As the 2026 season approaches, CFL.ca has a new series making the case for every team as a contender to win the 113th Grey Cup, highlighting three reasons why each club has a path to the championship. The series is not intended to make predictions, but to showcase the strengths and potential routes for each team entering the new campaign.<\/p>\n
The BC Lions haven\u2019t been back to the Grey Cup since winning it all in 2011, but 2026 presents a real opportunity to change that.<\/p>\n
With an elite quarterback, continuity on offence and targeted upgrades on defence, the pieces are in place for a return.<\/p>\n
Ahead of their June 13 season opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, CFL.ca brings you three reasons why the BC Lions could win the 113th Grey Cup.<\/p>\n
RELATED 1. NATHAN ROURKE AT THE PEAK OF HIS POWERS<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Everything in BC begins with Nathan Rourke.<\/p>\n The reigning Most Outstanding Player is coming off a season that saw him throw for 5,290 yards and 31 touchdowns, while adding 564 yards on the ground to lead all CFL quarterbacks.<\/p>\n \u201cFor one, we got the MOC and MOP leading our team,\u201d said receiver Justin McInnis<\/a> when asked why BC should be viewed as a Grey Cup favourite.<\/p>\n At 27 and entering his fifth CFL season, Rourke now brings experience to match his skillset. He\u2019s been through playoff football and understands the margins that separate wins from losses.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a number of opportunities that we missed last year, especially in the Western Final,\u201d said Rourke during the CFL\u2019s off-season content capture in April.<\/p>\n The supporting cast around Rourke remains one of the league\u2019s best.<\/p>\n Keon Hatcher Sr., the CFL\u2019s leading receiver in 2025, and 1,000-yard rusher James Butler<\/a> both return on new deals. Butler will keep defences honest, while Hatcher and fellow All-CFL receiver McInnis form the league\u2019s most productive receiving duo from a year ago.<\/p>\n With that foundation in place, the next step for Rourke is turning elite production into a Grey Cup run.<\/p>\n 2. OFFENSIVE GROWTH UNDER BUCK PIERCE<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As deadly as BC\u2019s offence was last year, year two under Buck Pierce could be what takes it to the next level.<\/p>\n Pierce\u2019s first year in BC saw the Lions lead the CFL in scoring (31.1 points per game) and total offence, but the growth within his system was clear as the season went on.<\/p>\n After a 2-6 start heading into their Week 9 bye, BC went 8-2 down the stretch while averaging 36.3 points per game, a significant jump from the 24.5 they posted through the first half.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at the second half of the year, our offence was putting up numbers that haven\u2019t been seen in a while,\u201d said McInnis.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not far off. Sustained over a full season, that scoring pace would be the highest the CFL has seen since 1997.<\/p>\n The focus in 2026 will be producing against the league\u2019s best. In four games against the eventual Grey Cup champion Roughriders a year ago, they averaged 23.25 points per game.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Riders made more plays than we did,\u201d Rourke reflected. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to have some more situational awareness and understand there\u2019s certain situations where we can\u2019t make mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n With a full season of familiarity in Pierce\u2019s system now behind them, the offence has the potential to lead the league again and push into historic territory.<\/p>\n 3. GAME-BREAKING FRONT SEVEN<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Lions already had one of the CFL\u2019s most disruptive pass rushes in 2025, pacing the league with 45 sacks. Mathieu Betts<\/a> led the way with a dominant 15-sack season, but unfortunately went down on the opening play of the Western Final\u2019s final drive. His absence allowed Saskatchewan to move the ball and seal the game.<\/p>\n BC\u2019s off-season response sought to add depth to make sure they can match even the league\u2019s best offences.<\/p>\n
\u00bb\u00a03 reasons why Winnipeg could win the 113th Grey Cup<\/a>
\u00bb 3 reasons why Hamilton could win the 113th Grey Cup<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Key 2026 off-season dates you need to know<\/a>
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