Exeter need a win against playoff-chasing Bradford, as well as favourable results elsewhere, to avoid the drop on Saturday.
Stevenage can seal a place in the playoffs with a victory over Wigan at Broadhall Way.
Stockport’s playoff dreams could be shattered at the death if they lose to Barnsley at Oakwell.
The 2025/26 League One campaign concludes on Saturday, May 2nd, though there are still formalities to sort at both ends of the table as the division’s 24 teams prepare to do battle on the final day of the regular season.
Bolton, Stockport, Bradford, Stevenage, Luton and Plymouth still harbour playoff hopes, though only four of those six clubs will secure passage to the next phase by close of business on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Exeter City and Leyton Orient are locked in a two-way skirmish for survival ahead of their do-or-die encounters with Bradford and Burton Albion.
Drama is guaranteed this weekend and we’ve got previews and predictions for all 12 League One fixtures for the final day below.
AFC Wimbledon vs Huddersfield (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
AFC Wimbledon can breathe easy on the final day of the League One campaign, having secured survival last weekend with a dramatic 1-0 win at Wigan through Antwoine Hackford’s 90th-minute decider. With the pressure off, the Dons could cap their season in positive style when they host a Huddersfield outfit that has failed to win eight of its last nine league matches.
Score prediction: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Huddersfield
Barnsley vs Stockport County (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Stockport’s shock 2-1 reverse at home to Port Vale on Tuesday evening means their playoff hopes are back in the balance and they are likely to need points of some description when they visit Oakwell. Barnsley, who have won only once in seven attempts at home, have little to play for on the final day, and that could give a more motivated County the edge.
Score prediction: Barnsley 1-2 Stockport County
Bolton vs Luton (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Bolton’s 1-1 draw at Bradford last weekend cemented their place in the playoffs, though Saturday’s visitors Luton need to avoid defeat, at the very least, to join Wanderers in the next phase of the promotion race. The Hatters are in superb form, having won seven and drawn two of their last nine league games, alongside lifting the EFL Trophy. They will need favours from elsewhere to make the cut, though red-hot Town can hold up their end of the bargain.
Score prediction: Bolton 1-2 Luton
Exeter vs Bradford City (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Only a win on the final day will suffice (alongside favourable results elsewhere) for Exeter in the race of survival, though visiting Bradford need a point to guarantee they hold onto a position in the playoffs. An afternoon of high drama at St. James’ Park is in the works then. Exeter drew 3-3 with Stockport in their last home fixture and with so much riding on the result, a similarly chaotic bout could develop on Saturday.
Score prediction: Exeter 3-2 Bradford City
Leyton Orient vs Burton Albion (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
A point should be enough for Leyton Orient to avoid the drop on Saturday, though they had just one shot on target in last weekend’s loss to Blackpool (1-0) and have failed to score in each of their last three matches. Burton are safe following last week’s 1-1 draw with Exeter. That was Albion’s fourth draw in five games, and with Orient looking toothless, Burton could earn another share of the spoils here.
Score prediction: Leyton Orient 0-0 Burton Albion
Mansfield vs Cardiff (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
With Mansfield locked in midtable limbo and Cardiff already promoted, Saturday’s fixture between the pair has the makings of a last-day dead rubber. The Stags have lost only once in 12 league matches, while Cardiff have been turned over just once in ten games in the division, and with both sides proving tough to beat, a point on the final day in a low-key contest might suit each party.
Score prediction: Mansfield 1-1 Cardiff
Northampton vs Plymouth Argyle (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Sitting just two points behind Stevenage (6th), Plymouth still have an outside chance of landing a playoff berth at the death, and they should be able to claim the win they need at Northampton to stay in the hunt. The relegated Cobblers, who’ve lost ten successive league fixtures, cannot wait for the campaign to end, so expect them to offer little in the way of resistance against Argyle.
Score prediction: Northampton 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
Peterborough vs Doncaster (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Peterborough dug out the point they needed against Mansfield (0-0) on Tuesday to avoid relegation, meaning their final-day tussle with midtable Doncaster has little riding on it. The Posh have been robust at home since the end of January, losing only once in seven games at the Weston Homes Stadium. Four of those contests did finish all square however, and another stalemate could follow on Saturday.
Score prediction: Peterborough 1-1 Doncaster
Port Vale vs Lincoln City (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Early goals from Martin Sherif and Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel earned relegated Port Vale a shock 2-1 win at playoff-chasing Stockport on Tuesday evening, though a similar final-day flourish against champions Lincoln should be tougher to accomplish. The visiting Imps broke the 100-point barrier with last weekend’s 4-3 victory over Wycombe before lifting the League One trophy. Lincoln haven’t lost a league fixture since November, and they should have too much firepower for Vale.
Score prediction: Port Vale 1-3 Lincoln City
Reading vs Blackpool (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
With this season’s finish line in sight, Reading have taken their foot off the gas in recent weeks and their 1-1 draw at Rotherham last weekend pushed their winless run to five games. With survival a major motivator, Blackpool have won five of their last six assignments in League One, though they secured their status with last week’s triumph over Leyton Orient (1-0) and won’t need to play Saturday’s campaign closer with any urgency. The spoils could be shared here.
Score prediction: Reading 1-1 Blackpool
Stevenage Borough vs Wigan (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
A return of just one win from their last four matches has threatened Stevenage’s playoff dreams, though Borough can seal the deal with a win over Wigan on Saturday. Borough have won an impressive 80% of their last ten home games in League One and they can push for maximum points again when they host a Wigan side that failed to score in each of their last two games (vs Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon).
Score prediction: Stevenage Borough 1-0 Wigan
Wycombe vs Rotherham (Saturday, 3:00 pm)
Wycombe’s form has tailed off since they fell out of the playoff race, however, despite losing four of their last five, Wanderers could rouse themselves to sign off for the season with a win over Rotherham in front of their own fans. Relegated Rotherham have League One’s second-worst away record this term, winning only four times in 22 attempts on the road, so bettors should expect them to fall short again at Adams Park.
Score prediction: Wycombe 2-0 Rotherham
