CFL 2026 Season

cjones2451 · #1 Posted **Dec 9, 2025, 7:24 PM**

New Schedule is out today, might as well get the new thread going

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/12/09/cfl-an...ason-schedule/

https://www.cfl.ca/schedule/

cjones2451 · #2 Posted **Dec 9, 2025, 7:32 PM**

Also some big names being re-signed and most are 2-3 year contracts which is good for stability and player recognition

Keon Hatcher Sr - BC 2 years
Cody Fajardo, Brandon, Barlow - EE
Trevor Harris - Ssk
Yoshi Hardrick - Ssk
Tommy Stevens - Ssk - 2 years
Clark Barnes, Bryce Bell, - Cal
Pokey Wilson - Wpg - 2 year extension thru 2028
Davis Alexander - Mtl - 1 year extension thru 2028
Tyson Philpot - Mtl - 2 years
PO Lestage - Mtl - 3 years

BlackDog204 · #3 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 7:54 AM**

I can't believe the new Commissioner and the bigwigs in Toronto want to eliminate the Canadian aspect of the game (55 yard line, deep end zones, missed FG returns, the rouge, etc), and make it a watered down version of an NFL field.

elly63 · #4 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 1:24 PM**

CFL 2025 Season link

Hackslack · #5 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 3:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

I can't believe the new Commissioner and the bigwigs in Toronto want to eliminate the Canadian aspect of the game (55 yard line, deep end zones, missed FG returns, the rouge, etc), and make it a watered down version of an NFL field.

He’s not.

jonny24 · #6 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 4:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hackslack

He’s not.

The thread is about the league. Discussing the league and it's changes is on topic.

The "shit" that needs to be taken elsewhere is your policing of that.

cjones2451 · #7 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

I can't believe the new Commissioner and the bigwigs in Toronto want to eliminate the Canadian aspect of the game (55 yard line, deep end zones, missed FG returns, the rouge, etc), and make it a watered down version of an NFL field.

Its not, leagues evolve. The football went from 25 yard to 20 yard endzones, the J5V era to the ball size now, hashmarks moved in to open up the field. These were needed changes but also are closer to "NFL rules" When there are only 2 pro league rules out there, any change is inevitably going to be compared to the other.

Hackslack · #8 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 10:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny24

The thread is about the league. Discussing the league and it's changes is on topic.

The "shit" that needs to be taken elsewhere is your policing of that.

lol. Ok, maybe he should have submitted a more thought and realistic argument. Somehow he forgot to mention:

65 yard wide field
15 yard end zones
3 downs
12 men
Rouge
No yards
Waggle

Instead he just commented that what is being changed eliminates the aspect of what makes it a Canadian game. He even made it sound like the end zones will be the same as NFL, which they aren’t, they’ll still be 50% longer, which now standardizes all stadiums,.. the rouge is still in play, just will be necessarily modified.

Calling these changes to be a “watered down version of a NFL field” is ridiculous, it’s a modified current CFL field, that can now be standard through all stadiums, instead of the current cutoff corners in Montreal, a 17 yard end zone in Toronto.

Hackslack · #9 Posted **Dec 10, 2025, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Its not, leagues evolve. The football went from 25 yard to 20 yard endzones, the J5V era to the ball size now, hashmarks moved in to open up the field. These were needed changes but also are closer to "NFL rules" When there are only 2 pro league rules out there, any change is inevitably going to be compared to the other.

Brilliant post, much better for educating those who make the stupid argument that the CFL is being Americanized. I’m going to reference this is the future.

BlackDog204 · #10 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 3:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hackslack

He’s not.

You obviously don't follow CFL news I assume.

BlackDog204 · #11 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 3:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Its not, leagues evolve. The football went from 25 yard to 20 yard endzones, the J5V era to the ball size now, hashmarks moved in to open up the field. These were needed changes but also are closer to "NFL rules" When there are only 2 pro league rules out there, any change is inevitably going to be compared to the other.

Your images are not even the correct dimensions for CFL fields. It's 110 yards, not 100 yards from each endzone.

BTw, 3/4 of CFL fans are against making the Canadian football game more like the NFL. Although the quality of play in the CFL is not on par with the NFL, most agree that it is far more exciting.

After 2027, the quality of play will still be inferior to the NFL, but with the added bonus of the CFL being not as exciting as it once was.

craner · #12 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 4:42 AM**

^ That is the new 100yard CFL field - so the graphic is correct.

BlackDog204 · #13 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 6:14 AM**

.

BlackDog204 · #14 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 11:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craner

^ That is the new 100yard CFL field - so the graphic is correct.

Oh yes, the new and "improved" American-Canadian Football League.

Let's get rid of that annoying 55 yard line, the run-backs in the end zone,the rouge, and anything uniquely Canadian about our game.

Hackslack · #15 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 12:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Oh yes, the new and "improved" American-Canadian Football League.

Let's get rid of that annoying 55 yard line, the run-backs in the end zone,the rouge, and anything uniquely Canadian about our game.

Only one thing of those is being rid of… the 55 yard line…. There will still be kick returns (which is what I assume you mean by run-back), and there is still a rouge…

What about all the other differences that make it uniquely Canadian…

65 yard wide field
15 yard end zones
3 downs
12 men
Rouge
No yards
Waggle

Hawrylyshyn · #16 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 2:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Oh yes, the new and "improved" American-Canadian Football League.

Let's get rid of that annoying 55 yard line, the run-backs in the end zone,the rouge, and anything uniquely Canadian about our game.

Dude you're presenting the most pathetic argument I've seen. The things that TRULY make the CFL uniquely Canadian (3 downs, 12 men, wider field, waggle, no fair catch) are all remaining.

Cry a river and just admit you're scared of change boomer

Hackslack · #17 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 2:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Dude you're presenting the most pathetic argument I've seen. The things that TRULY make the CFL uniquely Canadian (3 downs, 12 men, wider field, waggle, no fair catch) are all remaining.

Cry a river and just admit you're scared of change boomer

I actually have a hunch he is an NFL fanboy, errr check that, an NFL Fantsy League fanboy, who comes to bemoan the CFL, like many of them uneducated fantasy football leaguers do

Hawrylyshyn · #18 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 3:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Also some big names being re-signed and most are 2-3 year contracts which is good for stability and player recognition

Keon Hatcher Sr - BC 2 years
Cody Fajardo, Brandon, Barlow - EE
Trevor Harris - Ssk
Yoshi Hardrick - Ssk
Tommy Stevens - Ssk - 2 years
Clark Barnes, Bryce Bell, - Cal
Pokey Wilson - Wpg - 2 year extension thru 2028
Davis Alexander - Mtl - 1 year extension thru 2028
Tyson Philpot - Mtl - 2 years
PO Lestage - Mtl - 3 years

Add a 2-year extension for Bo to the list!

BlackDog204 · #19 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 8:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Dude you're presenting the most pathetic argument I've seen. The things that TRULY make the CFL uniquely Canadian (3 downs, 12 men, wider field, waggle, no fair catch) are all remaining.

Cry a river and just admit you're scared of change boomer

Have you ever thought you may be wrong? 3/4 of CFL fans oppose the changes. Do you really think these changes will lead to an increase in attendance and viewership? It's far more likely that the changes will result in the opposite of what the league is aiming for.

Just for the record, average attendance has increased every season since 2021 (after COVID). Maybe learn to debate like a mature adult, instead of launching personal attacks, and mocking me about what you think my perceived age is...

cjones2451 · #20 Posted **Dec 11, 2025, 9:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Have you ever thought you may be wrong? 3/4 of CFL fans oppose the changes. Do you really think these changes will lead to an increase in attendance and viewership? It's far more likely that the changes will result in the opposite of what the league is aiming for.

Just for the record, average attendance has increased every season since 2021 (after COVID). Maybe learn to debate like a mature adult, instead of launching personal attacks, and mocking me about what you think my perceived age is...

Again, squeaky wheel gets the grease. I do not think it is 3/4 of fans are upset. Many polls, etc. are not full representative of everyone. That being said, the financials of the CFL are not huge and to grow and get a big jump in the new TV contract, I think risks needed to be taken.

Yes attendance has grown since Covid, but it is no where near the average it was even 15 years ago (28ishK vs 23K now) and an aging fan base is not sustainable. I don't think they can go back to TSN or other channels and say, yeah Status Quo, because ratings and attendance were up 2% last year.
YES, I know they need WAY better marketing and I believe that is coming in conjunction with this (already new website, App and Season long Fantasy Football is coming), but there has to be a path forward to make more revenue and game day stadium revenue is not the biggest opportunity. If Amazon or Netflix or maybe even Sportsnet got the rights to carry a game a week, I think it would get peoples attention and push TSN to innovate and drive growth too.

As a 40+ year fan, I know I am not the target audience and I am okay with them aiming for a younger fan base.