Championship explained for new fans
The Championship doesn't get the global attention the Premier League does, but it's arguably the more dramatic league - tighter, more unpredictable, and with a promotion race that matters as much as the title race. Here's the structure before you start predicting it.
1. 24 teams, three ways up or down
The top two automatically go up to the Premier League. Places 3 to 6 enter the play-offs for a third spot. The bottom three drop to League One.
2. The play-offs are their own drama
Four teams, two-legged semi-finals, then a single final often called the richest match in football because of what promotion is worth.
3. 46 games is a long, dense season
Nearly double the Premier League's game count, often with midweek fixtures. Squad depth and schedule management matter more here.
4. Weekly predictions use outcomes, not exact scores
Because of how tight and unpredictable Championship matches tend to be, weekly predictions here are 1-X-2 rather than an exact scoreline, unlike the Premier League.
Not sure what 1-X-2 means? See the prediction game glossary
5. Squads change more than the table suggests
Parachute payments - money clubs relegated from the Premier League still receive - mean some Championship squads are quietly much stronger than their name suggests.
6. Form is less reliable here than in most leagues
The gap between 5th and 15th is often just a few points, and results swing more than in a league with clearer quality tiers.
Frequently asked questions
How many teams go up each season?
Three: the top two automatically, plus one winner from the four-team play-offs.
Why do weekly predictions use 1-X-2 instead of exact scores?
The Championship's tight, unpredictable matches and dense schedule make outcome-based scoring the fairer format across 46 rounds.
What are parachute payments?
Payments from the Premier League to clubs relegated from it, for up to three seasons, which often keeps their squads stronger than a typical Championship side.
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