The 2016–17 Serie B (known as the Serie B ConTe.it for sponsorship reasons) was the 85th season since its establishment in 1929. A total of 22 teams were contesting the league: 15 returning from the 2015–16 season, 4 promoted from Lega Pro, and 3 relegated from Serie A.
^ abSalernitana is ahead of Virtus Entella on head-to-head points: Salernitana 1–1 Virtus Entella, Virtus Entella 0–1 Salernitana.
^ abBari is ahead of Cesena on head-to-head points: Bari 2–1 Cesena, Cesena 1–1 Bari.
^Avellino was initially deducted three points due to match fixing. The deduction was later changed to two points.[14]
^ abAvellino is ahead of Brescia on head-to-head points: Avellino 1–1 Brescia, Brescia 0–2 Avellino.
^ abcHead-to-head points: Ascoli 7 pts, Pro Vercelli 7 pts, Ternana 3 pts. Ascoli is ahead of Pro Vercelli on head-to-head record: Ascoli 3–1 Pro Vercelli, Pro Vercelli 1–1 Ascoli.
^ abSince the difference between the 18th-placed team and the 19th-placed team was five points, there was no play-out and the 19th-placed team was relegated directly.
^Latina was initially deducted seven points. The deduction was later changed to four points.
^ abLatina is ahead of Pisa on overall goal difference.
^Latina was declared insolvent and excluded from the Italian football league system.[15] The team was later refound in Serie D.
According to the regulations, third-placed Frosinone would have avoided the play-offs if they had ended the regular season 10 points clear of fourth place. However, in the last round, Perugia and Benevento won their matches to leave the gap at nine points.[17]
Six teams contested the promotion playoffs. A preliminary one-legged round, played at the home venue of the higher placed team, involved the teams from 5th to 8th place. The two winning teams played against the 3rd and 4th-placed teams in two-legged semi-finals. The higher placed team played the second leg of the promotion playoff at home.