The race for promotion to the Premier League was wild this season, as Leicester City and Ipswich Town confirmed their promotion before Southampton joined them via the playoffs.
Leicester won the Championship title on 97 points and Ipswich finished just one point behind them to return to the top-flight for the first time in 22 years after back-to-back promotions.
[ MORE: Championship playoff bracket, schedule in full ]
The playoffs weren’t decided until very late in the 46-game Championship gauntlet. Leeds beat Norwich City 4-0 at Elland Road in the second leg of their semifinal to win 4-0 on aggregate, while Southampton beat West Brom 3-1 at home in the second leg to win 3-1 on aggregate to set up a playoff final between two teams who were relegated last season.
Saints produced a third win over Leeds this season with a 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium, securing an instant return to the Premier League.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
Here is a closer look at the teams after one of the best Championship seasons in history.
Premier League promotion prognosis, 2023-24: The final tally
*only the top two teams go up automatically to the Premier League
Leicester City (1st place, 97 points, +48 goal difference) — PROMOTED, CHAMPIONS
Last season in Premier League: 2022-23
Enzo Maresca’s side have led the way for most of the season and even after an almighty wobble they have sealed promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and have won the title. They have a possession-based style under Maresca and three double-digit goal scorers in league play: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Stephy Mavididi, and a guy named Jamie Vardy. Remember him? The Foxes also have some questions about Profit and Sustainability Rules to answer too. But for now they can celebrate being back in the Premier League,
Ipswich Town (2nd place, 96 points, +35 goal difference) — PROMOTED
Last season in Premier League: 2001-02
The Tractor Boys have had an amazing season under Kieran McKenna and have earned promotion after beating Huddersfield Town on the final day. They stumbled at a bad time as the nerves of getting back to the Premier League for the first time in over two decades appeared to be impacting them, but they recovered masterfully from that and a similar spell a few months ago. Ipswich have been promoted again a year after coming up from League One. Who would have predicted that? Nobody. What a story.
Southampton (4th place, 87 points, +24 goal difference) — PROMOTED, WON PLAYOFF FINAL
Last season in Premier League: 2022-23
After an incredible 25-game unbeaten run came to an end, Saints slumped, recovered and then slumped again as their automatic hopes were dashed and they merely claimed a playoff spot. Forward Adam Armstrong led the way with finishes while the likes of Che Adams and loan signing David Brooks chipped in with big goals too. Jan Bednarek and Flynn Downes were key to the season as Russell Martin’s Saints averaged the division’s best possession by some margin with their free-flowing possession-based style which usually ends in chaotic high-scoring games. Big injuries arrived late in the season with Gavin Bazunu and Stuart Armstrong out of the playoffs but Saints sorted it out as Martin pushed so many buttons en route to the playoff final win.
Leeds United (3rd place, 90 points, +38 goal difference) — LOST PLAYOFF FINAL
Last season in Premier League: 2022-23
Leeds skidded down the stretch but were loaded with talent heading into the playoffs. Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter are Premier League talents doing it big in the second tier and although Leeds have so many attacking talents Daniel Farke’s men ran out of steam at the wrong time. There was not much gas in the attacking tank at Wembley as they lost 1-0 to Southampton, and Leeds will wait at least another year before returning to the Premier League.
West Bromwich Albion (5th place, 75 points, +23 goal difference) — ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS
Last season in Premier League: 2020-21
One of the Championship’s best defensive units, the Baggies have Marcelo Bielsa’s former assistant Carlos Corberan as their manager and he worked wonders taking Huddersfield to the playoffs a few seasons ago. West Brom are a robust side but they have run out of steam in recent weeks with just two wins from their last eight in the regular season. They couldn’t create enough chances against Southampton over the two legs and just came up short.
Norwich City (6th place, 73 points, +15 goal difference) — ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS
Last season in Premier League: 2021-22
The Canaries have come up short, losing the second leg at Leeds 4-0 as their former boss Daniel Farke got the better of them.
Goalkeeper Angus Gunn had been very good all season but struggled massively in the second leg, and both USMNT star Josh Sargent and Jonathan Rowe were free-scoring when healthy and/or in-form this season. Borja Sainz has scored some bangers recently, while Sargent had been red-hot as the Canaries pushed hard to get back in the big time. But Norwich were simply blown away by Leeds in the first half of the second leg.
