Roughriders’ Trevor Harris appraises rule adjustments with trademark accuracy

The essence of the great Canadian game will remain the same.

That was the emphatic message from Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris, whose opinion was sought on Tuesday regarding the CFL’s newly announced rule changes.

“It’s still three downs,” he noted. “There’s still 12 people on the field. The field’s still 65 yards wide. The end zone’s still deeper than 10 yards … it’s going to 15.

“It’s still Canadian football. There’s still going to be onside punts and all the crazy plays. It’s the same game.

“The only thing that changes is really just (missed) field goal returns, but the other return game hasn’t been affected. You’re still going to have kickoff returns. You’re still going to have the five-yard halo on punt returns.

“The game has not changed. It’s still the Canadian Football League and we’ve got nine Canadian teams in Canadian cities.”

And two changes of note in each of the next two seasons.

In 2026, modifications to the rouge will be implemented, with the objective of preventing teams from being able to register a single — particularly a game winner — on a punt or missed field goal attempt that sails through the end zone and results in the ball being unplayable.

As well, there will be adjustments to the timing of a game, with a 35-second clock being reset upon the conclusion of each play.

Those alterations are a prelude to 2027, when the goal posts will be moved to the back of the end zone (which will be 15 yards deep instead of 20) and the length of the playing surface between the goal lines will be reduced to 100 yards from 110.

The changes were announced on Monday by first-year CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston, who noted that the league’s Board of Governors provided unanimous assent.

“We’ve got smart people at the top who know what they’re doing,” Harris said. “We’re employees. I wouldn’t tell an employer how to run their business or what to do.

“I’m just grateful to be in this league and to have an opportunity to play in front of these fans and in this country. Whatever the rules are, we should adjust to them and try to bend them to our advantage.

“I know there’s probably some people upset, but it is what it is. We have people at the top making decisions and we have to trust that they know what they’re doing.

“I’m one of those people. I trust them.”

Placekickers will have fewer chip shots due to the goal posts being moved back. What is now a 10-yard field goal, for example, will eventually be an attempt from 25.

“You’re going to have to kick longer field goals,” Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther said. “Getting down to the red zone (and the 20-yard line) and adding the 15 yards, you’re looking at a 43-yard field goal.

“You’ll have to get down inside the other team’s 30 or 35 to kick some pretty long ones. Maybe it could help. But, at the end of the day, I’ll worry about that in the future.”

In the distant past, there was a 102-yard touchdown pass, thrown by Ron Lancaster to Roughriders speedster Gord Barwell against the host B.C. Lions on Oct. 24, 1965.

Lancaster’s grandson, Marc Mueller, is now the Roughriders’ Offensive Co-ordinator. Effective in 2027, the longest possible play from scrimmage will be 99 yards.

“If you’re one of the (six) guys who caught (a touchdown pass of 100-plus yards), you should be pretty excited,” Mueller said. “You’ll have a record forever.

“It’s like when they changed the 100-yard dash to the 100-metre dash. There are certain guys in Saskatchewan who will always be the 100-yard dash record holder.”

Roughriders legend Dale West, for example, covered 100 yards in an economical 9.8 seconds while representing Saskatoon’s Bedford Road Collegiate at the 1959 Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association track and field championships.

West’s provincial record will endure for all time, thanks to the move to metres.

The clock is ticking on the Roughriders’ record for the longest reception — Jeff Fairholm’s 107-yarder against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 2, 1990.

Fairholm will own the permanent standard if 107 yards is not equalled or exceeded over the Roughriders’ next 23 regular-season games.

By contrast, the team mark for the longest run from scrimmage will remain breakable even if it endures beyond 2026.

Alex Bravo took off on a game-breaking, ground-breaking 98-yard run against the visiting Lions on Sept. 29, 1956. Since then, only three Roughriders running plays have covered 90 yards or more, topping out at 93.

INJURY UPDATE

Offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon, who suffered an arm injury early in Coors Light Training Camp, has returned to the practice field. He was listed as a full participant in Tuesday’s workout.

Gagnon, a ninth-year CFLer with 106 regular-season games to his credit, was signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 11.

He was placed on the six-game injured list on June 4 — one day before the regular-season opener — and extended on July 24 and Sept. 12.

Also listed as a full participant was running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, who has missed 10 games with a leg injury after a strong start to the 2025 season.

Tuesday’s list of full participants also included receivers Shawn Bane Jr. (knee), Samuel Emilus (knee) and Kian Schaffer-Baker (foot), cornerback Marcus Sayles (leg) and quarterback Jack Coan (hand).

Returner Drae McCray (head) and linebacker Nick Wiebe (knee) were limited participants.

Defensive backs Tevaughn Campbell (head), Jaxon Ford (knee) and Nelson Lokombo (ankle), offensive lineman Zack Fry (knee), defensive lineman Shane Ray (shoulder) and linebacker Melique Straker (leg) did not practise.

The Roughriders, who sport a league-best 10-3 record, return to action on Saturday against the Edmonton Elks. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., at Commonwealth Stadium.