In the 2025/26 2. Bundesliga season, FC Schalke 04 led the table to secure automatic promotion with 70 points, finishing as champions after a run of 21 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses. The team’s strong form culminated in a return to the Bundesliga after a three-year spell in the second tier. Direct promotion also went to SV Elversberg, who finished second on 62 points and achieved promotion for the first time in club history with a 3-0 win on the final matchday against Preußen Münster, aided by a substantial goal difference of +25.
SC Paderborn 07 secured the third promotion/ play-off spot with 62 points and a +14 goal difference, entering the promotion/relegation playoff against VfL Wolfsburg, the Bundesliga side in 16th place. The mid-table section saw Hannover 96 at 4th with 60 points, followed by Darmstadt 98 and Kaiserslautern on 52 points, each carrying different goal differences, while Hertha BSC sat further down the table. These final positions set the stage for forthcoming Bundesliga and playoff outcomes and closed another competitive campaign in the second tier.