Bundesliga 2 is the second tier of professional football in Germany. It operates below the top division, Bundesliga, and features 18 teams competing for promotion to the higher league. The season typically runs from August to May, with each team playing 34 matches. The league was established in 1974 and has become an important platform for clubs to develop talent and gain exposure. The top two teams at the end of the season earn direct promotion, while the third-placed team enters a playoff against a Bundesliga team for a chance to move up.