HERE. WE. GO!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the best time of the year for all nine franchises because everyone\u2019s starting from zero.<\/p>\n
No losses, no baggage, just a locker room full of players who believe they can be where the Roughriders were last season: on the field with confetti flying and a trophy in their grasp.<\/p>\n
Each team made off-season moves to improve its chances while filling holes left behind by players who moved on or retired.<\/p>\n
Two teams have new head coaches. The REDBLACKS hired Ryan Dinwiddie away from Toronto, while the Argonauts handed the reins to Mike Miller<\/a> in his first head coaching opportunity.<\/p>\n Chad Kelly<\/a> returns to Toronto looking to start a season for the first time since his MOP campaign in 2023.<\/p>\n Nathan Rourke<\/a> is searching for team success after collecting nearly every individual accolade possible in 2025.<\/p>\n RELATED The Roughriders are trying to repeat as Grey Cup champions for the first time in franchise history.<\/p>\n Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton all made moves in an effort to close the gap on Saskatchewan and BC.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats and Alouettes will try to remain atop the East Division.<\/p>\n So we begin again. A fresh slate. No history. No results. No real way to know what\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n But let\u2019s fire up the predictor for another season.<\/p>\n MONTREAL AT HAMILTON<\/p>\n Thursday, June 4 The season opens with a rematch of last year\u2019s Eastern Final.<\/p>\n Hopefully the ending is just as entertaining as it was in 2025, when Jos\u00e9 Maltos D\u00edaz<\/a> kicked a walk-off field goal to send the Alouettes to the 112th Grey Cup.<\/p>\n Hamilton could potentially begin the season without major off-season addition Wynton McManis<\/a>, who remains sidelined with a knee injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n Still, this matchup features two of the early favourites for Most Outstanding Player, with Davis Alexander<\/a> and Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> squaring off.<\/p>\n Both teams return much of the core that made them successful last season, both on the field and on the coaching staff. The biggest change in Montreal may be Anthony Calvillo taking over play-calling duties from head coach Jason Maas.<\/p>\n This feels like a coin flip, but I\u2019ll side with the team that walked into Hamilton and won last year\u2019s Eastern Final.<\/p>\n PICK: MONTREAL<\/p>\n WINNIPEG AT CALGARY<\/p>\n Friday, June 5 The Calgary Stampeders enter the season looking to build on the momentum they created after acquiring Vernon Adams Jr., who provided an immediate spark to the offence.<\/p>\n After undergoing significant change on defence last season, Calgary brings back a more established group that should benefit from another year together.<\/p>\n The addition of Jaylon Hutchings is a significant one<\/a>. His presence inside should create even more opportunities for Calgary\u2019s pass rushers to make an impact.<\/p>\n In Winnipeg, I\u2019m excited to see what Zach Collaros<\/a> and Tim White<\/a> can do together after showing immediate chemistry during the preseason. The Blue Bombers also continue to lean on Brady Oliveira<\/a>, one of the league\u2019s most consistent stars.<\/p>\n New offensive coordinator Tommy Condell should bring fresh ideas and adjustments to Winnipeg\u2019s offence. While his systems have traditionally leaned more heavily on the passing game than what we\u2019ve seen from the Blue Bombers in recent years, Condell has proven he can adapt to the personnel available to him.<\/p>\n Still, I\u2019ll stick with a trend from last season.<\/p>\n The Blue Bombers couldn\u2019t solve Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stampeders in 2025.<\/p>\n PICK: CALGARY<\/p>\n EDMONTON AT OTTAWA<\/p>\n Saturday, June 6 The Week 1 finale feels significant for both franchises.<\/p>\n Each enters 2026 needing a season that ends with a playoff berth.<\/p>\n Ryan Dinwiddie begins his tenure in Ottawa with Jake Maier<\/a> under centre after the veteran quarterback earned the starting job<\/a> ahead of Dru Brown.<\/p>\n The REDBLACKS invested heavily in improving their defence by adding Nyles Morgan<\/a>, A.J. Allen<\/a>, C.J. Reavis<\/a> and Demerio Houston. The question now is how quickly those pieces come together.<\/p>\n Edmonton added Malik Carney<\/a> to strengthen its pass rush, while Cody Fajardo<\/a> and Austin Mack will look to rekindle the chemistry they developed together in Montreal.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the battle in the backfield.<\/p>\n
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\u00bb\u00a0Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates<\/a><\/p>\n
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