The EFL Championship season is set for the playoffs after a frantic final day with a bit of controversy in the moment that decided the final playoff spot.
There’s no VAR in England’s second tier and Hull City’s Oli McBurnie appeared to be just offside for his match-winning goal that lifted the Tigers above Wrexham and into sixth place.
Wrexham, of course, could’ve settled things by winning its game but instead drew playoff-bound Middlesbrough 0-0. For more on the playoffs, head here.
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Frank Lampard’s Coventry City are returning to the top flight for the first time since they were relegated in 2001, ending their 39-year major trophy drought (1987 FA Cup) to win the division. The Sky Blues endured years of financial turmoil and looked like they might never climb their way back up the ranks but Lampard had his men simply outscoring anyone and everyone this season, with USMNT striker Haji Wright more than doing his part in the campaign.
Kieran McKenna has led Ipswich Town right back into the Premier League after just a season away as the Tractor Boys sizzled down the stretch to hold off Millwall and Middlesbrough for second. Boro had led the way for much of the season but now have to contend with Saints and possibly Hull or Millwall to get back to the PL with regional mates Newcastle and Sunderland.
On the flip side, Wrexham will be crestfallen after falling just shy of the playoffs and a chance to win an astounding fourth promotion in four seasons. Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s (nee: McElhenney) club was playing non-league football as recently as 2023, and the Reds were on the march once again with former Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore and ex-Rangers midfielder Josh Windass both hitting double-digit goals.
Final promotion standings (automatic + playoff places)
- Coventry City — 95 points, +52 GD — CHAMPIONS, PROMOTED APRIL 18
- Ipswich Town — 85 points, +33 GD — AUTOMATIC PROMOTION MAY 2
- Millwall — 83 points, +15 GD — PLAYOFFS
- Southampton — 80 points, +26 GD — PLAYOFFS
- Middlesbrough — 80 points, +25 GD — PLAYOFFS
- Hull City — 73 points, +4 GD — PLAYOFFS
- Wrexham — 71 points, +4 GD
- Derby County — 69 points, +8 GD
How many points are usually needed for promotion?
In the last four seasons the minimum amount of points to achieve automatic promotion have been the following:
2024-25: 100 points
2023-24: 96 points
2022-23: 91 points
2021-22: 88 points
So, as you can see, the number of points you need for automatic promotion just keeps on going up, but this season will be a little different.
How many points do you usually need to reach the Championship playoffs?
Across the same four-year span the following number of points have been enough to secure sixth-place, the final playoff spot:
2024-25: 68 points
2023-24: 73 points
2022-23: 69 points
2021-22: 75 points
What happens in the EFL Championship promotion playoffs?
The teams who finish in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth compete in the playoffs. Third plays sixth home and away in one semifinal and fourth plays fifth home and away in the other semifinal.
The winners, on aggregate, of those two semifinals then meet in the one-off Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium. That game has to be decided on the day with extra time and penalty kicks if needed. The Championship playoff final is known as the richest game in sports.
