Believe it or not, there are only four weeks left in the 2025 CFL regular season, and all nine teams are still technically alive in the playoff hunt. That means every snap, every drive, and every result carries weight. Week 18 features just three games, and the Elks are watching from the sidelines on a bye, but all three carry massive implications. Let’s go through what’s at stake.
Ottawa Redblacks vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Friday, Oct. 3 at 5:30 PM MT
Ottawa has reached the must-win portion of the calendar. At 4-10, the Redblacks need to start stacking victories if they want any chance of staying in the East playoff race. Coming off a bye, they’ve had extra time to scheme against a Saskatchewan team that’s suddenly stumbled with two straight losses.
The mission for the riders, who sit 10-4 following back-to-back losses, is to stop the bleeding. Last week’s narrow defeat in Edmonton kept the door cracked open for Calgary, Winnipeg, and BC to close the gap in the West standings. A win here keeps Saskatchewan on track for home-field advantage. A loss, though, would raise serious questions heading into the final stretch.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 PM MT
The Battle of the Greater Toronto Area comes with some added spice this time around. The Argos are still somehow in playoff contention at 5-10, while the Tiger-Cats are two points up on Montreal for top spot in the East Division with a 9-6 record.
The Argos will be leaning on Jake Herslow, who’s become a touchdown machine in 2025 with nine majors, second only to Hamilton’s Kenny Lawler. Herslow has filled the void left by Damonte Coxie’s injury, giving Nick Arbuckle a reliable red-zone target.
Calgary Stampeders vs. BC Lions
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 5:00 PM MT
This is the game of the week. The Stampeders sit second in the West Division at 8-6, only four points behind Saskatchewan, and also hold the tiebreaker over the Riders. Calgary is on a three-game losing skid, allowing both BC and Winnipeg to catch up to them with matching 8-7 records. A loss here would have the Stamps worrying about the crossover spot rather than the number-one seed.
Meanwhile, the Lions are on a three-game winning streak and have looked like the strongest team in the CFL lately. BC hammered the Stamps a couple of weeks ago in Calgary with a 52-23 victory. Nathan Rourke led the way with 331 yards on 20-for-24 passing, while Matthieu Betts broke through with two huge sacks.
