In a season full of drama and decisive moments, VfL Osnabrück have secured their place in the 2. Bundesliga before even stepping onto the pitch on matchday 36. Their promotion was confirmed when Rot-Weiss Essen suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart II, ensuring Timo Schulz's side will finish in the automatic promotion spots. This marks Osnabrück's third promotion since 2019, a testament to their resilience and consistency in the third tier.

Adding to the excitement, Ecuadorian international Jeremy Arévalo made history by becoming only the second non-German player to score a hat-trick in the 3. Liga this season. Meanwhile, the reserve teams of Stuttgart and Hoffenheim managed to survive relegation, holding onto their spots in the league for another campaign.

On the flip side, SSV Ulm face the harsh reality of back-to-back relegations, dropping to the fourth-tier Regionalliga. Joining them in the lower division next season are TSV Havelse, Erzgebirge Aue, and 1. FC Schweinfurt, who finished in the bottom three. It's a tough pill to swallow for these clubs, especially Ulm, who will need to regroup and rebuild.

With just two matchdays remaining, the race for the final automatic promotion spot and a playoff place is heating up. Six teams, including Energie Cottbus and Rot-Weiss Essen, are still in contention, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. Leading the scoring charts is former Freiburg midfielder Lars Gindorf, who has netted 23 goals for Alemannia Aachen, proving his class in front of goal.