After a busy summer in the fourth tier, several clubs are gearing up for a promotion fight while others brace themselves for a relegation battle.
League Two remains one of the most unpredictable and entertaining divisions in football, and 2025-26 should be no different.
101greatgoals has you covered for your promotion favourites, relegation scrappers and young guns to watch out for.
Promotion Favourites
MK Dons endured a miserable 19th-place finish last season, but the arrival of Paul Warne has sparked optimism in Milton Keynes.
The club has spent big by League Two standards, paying £800,000 to sign Aaron Collins from Bolton and adding Will Collar from Stockport to strengthen the spine.
Of the sides dropping into this division, Bristol Rovers look the best placed for a quick return.
Darrell Clarke knows the league inside out, and the experienced duo Macauley Southam-Hales and Josh McEachran have been brought in to complement exciting talents such as Kamil Conteh and teenager Kofi Shaw.
Chesterfield, who stormed into last season’s playoffs by winning eight of their last 13 games, retain key figures John Fleck and Will Grigg, while the flair of Armando Dobra and a few clever loan moves could push them further.
Notts County, also victims of play-off heartbreak, have had to cope with the departure of talisman David McGoldrick to Barnsley.
That puts pressure on Matthew Dennis to deliver goals, while the loan signing of Sonny Aljofree from Manchester United looks smart.
Cambridge United, relegated from League One, showed improvement under Neil Harris, whose summer additions of Dominic Ball and Ben Knight should make them contenders.
Walsall’s dramatic collapse after Christmas cost them a shot at automatic promotion, but after losing the play-off final, Mat Sadler’s side will be desperate to learn from that late-season slump.
Finally, newly promoted Barnet arrive full of momentum after bossing the National League, and Dean Brennan’s team won’t fear anyone.
Playoff Contenders
Salford City have kept hold of Matty Young after a successful loan from Sunderland, an important step after losing Curtis Tilt to Bradford.
With Karl Robinson at the helm and co-owner Gary Neville still harbouring big ambitions, they will aim to climb the table.
Gillingham, managed by Gareth Ainsworth, could also mount a challenge if Bradley Dack stays fit and Sam Vokes can rediscover his best form.
Consistency is the biggest issue for Crewe Alexandra, whose dreadful run of three wins in their final 20 games cost them a play-off spot.
Manager Lee Bell has stuck around and added veteran striker Louis Moult to sharpen their attack.
Crawley Town were chaotic last year, cycling through five managers before being relegated. They have turned over much of their squad, with Kabongo Tshimanga coming in to provide goals.
Bromley finished 11th in their debut Football League season – a superb achievement – while Grimsby Town and Colchester United are looking to build on solid foundations.
David Artell has been rewarded with a new deal at Grimsby, and Danny Cowley continues to develop a young, promising Colchester squad.
Swindon Town, now under the colourful Ian Holloway, welcome home Billy Bodin. Holloway’s pedigree will have fans dreaming of a top-seven finish.
Relegation Candidates
Newport County’s commitment to a possession-based style earned them praise but also cost them points last season, particularly at set pieces.
New boss David Hughes, previously in Manchester United’s academy setup, has a big challenge ahead.
Harrogate Town are perennial survivors and did their transfer business early to give themselves a chance.
Oldham Athletic return to the EFL after a stint in non-league, bolstering their ranks with seasoned players to avoid a quick drop.
Shrewsbury Town, relegated from League One after a disastrous year, have Michael Appleton attempting a rebuild with Will Boyle, Tom Anderson and Tom Sang forming a new spine. Survival is the first target.
Tranmere Rovers have been stagnant in recent years, but adding Richie Smallwood and Jason Lowe could give them the nous to stay up.
It could be another grim year at Accrington Stanley, who narrowly avoided the drop last season. Budget constraints have again limited their recruitment, with just two new signings from non-league.
Barrow, under Andy Whing, look light on numbers, while former Barrow manager Pete Wild now leads Fleetwood Town, who must cope with losing Phoenix Patterson and Brendan Wiredu.
Cheltenham Town also look vulnerable after a quiet summer.
Young Talents to Watch
Matus Holicek (Crewe, 20) – A technically gifted Slovak midfielder who will want to add goals after just one strike in 38 appearances last season.
Kelly N’Mai (Salford, 21) – The Dutch-born winger has shown flashes of talent on loan and will look to make a bigger impact this year.
Botan Ameen (Swindon, 18) – The Iraq Under-20 forward burst on to the scene by knocking Manchester United out of the FA Youth Cup. He followed that up with a goal and two assists in 14 senior appearances last season.
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