The 113th Grey Cup Playoffs open on Halloween. Saturday’s Division Semi-Final doubleheader sends the crossover Winnipeg Blue Bombers to BMO Field to face the Toronto Argonauts, then brings the Saskatchewan Roughriders to BC Place for a third straight postseason meeting with the BC Lions. Winnipeg still does not know who will start at quarterback.

The Montreal Alouettes (14-4, the best record in the CFL) and the Edmonton Elks (13-5, first in the West) have the week off. They will host the Division Finals on Saturday, November 7. The two winners from that day meet in the 113th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, November 15.

Eastern Semi-Final: Winnipeg at Toronto

Saturday, October 31 | 1 p.m. ET (noon CT) | BMO Field | TSN, CTV, RDS

Zach Collaros was hurt late in the third quarter of last Friday’s must-win game in Vancouver, after a hit from Lions defensive tackle Nathan Cherry that drew a roughing the passer penalty. The team’s injury report lists a rib injury. The 38-year-old missed the first two practices of the week, and head coach Mike O’Shea said there was “no real update” after Wednesday’s workout.

“He needs whatever he needs. He needs whatever he’s going to tell us he needs.”

Mike O’Shea, Winnipeg head coach, via The Canadian Press

O’Shea pointed out that a player does not have to practise to start, and Winnipeg has a long record of making late game-day calls. If Collaros cannot go, the Bombers will turn to Dru Brown, who was perfect in relief against BC. Brown completed all 11 of his passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns as Winnipeg scored 31 unanswered points in a 34-10 win. The win clinched a 10th straight playoff berth.

Brown also started both regular-season meetings with Toronto. Winnipeg won the first 30-21, and the Argonauts took the second 30-28 in Week 17. Brown said he knows what is coming from the Toronto defence: “They have a great front. They get after the passer.”

That is the matchup to watch. According to TSN, Toronto led the league with 44 sacks, and Winnipeg allowed the most in the CFL with 42. The Bombers will lean on Brady Oliveira, who led the league with 1,493 rushing yards and ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries in the finale. Oliveira says the offence trusts both quarterbacks: “Those are two guys that we trust.”

Toronto (9-9) finished second in the East but limps in on a three-game losing streak, capped by a 33-16 home loss to Montreal. The Argos did settle their biggest question this week, signing quarterback Chad Kelly to a five-year contract extension through the 2031 season. Kelly threw for 5,067 yards and 33 touchdowns this year, but also led the league with 24 interceptions.

“Before I ever came up here, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Chad Kelly, Toronto quarterback, via TSN

It is the fifth time in six seasons that Toronto is hosting a playoff game, and Mike Miller will coach his first postseason game as the Argos’ head coach. History leans toward the home side. TSN notes that none of the 13 previous crossover teams reached the Grey Cup, and only five won a playoff game. Winnipeg is crossing over to the East for the second year in a row.

Western Semi-Final: Saskatchewan at BC

Saturday, October 31 | 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) | Save-On-Foods Field at BC Place | TSN, RDS

Both clubs finished 10-8, and this will be their fourth meeting of 2026. BC won the season series 2-1, including a 31-24 home win on September 25 in which Nathan Rourke threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns. Saskatchewan, though, has knocked the Lions out of the playoffs in each of the last two years, including a 24-21 win in last season’s Western Final.

The Lions recovered from a 1-5 start with a 9-1 run that locked up second place, then rested key players in their last two games. Rourke sat out the finale after a season of 4,614 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, despite missing two games with a shoulder injury. He expects the defending Grey Cup champions to show something new.

“They’ll have something different for us. They always do. They always have a wrinkle. But ultimately we know that we’re going to have to play our best to beat these guys.”

Nathan Rourke, BC quarterback, via The Canadian Press

Saskatchewan arrives with some momentum. The Riders snapped out of a four-game losing streak late in the season and beat Edmonton 16-9 in Regina last Saturday to secure third place. Tommy Stevens scored on two one-yard runs in that game to finish with 17 rushing touchdowns, a new CFL single-season record. That breaks the mark of 16 set by Caleb Evans with Ottawa in 2022.

Trevor Harris, who started the first 17 games before resting in the finale, is listed by the league as the projected starter. The Riders are also close to full health for their first road semi-final since 2017. Halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. is the only opening-week starter still out with an injury, and head coach Corey Mace made it clear there will be no excuses.

“We’re here now, baby. So, it’s win or start packing.”

Corey Mace, Saskatchewan head coach, via the Regina Leader-Post

Lions head coach Buck Pierce expects the same kind of game the two teams usually play: “close physical ball games that are going to come down to the fourth quarter.”

What Comes Next

Eastern Final: Winnipeg or Toronto at Montreal, Saturday, November 7, 3 p.m. ET
Western Final: Saskatchewan or BC at Edmonton, Saturday, November 7, 6:30 p.m. ET
113th Grey Cup: Sunday, November 15, McMahon Stadium, Calgary

Full broadcast details are in the league’s official Semi-Final Saturday release. Follow the postseason on our CFL Playoffs and Grey Cup pages.