Troyes and Le Mans secured direct promotion from the 2025-26 Ligue 2 campaign, finishing first and second respectively to return to Ligue 1 for 2026-27 after absences of three and sixteen years. Troyes dominated with strong goal difference and consistent results across 34 matchweeks, while Le Mans benefited from defensive solidity and late momentum under their coaching staff. Saint-Étienne, Red Star, and others contended for playoff spots but fell short, reflecting the division's depth with recently relegated sides like Nantes and Metz adding quality. In the current 2026-27 Ligue 1 season, both promoted clubs have faced adaptation challenges, sitting near the bottom with limited points after early fixtures, underscoring the competitive gap and schedule demands that shape retrospective market views on promotion paths.