CFL Season Preview
The season approaches, and we will have 21 weeks of regular-season play followed by the best three weeks in football, the CFL playoff tournament.
All teams are aspiring to be the next Grey Cup champions.
Here are goals for all teams across the CFL:
BC Lions
- Improve on a 3rd-place finish in the west and host a playoff game
- Elevate the existing CFL MOP and MOC, Nathan Rourke to possible Grey Cup MOP and MOC
- Will this be the last season for Sean Whyte? He needs 82 points to jump into 8th place on the CFL All-Time Scoring list and 153 for 7th place
Calgary Stampeders
- Continue with the best interdivisional record in the west (7-3-0 last season)
- With newly signed Vernon Adams at QB, will this be the best years for veteran Reggie Begelton and Jalen Philpot?
- QB’s beware with Clarence Hicks and Folarin Orimolade patrolling the defensive line
Saskatchewan Roughriders
- The last time the Roughriders played in back-to-back Grey Cups was 1966 & 1967, winning in 1966
- An exodus of players left GM Jeremy O’Day a challenge. Players leaving included: Malik Carney, Mario Alford, A.J. Allen and Brett Lauther
- Trevor Harris has a chance at surpassing Henry Burris (53,277 yds) and Ricky Ray (60,529 yds) on the CFL All-time Passing Yards list
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- The Bombers want to extend the league leading playoff streak to 10 seasons
- Brady Oliveira is poised for his 5th consecutive 1000 yd rushing season
- The future looks bright with last years ROY and Special Teams POY, Trey Vaval and recently signed QB Taylor Elgersma
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- The Ti-cats have the longest Grey Cup drought of any CFL Team (1999)
- Looking to back-to-back first place East Division finishes since 1980 & 1981
- All eyes will be on Bo Levi Mitchell as he adds to his Legacy
Toronto Argonauts
- Survive their quirky scheduling due to 2026 FIFA World Cup
- How well will new Head Coach Mike Miller handle double duty as HC and OC .
- Do the Argos have the best QB 1-2 punch in the league with Chad Kelly and Nick Arbuckle?
Ottawa Redblacks
- Will new Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie and QB Dru Brown bring passing excellence to the Redblacks?
- Justin Hardy is the stability in the receiving corps any team looks for.
- What does the defense look like with A.J. Allen and Nyles Morgan in the linebacking corp
Montreal Alouettes
- The Alouettes are looking to make the playoffs for the 7th consecutive season
- Watch out for QB Davis Alexander and his targets, Philpot, Hollins Sterns and Snead as they set to take flight over Montreal
- Does DeVonte Dedmon bring the final piece of the puzzle to get the Als back to Grey Cup glory?
Edmonton Elks
- The Elks need to break the streak of five straight playoff absences
- A revamped offensive line needs to keep QB Cody Fajardo upright and give Justin Rankin holes to maneuver in
- Malik Carney was brought in to help with the pass rush and support a secondary led by Tyrrell Ford
| Last Time…. | |||||||||
| BC | Cgy | Edm | Sask | Wpg | Ham | Tor | Ott | Mtl | |
| Grey Cup Win | 2011 | 2018 | 2015 | 2025 | 2021 | 1999 | 2024 | 2016 | 2023 |
| Grey Cup Appearance | 2011 | 2018 | 2015 | 2025 | 2024 | 2021 | 2024 | 2018 | 2025 |
| Host Grey Cup | 2024 | 2019 | 2018 | 2022 | 2025 | 2023 | 2016 | 2017 | 2008 |
| Host Division Final | 2012 | 2018 | 2015 | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2018 | 2024 |
| Host Semi Final | 2025 | 2019 | 2014 | 2024 | 2017 | 2021 | 2024 | 2017 | 2025 |
| 15+ Win Season | – | 2016 | 1989 | – | 2022 | 2019 | 2023 | – | 2009 |
| 12+ Win Season | 2023 | 2022 | 2017 | 2025 | 2023 | 2019 | 2023 | 2015 | 2024 |
| 9+ Win Season | 2025 | 2025 | 2018 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 9+ Loss Season | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2023 | 2015 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2022 |
| 12+ Loss Season | 2019 | 2024 | 2023 | 2023 | 2015 | 2017 | 2025 | 2025 | 2018 |
| 15+ Loss Season | 1992 | – | – | 2015 | 2013 | 2008 | 2009 | 2019 | 2017 |
| Perfect Home Record | 1963 | 2016 | 1989 | 1968 | 2021 | 2019 | 2023 | 1969 | 2009 |
| Winless Home Record | – | – | – | 1959 | – | – | 1957 | 2022 | – |
| Perfect Road Record | – | 1949 | – | – | 1961 | – | – | 1945 | – |
| Winless Road Record | 1961 | – | 1963 | 1999 | 2010 | 2007 | 2018 | 2014 | 2017 |
| Streak of Seasons Making Playoffs | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Streak of Seasons Missing Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Night at the Knothole
With pre-season Game 1 wrapped up last Saturday — a 34-16 Elks victory over the BC Lions — the Elks are moving on to preseason Game 2: “Night at the Knothole” at Clarke Stadium, where they’ll host the Calgary Stampeders Friday night.
While the modern facility is evolving, it’s a far cry from the original Clarke Stadium of my youth. I still vividly recall the buzzing transformers beneath towering lights, the solid green wooden fence (where fans climbed the north-end trees rather than looking through the knotholes), and the heavily painted green end zone seats. I remember the tiny concrete track barely wide enough for the fire truck, the blinding sunset from the northeast end zone, and the distinct childhood dread of the stadium’s wall urinals.
That specific slice of history has faded, but the site is regenerating. Elks President Chris Morris recently revealed on The Jason Gregor Show (May 19, 2026) that the team aims to build a dome at Clarke Stadium and establish youth programs at a surrounding community centre. As this facility evolves, so too do the team and its fanbase.
Is it June yet?
