The Swiss Challenge League is the second-highest division in Swiss football. It acts as the primary pathway to the Super League and typically consists of 10 teams. The clubs play a quadruple round-robin format, mirroring the top flight, resulting in a 36-game season. The champion earns automatic promotion to the Super League. If the champion holds a Super League license, the runner-up may also be promoted, depending on the licensing and playoff arrangements. The bottom team is relegated to the Promotion League, while the second-from-bottom team enters a relegation playoff. The Challenge League is a fully professional division known for its competitiveness and often features clubs with rich histories who are striving to return to the top flight, as well as ambitious smaller clubs.