It's almost football time in Canada once again.
The 2023 Canadian Football League season kicks off Thursday night in Calgary when the Stampeders host the BC Lions. It'll mark the league's first truly normal season since 2019, with no labor unrest, pandemic protocols, or shortened schedules looming over the proceedings. The league is also coming off a successful 2022 campaign that ended with a classic Grey Cup game and a monumental upset result. Sure, there are still a few issues - this is the CFL, after all - but for the most part, fans can focus solely on the gridiron and the road to the 110th Grey Cup in Hamilton. That's a good thing for everyone who loves this league.
Here's everything you need to know about the 65th CFL season.
Things to know
Playoff schedule shuffle
The biggest change to the structure of the CFL season is moving the division semifinal and final playoff games from Sunday to Saturday for the first time since 2008 (the Grey Cup will still be played on a Sunday). It's an obvious move to avoid going up against the behemoth that is the NFL, and it's a wonder why it took so long to happen. Grey Cup ratings actually went up, but the first two rounds trended down going up against daytime NFL contests. That's not a battle the CFL will win, and that's OK. For once, the league put itself in the best position to showcase its talent and get eyeballs on its product. Only good things can come from that.
In the regular season, the CFL will also head back to Atlantic Canada, with the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders playing at Saint Mary's University in Halifax on July 29. This will be perhaps the most important of the CFL's "Touchdown Atlantic" games, with talk of a Maritimes expansion franchise once again gaining serious steam.
Rule changes worked
Last year's rule changes gave the on-field product the shot in the arm it sorely needed. A more high-tempo version of three-down football returned, with league scoring coming in at just over 50 points per game in 2022, a 14.5% increase from the shortened 2021 campaign. The CFL is supposed to be a high-scoring league, and it's great that the product is now back on track. It feels safe to expect more of the same this season.
The league revealed a few minor tweaks to its rule book ahead of the 2023 season, designed to refine last year's more seismic adjustments. Among the most notable changes:
- Teams will now start drives at the 30-yard line after interceptions or fumble recoveries in their own end zone and when a kicked ball hits the goal post.
- Defensive formations have been restricted on field goals and convert attempts.
- The ball no longer has to be touched before a rouge is awarded on kickoffs.
- If a holding penalty is assessed inside the offensive team's own end zone, the opposing team can now choose to be awarded a safety.
Team by team
There was plenty of movement during the offseason that resulted in some of the CFL's most recognizable names suddenly wearing unfamiliar colors. Let's break down all nine teams ahead of Week 1:
BC Lions
2022 record: 12-6 (24 Points), 2nd in West; lost West final
Grey Cup odds: +500
Key additions: DL Francis Bemiy, OL Michael Couture, QB Dane Evans, DB Mike Jones, RB Kienan LaFrance, WR Justin McInnis
Key departures: RB James Butler, OT Joel Figueroa, C Peter Godber, DB Loucheiz Purifoy, QB Antonio Pipkin, QB Nathan Rourke, LB Jordan Williams
Key Canadian: LB Bo Lokombo
X-factor: QB Vernon Adams Jr.
The big question: Will someone step up in the backfield? The Lions will miss Rourke, but they have the reliable Adams - who filled in admirably when the Canadian pivot was hurt last year, and looked great in the preseason - to replace him, plus the veteran Evans now standing by behind him. The same can't be said at running back, where Butler, last year's other breakout star, bolted to Hamilton and left behind a glaring hole. BC started camp with three rookies vying for the starting tailback spot, and none of them pulled away from the competition. From that group, just two running backs - first-year tailback Taquan Mizzell and national fullback David Mackie - made the Week 1 roster; BC then reportedly signed veteran national LaFrance on Monday after he was cut by Saskatchewan. The Lions don't necessarily need anyone to replicate Butler's thousand-yard production for success, especially if Adams is running a pass-first offense, but it would be a boon if either LaFrance or Mizzell could step up to give them some kind of reliable ground game.
Calgary Stampeders
2022 record: 12-6 (24 Points), 3rd in West; lost West semifinal
Grey Cup odds: +600
Key additions: LB Micah Awe, WR Clark Barnes, OL Jamal Campbell, DE Julian Howsare, DL Mike Moore, WR Cole Tucker, DL James Vaughters
Key departures: WR Shawn Bane Jr., OL Derek Dennis, OT Julian Good-Jones, QB Bo Levi Mitchell, DL Shawn Lemon, DL Folarin Orimolade, WR Richie Sindani, LB Jameer Thurman, CB Trumaine Washington
Key Canadian: LB Cameron Judge
X-factor: DB Titus Wall
The big question: Will the receivers do their part? This much we know about the 2023 Stampeders: They're going to be very good at running the football. Reigning rushing champion Ka'Deem Carey leads the charge, and the Stamps can also work Peyton Logan and Dedrick Mills into the backfield mix for some different looks. It's on the receiving side that a lack of depth behind Reggie Begelton and Malik Henry raises questions. Richie Sindani's departure and Jalen Philpot's likely season-ending injury left the Stamps with two major national holes to fill. Draft picks Tucker and Barnes looked good in camp but are obviously still unproven. Luther Hakunavanhu (third season) and Tre Odoms-Dukes (second) are familiar targets for Jake Maier, but it's their first shots at more prominent roles. This can all be solved if someone emerges as a bona fide third option, but until - or unless - that happens, the lack of experience and depth at receiver could be an issue for this otherwise very good team.
Edmonton Elks
2022 record: 4-14 (8 Points), 5th in West
Grey Cup odds: +2500
Key additions: OL Theren Churchill, K/P Michael Domagala*, WR Steven Dunbar Jr., P Jake Julien, DL A.C. Leonard, WR Eugene Lewis, WR Kyran Moore, DB Loucheiz Purifoy, OL Josiah St. John
Key departures: K Sergio Castillo, DL Avery Ellis, WR Kenny Lawler, WR Derel Walker, OL Tony Washington
Key Canadians: OLs Theren Churchill, Mark Corte, and Josiah St. John
X-factor: QB Taylor Cornelius
*Beginning season on practice squad
The big question: Can they take the next step? The Elks are coming off another dismal season, but head coach/GM Chris Jones obviously saw enough out of his 4-14 squad to feel like better days are near. Jones made the CFL's biggest offseason splash by signing Lewis, last year's East MOP nominee, to a deal that reportedly made him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Edmonton's league-worst D should also be improved with the additions of Purifoy and Leonard. But to get back to the postseason, Cornelius needs to mature as a quarterback. The Elks have been very patient with Cornelius as he learned on the job the last few years; now, he must show his bosses that their trust in him to develop into a franchise QB wasn't misplaced. The team needs to display a level of consistency on the field week-to-week to give themselves a chance. And they must snap that CFL-record 17-game home losing streak, which dates back to 2019. For a team that appears to have big aspirations, there are still an awful lot of question marks.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2022 record: 8-10 (16 Points), 3rd in East; lost East semifinal
Grey Cup odds: +500
Key additions: DE Kwaku Boateng, RB James Butler, DL Ja'Gared Davis, DB Chris Edwards, OT Joel Figueroa, DL Jonathan Kongbo, QB Bo Levi Mitchell, DL Casey Sayles, WR Richie Sindani, LB Jameer Thurman, WR Duke Williams
Key departures: WR Bralon Addison, CB Cariel Brooks, WR Steven Dunbar Jr., DB Ciante Evans, QB Dane Evans, DE Valentin Gnahoua, DE Julian Howsare, RB Don Jackson, DT Micah Johnson, OL Colin Kelly, DB Kameron Kelly, LB Grant McDonald, DB Jumal Rolle, LB Jovan Santos-Knox, WR/KR Papi White
Key Canadian: DT Ted Laurent
X-factor: LB Simoni Lawrence
The big question: What does Mitchell have left? The 33-year-old hardly looked like a two-time MOP during his downturn over the last few seasons, a spiral that led to both his benching last summer and then his unceremonious departure from Calgary. For the Ticats, trading for Mitchell off that kind of down year and immediately signing him to a three-year deal was a massive risk, not to mention an admission that picking Dane Evans over Jeremiah Masoli was the wrong choice. It's very easy to see why the Ticats did it, though, because we're still talking about one of the greatest QBs in CFL history. A healthy and revitalized Mitchell gets Hamilton much closer to ending that 24-year Grey Cup drought. The Ticats are a talented squad and the biggest threat to dethrone Toronto in the East, but everything hinges on Bo rediscovering his Hall of Fame form. Anything less could doom them.
Montreal Alouettes
2022 record: 9-9 (18 Points), 2nd in East; lost East final
Grey Cup odds: +1200
Key additions: LS Louis-Philippe Bourassa, WR Greg Ellingson, DL Avery Ellis, DB Ciante Evans, QB Cody Fajardo, OL Justin Lawrence, LB Avery Williams
Key departures: DL Thomas Costigan, QB Trevor Harris, WR Eugene Lewis, DB Mike Jones, DL Mike Moore, DB Adarius Pickett, DT Michael Wakefield, WR Jake Wieneke
Key Canadian: WR Tyson Philpot
X-factor: RB William Stanback
The big question: Can they rise above the chaos? The Alouettes' home playoff win last November was followed by a wild offseason of change that ultimately left the franchise with far more questions than answers, both on and off the field. If nothing else, the most important question - whether they'd play this season as wards of the league - was resolved in March when billionaire Pierre Karl Peladeau rescued the franchise. Peladeau's got his work cut out for him, though, because he inherited a team that's rapidly losing visibility in its home market and had some of its biggest stars sign elsewhere, thanks in part to the ownership turbulence. New head coach Jason Maas and quarterback Cody Fajardo were together at the forefront of Saskatchewan's woeful offense last year, and both have to quiet plenty of doubters in order to make this Alouettes season a success. There isn't a total lack of talent here, but talent alone will only get you so far. A lot is going to have to break right for the Als to be a factor in the East.
Ottawa Redblacks
2022 record: 4-14 (8 Points), 4th in East
Grey Cup odds: +1400
Key additions: WR Bralon Addison*, CB Cariel Brooks, OL Dontae Bull, OG Drew Desjarlais, WR Shaq Evans, RB Ante Milanovic-Litre, LB Jovan Santos-Knox, DL Blessman Ta'ala, DT Michael Wakefield
Key departures: WR Darvin Adams, DE Kwaku Boateng, LS Louis-Philippe Bourassa, OL Darius Ciraco, QB Caleb Evans, WR Shaq Johnson, LB Patrick Levels, RB William Powell, DB Antoine Pruneau, LB Avery Williams, OL Ucambre Williams
Key Canadian: OG Drew Desjarlais
X-factor: QB Jeremiah Masoli
*Addison is starting the season on the 6-game injured list
The big question: How much better are they? We asked this about the Redblacks last year after their splashy offseason, and the answer ended up being ... much worse. So let's try this again after a second straight busy winter in the nation's capital. The biggest change was on the sidelines, where head coach Bob Dyce had the interim tag removed, and deservedly so. Ottawa went 1-3 under Dyce after firing Paul LaPolice but played some of its most competitive football during that final stretch. As far as the players go, Masoli and Jaelon Acklin being healthy again will do wonders for the offense, while reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player Lorenzo Mauldin IV returns as an anchor. An O-line that allowed just 34 sacks last year improved with the additions of Desjarlais and first overall pick Bull, though they'll have to work extra hard to open space for an unheralded group of running backs. The injury bug's already struck again, too: Wideout Shaq Evans and defensive star Monshadrik "Money" Hunter were both hurt in the first preseason game and face extended absences. Overall, there are some reasons for cautious optimism, but are the Redblacks better? We're honestly not sure.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
2022 record: 6-12 (12 Points), 4th in West
Grey Cup odds: +1400
Key additions: WR Shawn Bane Jr., OL Philip Blake, WR Juwan Brescacin, C Peter Godber, QB Trevor Harris, OL Colin Kelly, DT Micah Johnson, WR Derel Walker, WR Jake Wieneke
Key departures: OL Jamal Campbell, WR Shaq Evans, QB Cody Fajardo, RB Kienan LaFrance, WR Justin McInnis, WR Kyran Moore, OT Josiah St. John, WR Duke Williams
Key Canadian: WR Kian Schaffer-Baker
X-factor: WR Jake Wieneke
The big question: How long of a leash do the coach and GM get? Both head coach Craig Dickenson and general manager Jeremy O'Day kept their jobs after last year's stunning 0-7 collapse down the stretch, with offensive coordinator Jason Maas taking the fall instead. O'Day did his best to try to fix that mess, importing Trevor Harris in what amounted to a quarterback swap with Montreal and constructing a potentially solid defensive unit that could become a sack machine. But in the bright lights of Regina, none of that matters without immediate results, which is what Dickenson and O'Day need. Both are in the final year of their contracts and need this group to start fast. To do that, Saskatchewan - the CFL's most undisciplined team in 2022 - must immediately cut down on the penalties in a big way. Dickenson and O'Day's seats are already hot enough, and a slow start will likely lead to even more uncertainty about their immediate futures in Riderville.
Toronto Argonauts
2022 record: 11-7, 1st in East; 109th Grey Cup champions
Grey Cup odds: +550
Key additions: OL Darius Ciraco, DL Thomas Costigan, DL Folarin Orimolade, DB Adarius Pickett, WR David Ungerer III, LB Jordan Williams
Key departures: WR/KR Brandon Banks, QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, OL Philip Blake, WR Juwan Brescacin, OL Theren Churchill, DE Ja'Gared Davis, DB Chris Edwards, OL Justin Lawrence, DB Jamal Peters, DL Shane Ray, CB Shaquille Richardson
Key Canadian: WR Kurleigh Gittens Jr.
X-factors: RBs Andrew Harris and A.J. Ouellette
The big question: Is Chad Kelly ready? We know that Kelly - now the Argos' unquestioned starter after McLeod Bethel-Thompson moved to the USFL - is a good quarterback with tantalizing potential and a skill set that's perfectly suited for Canadian football. Argos fans saw that firsthand during his triumphant Grey Cup-winning relief appearance following Bethel-Thompson's injury. Now, the former NCAA star with the famous last name has the starting shot he's been yearning for, and he gets to do it on the East's best team. The Argos boast a potentially explosive receiving corps, an improved offensive line, and the two-headed monster of Harris and Ouellette on the ground. Corey Mace's stellar defense also got stronger this winter, especially at linebacker. But this remains a quarterback's league, so a Grey Cup repeat will hinge on Kelly's ability to seize this moment and finally become the All-Star QB he's repeatedly professed to be. All the signs say "Swag" is indeed ready for this. Ultimately, he still has to prove it.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2022 record: 15-3 (30 Points), 1st in West; lost 109th Grey Cup
Grey Cup odds: +225
Key additions: K Sergio Castillo, WR Kenny Lawler*
Key departures: OL Michael Couture, WR Greg Ellingson, CB Tyrell Ford, K/P Marc Liegghio, QB Dakota Prukop, DL Casey Sayles
Key Canadians: WR Nic Demski
X-factor: WR Dalton Schoen
*Lawler is beginning the season on the suspended list
The big question: Can the dynasty get back on track? Winnipeg didn't overreact to its upset Grey Cup loss with too many wholesale changes - and why would it? This is still the group that produced a near-historic 2022 season on the backs of an all-time great defense and MOP Zach Collaros before coming up one point short of a third straight championship in a truly wild finish. The Argos might have the Grey Cup, but on paper, the Bombers remain the CFL's best team. They also might be better thanks to the few moves they did make, with the most notable being a reunion with All-Star kicker Castillo to solidify an occasionally iffy field-goal unit. So the expectations here are both simple and reasonable: stay healthy, roll through the West, and then finish the job. Three Grey Cups in four seasons is a dynasty, and there's no reason the Blue Bombers can't accomplish that.
