The CFL season is crossing the midway point, and what we thought we knew in June is starting to look a little different as some pre-season expectations have been validated while others are already out the window.
A handful of teams have emerged as legitimate contenders. With nine games left to play, there is still plenty of time for the picture to change again, but we have a large enough sample size now to start separating the contenders from the pretenders.
So how do the nine teams stack up now compared to where they stood before Week 1? Some have climbed the rankings, others have fallen, and a few remain right where they were expected to be. Here’s a look at where every CFL team stands halfway through the season and a look at some early favourites for awards:
1. Montreal Alouettes (8-1)
Pre-season ranking: 4th
No team is rolling like the Alouettes. Montreal has been the CFL’s most consistent team from start to finish, with its star players leading the charge. The combination of Davis Alexander and Tyson Philpot has the Alouettes in the driver’s seat in the East, and it’s difficult to find a team playing better football.
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-2)
Pre-season ranking: 1st
The defending champions have found their form after an uneven start. Saskatchewan has shown the ability to win in different ways and remain one of the league’s most complete teams when playing at their best. They may have slipped from the top spot, but a 6-2 record keeps them firmly in the championship conversation. There is little reason to think the Riders won’t be in the mix, and their experience should carry them far once again.
3. Edmonton Elks (6-3)
Pre-season ranking: 5th
No team got off to a hotter start than the Elks. They had higher expectations than usual, as many believed they would be a playoff team, but at one point they looked like they were pulling away as the top team in the West. Edmonton has shown it can compete with the league’s top teams, but the challenge is proving it can sustain its hot start, as a couple of tough losses to Montreal and Saskatchewan have knocked it down a bit.
4. Calgary Stampeders (4-5)
Pre-season ranking: 6th
The Stampeders are a curious team, as they have shown flashes of being a legitimate playoff contender with the ability to score at will but have also struggled to put together consistent stretches. Sitting just below .500 leaves Calgary in the thick of the race, but there are still questions about whether this team can make a serious run, and much of that rests on Vernon Adams Jr. overcoming some subpar performances. They have moved up two spots from the pre-season rankings, but there is a sense Calgary could still go in either direction over the second half.
5. Toronto Argonauts (4-4)
Pre-season ranking: 8th
The Argonauts got through their heavy road schedule in a favourable position and seem to be finding their form. Toronto entered the season with plenty of questions, but a 4-4 record has put the team in a much better position. The Argos haven’t been perfect, with quarterback Chad Kelly showing his ability to make big plays but also having careless moments, including a four-interception performance against Calgary. The defence has found a way to step up, and they appear to be in a strong position to finish at least second in the East. The next step is to find more consistency and show they can go toe-to-toe with the CFL’s elite.
6. B.C. Lions (3-5)
Pre-season ranking: 2nd
The Lions have a lot of work to do after entering the season as a Grey Cup favourite. While a 3-5 record looks daunting, consecutive wins have them back in the playoff picture. There is still enough talent on this roster to believe a turnaround is possible, but the Lions have given themselves very little margin for error, and some tough matchups ahead will either sink them or show the league that they aren’t ready to close the door yet.
7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4)
Pre-season ranking: 7th
It has been a fairly predictable first half for the Blue Bombers. While they probably still feel good about their chances of staying in the playoff picture, another injury to quarterback Zach Collaros has shown their vulnerability. The Bombers have the experience and talent to make a second-half push, but unless they find a way to get more out of their offence, they could find themselves wondering if a new direction is needed.
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-6)
Pre-season ranking: 3rd
Few teams have fallen further from expectations than the Tiger-Cats, entering the season ranked third as a team poised to challenge for the East Division crown. A tough injury to quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has changed that, as they’ve been unable to recover. They are now on their fourth different quarterback after Harrison Frost was given the start against the Lions, and unfortunately it wasn’t enough. If they don’t find a way to pick up a couple of wins, especially against the Argonauts who have moved past them in the standings, they’ll see their championship drought continue.
9. Ottawa Redblacks (0-8)
Pre-season ranking: 9th
Unfortunately for Ottawa, not much has changed from its pre-season outlook. Even with Ryan Dinwiddie in the fold, the Redblacks have struggled to find any momentum through the first half of the season. They’ve already fired their defensive co-ordinator, and starters are being released as a clear sign from Dinwiddie that expectations have not been met. The real question many in Ottawa are asking is whether this could be the first time a team goes winless in a season. Surely the Redblacks can find a way to string together at least one win, right?
The frontrunners for the CFL awards are starting to take shape, and a few individuals are making their case for some hardware.
Here are the leading contenders for the two major awards:
Most Outstanding Player (MOP)
The contenders: Tyson Philpot, WR; Davis Alexander, QB; Cody Fajardo, QB
Pick: Philpot has been far and away the best receiver in the league, as he’s already eclipsed 1,000 yards, and given the pace he’s on, 2,000 isn’t out of the question. The last time a receiver won the award was in 2019, so Philpot will have his work cut out for him, and he’ll have tough competition against Alexander.
Most Outstanding Canadian (MOC)
The contenders: Tyson Philpot, WR; Nathan Rourke, QB; Kian Schaffer-Baker, WR
Pick: Philpot is the clear frontrunner here after establishing himself as one of the CFL’s most productive receivers, regardless of nationality. His historic start has put him in position to challenge for the league receiving title and should make him the favourite for the Most Outstanding Canadian. Rourke remains a major threat, particularly if the Lions can turn their season around in the second half, while Saskatchewan receiver Schaffer-Baker has also put himself into the conversation as a top-five receiver this season. But at the midway point, Philpot doesn’t have anyone close to overtaking him.