Titans & underdogs - League One club-by-club preview

What the report says

BBC Sport has published a club-by-club preview of League One ahead of the new EFL season, outlining the expectations, strengths and vulnerabilities of teams across the division. The piece highlights the unusually strong mix of established names and emerging challengers, with Leicester City dropping into the third tier for the first time since 2009 and Sheffield Wednesday entering a new era under fresh ownership. BBC Sport’s overall framing suggests the season could be shaped by the pressure on the biggest clubs and the opportunity for smaller sides to build momentum.

Among the clubs covered, Leicester are presented as promotion-or-bust, while newly promoted Bromley are described as having less pressure after winning League Two. AFC Wimbledon are expected to focus on stability and gradual improvement, Barnsley are looking to move forward under returning head coach Daniel Stendel, and Blackpool are aiming to build on a strong finish to last season. Bradford City, after finishing fourth last term, are viewed as capable of another solid campaign but may face tougher competition from better-resourced rivals.

The previews also note several squad changes, including key arrivals and departures, and identify players who could influence each club’s fortunes. Across the division, BBC Sport points to recurring themes such as recruitment, squad depth, injuries and the balance between ambition and realism. The broader significance is that League One appears set up for a competitive season in which a few high-profile clubs will carry heavy expectation, while several others try to outperform their budgets and reputations.