Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances.

Thus, the tournament is organized in regional groups and the table prevents teams from distant states from playing each other in the initial rounds.

The top eight teams qualify for a knock out stage and the four semi-finalists are promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.

This format was maintained until 2020, when the competition's Technical Council decided to make a change in the second phase, reintroducing two groups of four to determine the promoted teams and finalists, as in 2011.

The following table shows the winners and runners-up of the Série C tournaments played from 1981, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation:[2] The following season is the part corresponding to the third level of the Copa João Havelange, a competition organized by the Clube dos 13, and is not officially recognized by the CBF:[2][3] Below is the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.