Porto B were the defending champions, after winning their first title in the competition in the previous season.
A total of 22 teams contest the league, including 17 sides from the 2015–16 season, two teams relegated from the 2015–16 Primeira Liga (União da Madeira and Académica) and three promoted from the 2015–16 Campeonato de Portugal (Cova da Piedade, Vizela and Fafe).
Other team changes compared to the previous season included the promotion of Chaves and Feirense to the 2016–17 Primeira Liga, and the relegation of Farense, Mafra, Atlético CP, Oriental and Oliveirense to the 2016–17 Campeonato de Portugal.
Fafe played nine matches at Estádio Dr. Machado de Matos, with attendances of 1,698 (Freamunde), 1,470 (Santa Clara), 823 (Leixões), 751 (Portimonense), 962 (Académica), 564 (Sporting da Covilhã), 504 (Cova da Piedade), 1,075 (Vizela) and 613 (Gil Vicente) spectators; and played two matches at Estádio Municipal de Amarante, with attendances of 1,386 (Desportivo das Aves) and 656 (Braga B) spectators.4.
Cova da Piedade played one match at Caixa Futebol Campus, with an attendance of 372 (Leixões) spectators.5.