Long criticized for being resistant to change and innovation while at the same time praised for being uniquely Canadian, the CFL is now embarking on a bold two-phase implementation of rule changes over the 2026-27 seasons that could dramatically boost scoring.

And it’s the league’s hope here that more points=more entertainment=more fans in the stands and watching on television.

New CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston unveiled the changes at news conference in Toronto on Monday, with the most significant seeing the goalposts moved to the back of the end zone and the field being re-sized — 100 yards in length, universal 15-yard end zones — for the 2027 season.

The changes for next season will see the rouge — the single point — no longer awarded for a missed field goal or when a punt or kickoff goes through the side or back of the end zone without being touched by a returner.

“This is all about making our great game even more entertaining,” said Johnston. “We are trading field goals for touchdowns, while improving fan experience in stadiums and at home. These changes are the most significant in decades. We are retaining the unique elements upon which our traditions stand but innovating where change is needed to evolve our world-class game.”

Nic Demski celebrates one of his seven touchdowns so far this season

The changes, FYI, were unanimously approved by the CFL’s Board of Governors, including Winnipeg Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Miller.

“My biggest takeaway is this says that as a league we’re evolving and working on making the game better,” said Miller in a conversation with bluebombers.com. “We’re focussed on trying to increase touchdowns, have consistent game flow and less down time all in the hope it leads to bolder and more aggressive play calls by coaches. Any time you come up with changes it will take a while for everyone to think about all the different parts of it. The changes for 2026, most people will understand that fairly easily.

“I’m excited by the changes. I’m excited by the evolution of it. We’re going to see how these changes play out now; how it might lead to bolder play calls and increased scoring and increases the experiences for fans in the stadium and at home watching on TV.

“This is changing the sandbox for coaches, and we’ve got some talented coaches in this league.”

The league put together this video explaining the changes:

And here is the written explanation:

FOOTBALL CHANGES – 2026 PHASE

MODIFIED ROUGE

The rouge will no longer include a single point for a missed field goal attempt that goes wide of the goalposts. A point will also not be awarded when a punt or kickoff sails through or rolls out the back, or sides, of an end zone without being touched by a returner.

If a punt, field goal or kickoff settles in the end zone, and the returner fails to take it out or takes a knee, a single point will still be awarded.

The change eliminates games being decided by a missed field goal, punt or kickoff through the end zone.

The modified rouge – in conjunction with the repositioned goalposts and the shortened field to be instituted in 2027 – will encourage more aggressive play-calling on third downs, given the threat of the return game or the possibility of yielding favourable field position on the ensuing drive.

OPPOSITE-FIELD TEAM BENCHES AND 35-SECOND PLAY CLOCKS

All teams will be required to have their bench areas on opposite sides of the field, eliminating cases where some players are required to run 50-60 yards for substitutions. Some stadiums currently feature benches on opposite sides, while others are side by side.

To improve game flow and consistency, a new 35-second play clock will automatically begin as soon as the previous play is whistled dead. Currently, the 20-second play clock does not start until manually initiated by an official. The change eliminates inconsistencies in timing caused by teams getting set at their own pace, varying times taken to set yardage markers, and more.

The revised play clock also instills a sense of urgency in players to progress the game and continue the drive in a timely fashion.

FOOTBALL CHANGES – 2027 PHASE

GOALPOSTS AT THE BACK OF END ZONES

To allow passing offences to target the middle of the end zone and to make settling for field goals less attractive, goalposts will be moved to the back of end zones. The shift removes an obstruction that impacts the middle third of the end zone, helping to drive more of football’s most exciting play: touchdowns. The change also benefits teams pinned deep in their own territory, allowing offences – previously limited by the goalposts – to expand their playbooks, as well as enabling punters to kick more freely from their own end zone without interference.

Moving the goalposts removes an obstruction in the field of play, heightening player safety, while also offering more direct sightlines to big plays in the end zone for fans in-stadium and on broadcast.

Projected gains of repositioned goalposts:

10 per cent more end zone completions
60 more touchdowns per season

15-YARD END ZONES AND 100-YARD FIELDS

To ensure scoring remains high and that the kicking game remains relevant, end zones will be shortened from 20 to 15 yards. The CFL will still have the largest end zone of any form of professional gridiron football. The field will also be shortened from 110 yards to 100, while retaining its distinctive 65-yard width, allowing offences to start closer to the opposition’s end zone.

The adjustment also ensures league-wide uniformity of end zone dimensions.

Trey Vaval returned a missed field goal for a touchdown against Toronto earlier this season and against Ottawa last weekend

How this impacts the league’s biggest issue — the decline in attendances, outside of this market — is still to be determined.

“Is it signing up for season tickets? Is it buying a single ticket? Is it now watching more games on TV? Now you won’t see a game where a team is awarded a point for failure on a missed field goal,” said Miller. “All these are little things but when you add them together you can possibly change some mindsets about the game for people.

“As a game you have to evolve. Look at what baseball has done with the pitch clock. It’s changed the way baseball is perceived and how it’s viewed. I wouldn’t have gone to a baseball game before, but I’d go now because of that.

“I’d say in the last five years I’ve looked at things with a lot more open mind than I used to have. When you see the fandom across the entire country, we have to do some things to evolve this game. Hopefully these changes will have that impact.”

The Blue Bombers did not practice on Monday but are back on the field on Tuesday and so we’ll have reaction from players and coaches tomorrow. In the meantime, not all reaction from those closest to the game was positive, including this from B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke on Monday: