Newport County

Newport survived by the narrowest of margins last season and it's hard to see them getting that fortunate twice in a row. Christian Fuchs has departed, replaced by the far less experienced Hayden Mullins, while losing Bobby Kamwa strips out a huge amount of the quality that kept them up. There are considerably more questions than answers heading into this campaign and Newport look like they could be relegation candidates from the opening weeks.

24. Cheltenham Town

Steve Cotterill did a fine job keeping Cheltenham up last season, but there are real doubts over whether he's the right manager to build something more sustainable across a full campaign rather than simply fighting fires. The squad looked a completely different proposition without Isaac Hutchinson during his loan spell away and replacing that influence now he's back and available elsewhere won't be straightforward. On current evidence, Cheltenham look like the division's most likely relegation candidates.