Welcome to the Nerd’s Guide to the Roughriders’ 2026 Schedule! (Please hold your applause.)

With the CFL having just announced its slate of next season’s games, this senescent scribe felt compelled to dissect each Riders contest — applying an historical perspective when necessary.

And when not necessary. I’m just that way. There is no cure.

PRE-SEASON

May 18 at Calgary: The earliest game in Roughriders history, topping a May 20, 2024 pre-season meeting with the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

May 23 vs. Winnipeg: This game will be played at Griffiths Stadium. The Blue Bombers previously visited Saskatoon for pre-season games in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

REGULAR SEASON

June 13 vs. B.C.: The second June 13 game in franchise history, following 2019.

June 20 at Calgary: The Roughriders’ third June 20 game, following 2019 and 2025.

June 26 vs. Toronto: This is technically a home game for the Argonauts, who will be bumped from BMO Field due to the FIFA World Cup. Saskatchewan was last a visiting team at home on June 14, 2014, when the Ottawa REDBLACKS played their first game of any description. Ottawa was forced to begin its inaugural season on the road because renovations to TD Place were still being completed.

July 3 at Ottawa: The first July 3 game in Roughriders history was also in Ottawa. On July 3, 1996, Saskatchewan won 29-14 — the same score as the teams’ 1966 Grey Cup meeting.

July 12 vs. Hamilton: Who better than the Tiger-Cats as an opponent on the 18th anniversary of the first CFL starts by Darian Durant and Weston Dressler? Durant threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns (including a 30-yarder to Dressler) as Saskatchewan won 33-28 at Ivor Wynne Stadium on July 12, 2008. Dressler caught six passes for 122 yards. His 67-yarder set up a game-winning TD run by Wes Cates, who scored with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

July 23 vs. Edmonton: The 51st anniversary of the Roughriders’ first July 23 game — a 20-2 victory over Calgary at Taylor Field.

Aug. 1 at Edmonton: The sixth anniversary of the Cody Fajardo “corn dog” game!

Aug. 7 vs. Ottawa: A good omen? As of this writing, Ottawa has played in Saskatchewan only once on this date. In 1989, the Roughriders won 58-22, setting an enduring team record for points scored in a game. Ottawa’s CFL team was then known as the Rough Riders.

Aug. 15 at Hamilton: Another good omen? The Roughriders are playing on the 50th anniversary of a 40-0 home-field victory over Edmonton. Ron Lancaster went 23-for-27 — as did Grey Cup MVP Trevor Harris this past Nov. 16 versus Montreal.

Aug. 23 at B.C.: Reaching …. Reeeeeeaaaaccccchhhhingggg … the 10th Aug. 23 game in Riders history will be the first against B.C. After 2026, Winnipeg and Hamilton will be the only legacy teams Saskatchewan has not opposed on Aug. 23.

Aug. 29 vs. Toronto: Saskatchewan is to play on Aug. 29 for the first time since 1992, when the Roughriders beat B.C. 47-36. Ray Elgaard caught eight passes for 207 yards and one TD on his 33rd birthday. Jeff Fairholm added four catches for 160 yards and two scores at Taylor Field. Elgaard and Fairholm combined for 69.6 per cent of Saskatchewan’s 527 receiving yards.

Sept. 6 vs. Winnipeg: The Roughriders will celebrate the 89th anniversary of their first night game by holding a day game. Under the floodlights at Park de Young, the Roughriders fell 4-1 to the Calgary Bronks on Sept. 6, 1937. The teams didn’t light it up through the air, however, combining for only three completions.

Sept. 12 at Winnipeg: Another good omen, please? On Sept. 12, 1981, the Roughriders registered their first victory in Winnipeg since Oct. 12, 1975. Saskatchewan prevailed 32-25 at Winnipeg Stadium in 1981 on the strength of magnificent performances by Joey Walters (four receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns) and Chris DeFrance (five catches for 150 yards). The two splendid slotbacks collaborated for 76.6 per cent of the Roughriders’ receiving yards. (See again: Elgaard/Fairholm, Aug. 29). As for Sept. 12, 2026, it will be the first four-game day in CFL history.

Sept. 25 at B.C.: We take you back to Sept. 25, 1993, when two future Roughriders head coaches were the starting quarterbacks. Kent Austin guided Saskatchewan to a 31-16 win at BC Place. Danny Barrett, Austin’s opposite number in the 1993 game, was the Roughriders’ field boss from 2000 to 2006. He was succeeded by Austin — the Grey Cup-winning head coach in 2007.

Oct. 2 vs. Calgary: Shades of 1915, when the mighty Regina Rugby Club opposed the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods on Sept. 25 (see previous item) and Oct. 2 (uh … see current item). Regina won all four of its regular-season games (all against Moose Jaw) in 1915 (sorry for the excessive use of parentheses).

Oct. 12 at Montreal: Rewind to the Sept. 12 item. Saskatchewan won 20-14 in Winnipeg on Oct. 12, 1975. On the first play from scrimmage, Ron Lancaster’s completion to Steve Mazurak moved The Little General past Johnny Unitas to the top of football’s all-time passing-yardage list. Unitas threw for 40,239 yards. Lancaster finished the Winnipeg game with 40,540. Another 995 yards were added to the list before No. 23 retired in 1978.

Oct. 17 vs. Montreal: On Oct. 17, 2010, defensive tackle Corey Mace scored on a 60-yard fumble return to help the visitors from Calgary defeat Saskatchewan 34-26. He is officially forgiven.

Oct. 24 vs. Edmonton: Every time Oct. 24 rolls around, the mind rewinds to 1965. George Reed rushed for a franchise-record 268 yards to power Saskatchewan to a 30-14 victory in Vancouver.

PLAYOFFS

Oct. 31: If the Roughriders are part of the opening round, the playoff game will be their first in October since 1954.

Nov. 7: A fine day to play host to the Western Final, should it come to that. Saskatchewan secured a berth in the 97th Grey Cup Game by defeating the visiting Stampeders 30-14 on Nov. 7, 2009. That was the Roughriders’ most-recent Nov. 7 game, following 1931, 1955, 1964, 1965, 1976, 1982 and 2004.

Nov. 15: Grey Cup day! Saskatchewan is hoping to play on Nov. 15 for the first time since 1992. Overdue!

WHAT A CAPPER!

The Roughriders have won three of their five Grey Cup championships since the salary-cap era began and playing fields were therefore evened in 2007.

Toronto has won the most titles (four) over that span. Saskatchewan, Calgary and Montreal are in line with three.

Winnipeg (two), B.C. (one), Edmonton (one) and Ottawa (one) have won the other Grey Cups during the salary-cap era. Absent from the list: Hamilton, which last won a Grey Cup in 1999, when Lancaster was the Head Coach.

Hamilton has the longest current Grey Cup drought, followed by B.C. (which last won in 2011) and Edmonton (2015).

The Roughriders waited 56 calendar years for their first Grey Cup, 23 for their second and 18 for their third. They have now won three times in a span of 18 seasons.

TAYLOR FIELD TRIVIA

Eleven members of the 2025 Roughriders played at historic Mosaic Stadium at some point in their football careers.

Long snapper Jorgen Hus was with the Roughriders for their final two seasons (2015 and 2016) on the old Taylor Field grounds. He was familiar with the premises from his time with the Saskatoon Hilltops and University of Regina Rams.

Offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick played there for Saskatchewan (in 2015) and Winnipeg (2016).

Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell played what is now a long-vacated expanse of turf for three seasons with the U of R before joining the Stampeders (2015) and the Roughriders (2016).

Harris, defensive lineman Micah Johnson, centre Sean McEwen and guard Philippe Gagnon were all visiting players at the Roughriders’ former home.

Receiver Mitch Picton played for the LeBoldus Golden Suns and U of R Rams at Mosaic Stadium 1.0.

Defensive back Jaxon Ford stepped on that field as a member of the Campbell Tartans.

In junior football, defensive back/linebacker Jayden Dalke (Edmonton Wildcats) and fullback Morgen Runge (Edmonton Huskies) visited the Queen City to oppose the Regina Thunder in 2015 and 2016.

Dalke led the PFC in defensive points (104) in 2015.

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Jermarcus Hardrick, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Peter Godber, Jessica Gelowsky, Mickey Volcan, Ashley Prest, Doug Lunney, Dr. Tom Robinson, Dr. Colette Pelletier, Mark Habicht, Jay Dufour and four amazing individuals who completed their internships with the Roughriders on Friday — Aldo Galvan, Reese Mooney, Tia Spirito and Rylan Hill.