Alouettes storm back to beat Ticats in CFL season opener

The Montreal Alouettes won a dramatic 30-27 overtime victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Thursday's 2026 CFL season opener, grabbing their first lead of the game at the final whistle.

In a rematch of last year's East Final, the Alouettes scored six unanswered points to stun the Ticats. Als kicker Jose Maltos sent the game to overtime with a 29-yard field goal as time expired. In the extra frame, Montreal forced a fumble on Hamilton's first and only overtime possession before Maltos came back out to boot a 17-yard field goal for the win.

It's a familiar feeling for the Ticats, who lost 19-16 to the Alouettes in the East Final on a walk-off field goal.

The Als trailed 10-0 and later 24-10 on Thursday, but the Ticats couldn't deliver the dagger to put their rivals away. Hamilton's largest lead was short-lived after Bo Levi Mitchell threw a pick-6 to defensive back Robert Kennedy in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 24-17. Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander did the rest, throwing a pinpoint touchdown pass to Tyson Philpot to tie the score in the fourth quarter before leading the drive that brought on overtime.

Alexander completed 26 of his 38 passes for 336 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, and he now moves to 12-0 as a starter in regular-season action.

Meanwhile, Mitchell had 34 completions on 39 pass attempts for 307 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

CFL action resumes Friday with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers taking on the Calgary Stampeders.