Here are five things to know before Saturday\u2019s 6:30 p.m. ET \/ 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff that\u00a0can be watched on TSN, RDS, and CFL+.<\/p>\n
1. IT\u2019S NEVER EASY<\/p>\n Callin\u2019 his own number \ud83d\udcf1<\/p>\n Trevor Harris<\/a> keeps and rumbles downfield for the first down!#CFLGameDay<\/a> \u2014 CFL (@CFL) October 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Trevor Harris<\/a> has been to the Grey Cup before, but not as the undisputed leader of his team. Now, there\u2019s no question that Harris is firmly in control of his own narrative, leading a powerhouse Riders team in what\u2019s been one of the best seasons of his career.<\/p>\n The 39-year-old quarterback has been brilliant in 2025, completing 73.6 per cent of his passes for 4,549 yards and 24 touchdowns, while finishing second in the league in passer efficiency (110.5). More importantly, he\u2019s done it with precision, poise, and leadership, traits that have steadied Saskatchewan through injuries and adversity. His calm command of the huddle and quick release (2.20 seconds, fastest in the league) have been one of the defining trait of Saskatchewan\u2019s offence.<\/p>\n For Harris, this isn\u2019t about validation, it\u2019s about enjoying the opportunities as they come. This Western Final against BC might be one of the toughest tests of his career, but also a chance to soak in what is sure to be a great moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou realize eventually it\u2019s difficult (to get to the Grey Cup),\u201d said Harris. \u201cSo when you get these opportunities, you have got to relish them.<\/p>\n \u201cGrowing up, I used to watch press conferences. I used to go to games and watch players. And I was like: \u2018I would love to be that guy someday.\u2019 So getting to do that, it\u2019s also a moment where you can still have that little kid in you. That I get to stand up here and you guys care what I say, it\u2019s pretty cool.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m grateful for these moments. It\u2019s not something I just sit here and put pressure on myself. I get to live this moment (on Saturday). I get to go out there in front of a packed house in the Western Final in the CFL, playing professional football. I\u2019m 39 years old, it\u2019s pretty awesome, and I\u2019m grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. LESSONS FROM THE PAST: MACE VS. PIERCE, ROUND TWO (THREE?)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s rare that a Western Final feels like a sequel without involving the same teams from the previous season, but this one does. A year ago, Corey Mace\u2019s defence went head-to-head with Buck Pierce\u2019s offence, only back then, Pierce was calling plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n In that 2024 matchup, Pierce\u2019s attack came out flying, as Zach Collaros<\/a> threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns while Winnipeg scored 14 points in the opening quarter and found the end zone on two of their first three drives.<\/p>\n The same matchup happened in 2022 at the 109th Grey Cup, only that time Mace\u2019s defence got the best of Pierce\u2019s offence when the Argos took down the Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium.<\/p>\n Now, the chessboard is reset. Mace, in his second year as a head coach, has built Saskatchewan\u2019s defensive identity into one of the CFL\u2019s most physical and detail-oriented units. Pierce, meanwhile, has brought that same high-tempo philosophy to BC, pairing it with Nathan Rourke<\/a>\u2019s quick release and mobility to create one of the league\u2019s most explosive offences.<\/p>\n It is not lost on both bench bosses how their battles evolved from two coordinators to now head coaches.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom my perspective of Buck, (I have) a lot of respect for him as a player and as obviously as a play caller,\u201d said Mace on Friday. \u201cIn his previous place, you knew it was going to be a matter of time before he ended up in this role.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook at what Corey has done here over the last two years,\u201d said Pierce. \u201cNot just with the team but in the community, with the fan base. There\u2019s a lot of good coaches in this league, and to see two coordinators get the opportunity to be around organizations and build something. I think it\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. A DEFENCE BUILT ON STARS, AND SYNERGY<\/p>\n MOSAIC COMES ALIVE FOR A ROLAN MILLIGAN JR. INTERCEPTION!<\/p>\n Tune into @WestJet<\/a> Canada Day Weekend. \u2014 CFL (@CFL) June 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n What makes Saskatchewan\u2019s defence so dangerous isn\u2019t just talent, it\u2019s cohesion. The Riders feature five All-CFL defenders, but they play as one of the most connected units in football.<\/p>\n In the secondary, Rolan Milligan Jr. and Tevaughn Campbell<\/a> have combined range and aggressiveness to make passing deep against the Riders a risky proposition. Milligan has a nose for the football, while Campbell\u2019s speed open up a lot of possibilities for Saskatchewan when it comes to scheme.<\/p>\n Jameer Thurman<\/a> continues to lead the front seven with his signature mix of intensity and intelligence and, in the trenches, veteran Micah Johnson<\/a> remains the heartbeat of the defensive line. All four were named to the All-CFL team, alongside C.J. Reavis<\/a>, who is as versatile a weapon as they come. That is not to mention Malik Carney<\/a>, one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the CFL.<\/p>\n Together, this group allowed the fewest points in the league and built a reputation for suffocating drives, generating takeaways, and thriving in chaos. For the Lions, it\u2019s a puzzle that requires patience, quick reads, accurate throws, and a steady commitment to ball security.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big challenge,\u201d said Rourke about going against the Riders defence. \u201cThey are very talented. They\u2019re very well coached. They have got a scheme that fits their personnel. There\u2019s a reason that they had a successful season.\u201d<\/p>\n In three regular season contests, the Riders got the best of the Lions twice, but Rourke is confident that they can match Saskatchewan\u2019s strength with their own.<\/p>\n \u201cI just don\u2019t think that during the regular season, they got our best. I\u2019m confident in our plan. I\u2019m excited about what we have done this week in preparation, where we\u2019re at as an offence. We\u2019re in a good position to give them our best.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. NO TWO-AND-OUTS HERE<\/p>\n 5,000 FOR THE CANADIAN KID! \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n Nathan Rourke<\/a> has hit the 5,000-yard mark through the air.#CFLGameDay<\/a> \u2014 CFL (@CFL) October 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n If you like grind-it-out defensive football, you might be in for a surprise, both teams are among the best in the CFL at avoiding two-and-outs.<\/p>\n The BC Lions lead the league in that category (25 per cent), while Saskatchewan sits just behind (27 per cent). Both offences are built to sustain drives, though they go about it differently.<\/p>\n BC has been the league\u2019s most efficient first-down team, averaging 8.5 yards per play, often setting up short second downs. Saskatchewan ranks sixth in first-down production (6.5 yards), but Harris has made up for it with sharp execution when it counts, converting 51.1 per cent of second downs, trailing only BC\u2019s 52.6 per cent.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an indication of both quarterbacks\u2019 poise under pressure. Rourke can beat you deep, while Harris carves you up underneath. For defences, the margin for error is razor-thin, a single missed tackle or blown coverage could extend a drive and tilt the time-of-possession battle.<\/p>\n 5. RECEIVERS GALORE, EXPECT FIREWORKS<\/p>\n This Rourke to Hatcher TD looks even better in slo-mo \ud83e\udd29#CFLGameDay<\/a> \u2014 CFL (@CFL) October 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n This Western Final has the potential to be an air-show. Both teams feature receiving corps loaded with top-end talent, versatility, and depth.<\/p>\n On the Lions\u2019 sideline, Keon Hatcher Sr. and Justin McInnis<\/a> headline a group that thrives on timing and explosive plays. Hatcher\u2019s ability to body up to blow past defenders gives Rourke a reliable deep target, while McInnis has shown he is one of the league\u2019s best contested catch specialists.<\/p>\n The Riders\u2019 pass-catchers have been just as dynamic. Samuel Emilus<\/a> is healthy and ready to go as a true No. 1 receiver, combining track-speed with strong hands. KeeSean Johnson\u2019s absence is a big one for the Riders, but Dohnte Meyers, Kian Schaffer-Baker<\/a>, Joe Robustelli, Tommy Nield<\/a> and Dhel Duncan-Busby have the makings of a unit capable of attacking from every angle.<\/p>\n With two elite quarterbacks and so many dangerous targets, don\u2019t be surprised if this game turns into a shootout. Both defences will get their chances, but both offences have the firepower to answer quickly.<\/p>\n Kickoff for the Western Final goes Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. CT at Mosaic Stadium\u00a0and can be watched on TSN, RDS, and CFL+.<\/p>\n The winner advances to face the Eastern champion in Winnipeg for the 112th Grey Cup.<\/p>\n ![\"2023](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Playoff-Logo-Final-800x600.png\"){kind=logo}
2025 GREY CUP PLAYOFFS
\u00bb Who has the edge in the Western Final?<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Where to watch the CFL Division Finals<\/a>
\u00bb 3 storylines to watch in the Western Final<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a06 stats that may loom large in the Division Finals<\/a>
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