Finally, the final is the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ sole focus.
After clinching first place in the CFL’s West Division on Oct. 10, the Roughriders concluded the regular season with back-to-back games that did not have the slightest influence on their playoff placing.
Everything changed on Saturday at 7:34 p.m., when the B.C. Lions officially recorded a 27-21 victory at Mosaic Stadium.
That result left Saskatchewan with a 12-6 record — the Roughriders finished first overall in the league for the first time since 1976 — and with singular concentration on the Western Final (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“That’s a plus, for sure,” Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace said. “Now we have a little bit of an idea who our opponent is going to be for that game on the 8th.”
The Roughriders will return to action against either the Lions or Calgary Stampeders. Those teams are to meet in Vancouver on Nov. 1, with the winner to play Saskatchewan with a Grey Cup berth at stake.
“As a staff, we can kind of lock in on that and, when these guys come back into the building, have a plan of attack for that,” Mace said of the Western Final.
“If you have a bye week, it’s always a question of ‘what’s the advantage outside of the rest?’ For us as coaches, it’s crazy. Our wives probably won’t love it, but we’ve got more time to work as a staff.
“You’ve just got to do your due diligence and make sure you’re flipping over every stone.”
Saskatchewan has a first-round bye for only the ninth time in franchise history. The Roughriders previously won the West’s regular-season title in 1951, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 2009 and 2019.
“Maybe we’ll call it a bonus week,” Mace said after the term was incorporated into a question posed by Taylor Shire of the Regina Leader-Post. “I’m going to take credit for that, though. It’s awesome.
“The players will have some time off. They deserve it.”
The blueprint calls for the team to return to the practice field sometime this week, even though the Roughriders are idle in Round 1 of the playoffs.
“Just like the back end of the regular season, it’s rest versus rust,” Mace said.
“This is a room full of workers, so we’re going to do that.”
There will be a respite next Saturday, when the playoffs begin. In the East Division, the Montreal Alouettes will play host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — who finished fourth in the West and made the post-season as a crossover participant. The Lions-Stampeders showdown, to be held at BC Place in Vancouver, will follow.
“We’ve got B.C. and Calgary to watch,” receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker said. “I know we’re all going to be here next week watching that game together.
“Right from the moment we know who we’re playing, we’re going to be right back to work.”
Ideally, the ticket-office staff will also be busy as the Western Final approaches.
“The crowd noise and the fans, that will be unbelievable,” returner Mario Alford said. “The crowd is to our advantage, so that would be great. We need that.”
CAMPBELL AT CORNER
Roughriders cornerback Tevaughn Campbell finished in a five-way tie for the league lead in interceptions (six). With 205 interception-return yards, he was first in the CFL.
Campbell became the Roughriders’ seventh league leader in interceptions, following Dale West (10 in 1963), Bob Kosid (eight, 1968), Ken McEachern (10, 1980; tied for the lead), James Patrick (nine in 2010), Ed Gainey (10 in 2017) and Rolan Milligan Jr. (eight in 2024).
Campbell’s interception-return yardage total is the second-best in Roughriders history, behind West (226 on 10 picks in 1963). West and his wife, Joan, were at Saturday’s game.
DEFENCE DOMINATES
Saskatchewan allowed the fewest points (409) in the CFL (409) during the 2025 regular season.
The Roughriders previously allowed the fewest points in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 2002 and 2013.
