The League One 2022/23 Playoff race was one of the most enthralling dramas to follow in world football last season. With Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town securing automatic promotion, Sheffield Wednesday secured the third spot through the playoffs — and they did not secure it just like any other team.

After losing the first leg 4-0, Wednesday won the second leg 5-1 to seal promotion on penalties. This season could be better, with 11 points separating eight teams and only three points coming between the four teams in the playoff spots.

The below visualisation displays how the current League One promotion race is shaping up.

Portsmouth are top of the table and look to be favourites as table-toppers to return to the Championship for the first time since 2012. After moving up and down the table, Pompey have now been at the top since game week 14.

Behind them in second and third are Peterborough United and Derby County, respectively, tied on 52 points each having played one game less. Peterborough have not lost a game since losing to Wigan in early November and will look to continue this momentum and secure automatic promotion this time around.

Derby, meanwhile, after an inconsistent start to the season, have won all but two games since late October.

Below these three come Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Oxford United. Oxford United are sixth with 49 points and will want to bring their early season form back when they won five consecutive games and lost just twice in 16.

Bolton and Barnsley, on the other hand, will look to turn their playoff failure into a positive end to the season this time around.

Just outside the playoff places are Stevenage and Blackpool. Stevenage, playing in League One for the first time since the 2013/14 season, have been one of the teams of the season far — they are seventh with 46 points, but promotion to the Championship might be out of reach for them this time around given their experience or lack thereof at this level. Still, never say never as long as manager Steve Evans is at the helm.

Blackpool, with 46 points, occupy eighth and close out the playoff race for now.

League One has already delivered drama this season, and we are only just getting started having only crossed the midway point. With the transfer window open and clubs making moves, teams will enter and leave the playoff race over the course of the next few weeks, and it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.