WITH just three weeks to go until Barnsley kick off their League One season Jack Tolson looks at the season ahead and makes his predictions of how the league table will look come May.

1) Sheffield Wednesday

Despite their well-documented troubles over the last few years the Owls now look more stable and will always be successful in the third tier. Barnsley’s biggest rivals in the league this season, Wednesday have already made some great signings such as Billy Mitchell and the return of Barry Bannan is a good pick-up for this level. The South Yorkshire derby at Oakwell on November 21 is perhaps the biggest on the calendar this season and will be the first time the two teams have faced one another since the play-off final back in 2023. Unfortunately for the Reds, with the feel-good factor back around Hillsborough and the draw the Owls are, they will undoubtedly be up there come the end of the season.

2) Leicester

The Foxes have undergone a huge fall from grace having competed in the Champions League and won the Premier League in the last 15 years. They have brought in former Barnsley forward Conor Chaplin and Alex McCarthy so far – two signings who are probably above the level they will be playing at. Under Russell Martin, who admittedly did fail disastrously at Rangers, they are likely to play great football and will likely be too much for the rest of the league.

3) Luton

It was a stop-start season for the Hatters last season under Jack Wilshere but towards the end of the campaign he really started to get his side playing the way he wants. They are no longer the same side that were battered 5-0 at Oakwell last year and their success in recent years will be a draw for players. They have already re-signed exciting players Gideon Kodua and Kasey Palmer and will be fighting towards the top end of the table.

4) Bradford

Barnsley’s West Yorkshire neighbours fell short in the play-offs last season but have already made impressive singings during the summer transfer window. Barnsley fans will know plenty about Adam Phillips but Callum Connolly and Jake Beesley are both great signings for the level. Under Graham Alexander they will look to push on and make it back-to-back play-off finishes.

5) MK Dons

The Dons have only just been promoted from League Two but Paul Warne is an experienced manager in the third tier and will look to push towards the Championship this year. And he’s been backed by the owners who have brought in Ryan Wintle, Dan Barlaser, Cohen Bramall and Charlie Goode. They were already too stacked for the fourth tier and, under Warne, you wouldn’t back them going for back-to-back promotions.

6) Huddersfield

Despite an underwhelming season last time out, the Terriers will be gunning for promotion under Martin Drury. They have already signed Ashley Fletcher, who scored goals for fun at Blackpool last season as well as exciting talent Ethan Brierley. If they can utilise the talent they clearly have at their disposal then a play-off campaign should be on the cards.

7) Plymouth

Tom Cleverley’s side started off last season terribly and looked as though they were set to drop to the fourth tier of the football pyramid. But they were fantastic in 2026 and were unlucky to not sneak into the play-offs. The feel-good factor is back at Home Park and have brought in former Barnsley ‘keeper Murphy Cooper as well as centre-back Wes Harding.

8) Stockport

The Hatters were beaten in the final of last year’s play-offs by Bolton Wanderers, having made the semi-finals the season before. They have proven they can stick with the ‘big boys’ of the league but, with Dave Challinor leaving the club it’s not yet known whether they will be the same Hatters. They are now to be guided by former Barnsley defender Jim McNulty who was in charge of Rochdale until May. A season of change is expected for the Hatters.

9) Barnsley

Admittedly not the position any Barnsley fan will be happy with come the end of the season but the changes that are being made at the look mean it is likely to be a ‘transitional’ one at Oakwell. Daniel Stendel has returned to the club which has added a bit of buzz but they have already lost David McGoldrick and Adam Phillips, and clubs will be looking at Reyes Cleary and Luca Connell. The Reds have made some good signings but they need much more – particular in defence – if they are to have any real chance of pushing for the top six.

10) Oxford

Of the three relegated sides, Oxford are probably the weakest. They have already lost Myles Peart-Harris and Polish winger Przemyslaw Placheta, but have brought in the towering centre-back Frankie Kent from Hearts. They are managed by former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey but, unless they start spending some serious money, they will likely struggle to compete at the very top due to the size and budgets of other clubs.

11) Reading

The Royals looked set to sack manager Leam Richardson towards the end of last season due to growing unrest and concern among the fan base. But he is still in charge and they have made some shrewd signings including Colchester winger Kyreece Lisbie and former Barnsley attacker Jacob Brown. Their aim will be the play-offs but other sides are far better equipped to make the top six.

12) Wycombe

Michael Duff impressed while at Barnsley but has struggled since with spells at Swansea, Huddersfield and now the Chairboys. Having finished 11th last season, they will be looking to push on but currently don’t quite have the squad to do so. They gave signed veteran centre-back Steve Cook and Cauley Woodrow has rejoined but they will need more to fight for promotion.

13) Blackpool

Many backed the Tangerines for success last year but they struggled, particularly at the start of the season. They finished 13th in League One and, having lost Fletcher to Bradford, will have to punch above their weight to better that. But they have signed Ilmari Niskanen from Exeter and should Dion Charles find his shooting boots they should have enough to finish mid-table under Ian Evatt.

14) Stevenage

The Boro have been punching above their weight for a few seasons in League One and made the play-offs last campaign under Alex Revell. They are incredibly strong defensively but have lost Goode to MK Dons, as well as Harvey White to Plymouth. Journeyman Josh Magennis has signed but it looks unlikely that they will repeat the exploits of the last few years.

15) Doncaster Rovers

Grant McCann’s side are making the most of the loan and free transfer market so far this summer having made seven signings. Alfie May has returned to the club but is not quite the same player he was three years ago. They finished one place above Barnsley last season in 14th and a similar year is expected this time out.

16) Peterborough

The Posh were a side always fighting towards the top end of League One but have struggled recently, since their dramatic collapse against Sheffield Wednesday in the play-offs three years ago. They have been good at signing players from non-league and the lower divisions and selling them on for massive profit but have been unable to do so in recent years. Having struggled last season, they will be hoping to push on but have yet to make any real impact in the transfer window.

17) Wigan

The Latics have re-signed midfielder Max Power and brought in impressive players such as Connor Barrett from Walsall and Leyton Orient winger Sonny Perkins. But they struggled for goals last year in an eventual 16th-placed finish and Gary Caldwell will have to work his magic to improve on that.

18) Mansfield

There are few better and more experienced managers in the football pyramid than Nigel Clough. Couple that with the nous of David McGoldrick and Michael Smith – two former Barnsley strikers – then their footballing IQ will be among the best in the division. But they won’t be able to play 90 minutes every week and with their signings so far this summer being an average age of 32.3 – brought down by 25-year-old Jon Russell – they may struggle as the season goes on.

19) Notts County

The Magpies are back in League One after more than ten years in which they dropped down to the National League before returning to the third tier. They are currently managed by former Barnsley assistant Martin Paterson and have strong attacking options like Alassana Jatta. But they have a relatively inexperienced squad for this year and could struggle.

20) Leyton Orient

Orient stayed up on the last day of the season after a tough campaign which saw them go from play-off finalists to battling relegation in just a year. They have lost Perkins to Wigan but have brought in Armando Dobra from Chesterfield. There’s a clear feeling of discontent at the club but they should have just enough to stay up this season.

21) Burton Albion

The Brewers have been in League One since 2018 and have always punched well above their weight. But losing Beesley to Bradford will be a huge miss for Gary Bowyer’s side and without his goals they will be fighting relegation. They have signed former Barnsley ‘keeper Corey Addai but need more in the remaining weeks of the window to have any chance of staving off relegation.

22) Cambridge

Neil Harris’ side were promoted to League One last season following a strong campaign in the fourth tier but there are far better sides in the division this season. They do not have the same fire power and strength in depth as other sides and will be in a relegation battle throughout the season.

23) AFC Wimbledon

The Wombles did well to stay up last season but they are one of the poorer teams in the league. Johnnie Jackson’s side had a relatively successful season following their promotion from League Two but it will be hard to build on that success again. They have signed Luton midfielder Zack Nelson and Wigan defender Steven Sessegnon but only basement club Northampton conceded more than they did last season.

24) Bromley

This will be The Ravens first campaign in the third tier in their 134-year history but many would assume they are too weak for the division. They won League Two last season but Andy Woodman will be hoping for a miracle if they are to survive. Their first game is against Barnsley at Oakwell and they will be up for it and backed by a strong travelling contingent. But over the course of the season they will likely come up short. They have just signed former Barnsley striker Victor Adeboyejo.