CFL 2025 Season

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I know it might not be the most popular thing to say at the moment, and I'm not even a fan of American football.

I'm not a fan of American football either

[elly63]

Originally Posted by megadude

I used to give his brother some feedback and ask him to pass it on regarding TSN's garbage website, but it's still garbage. Anyway, that wasn't his domain.

I'm not a fan of that style of website either.

The one thing I would lobby for is a FAST channel on free TV services like Pluto, Tubi, Plex, Samsung, LG TV etc This should have been CFL 2.0 instead of the ill conceived morass it was/is?

[elly63]

What is Rourke's CFL draft projection? Will Elgersma be available?

Quarterbacks Kurtis Rourke and Taylor Elgersma did not attend the CFL combine and are both getting lots of attention from the NFL. Dave Naylor, Farhan Lalji, Duane Forde and Paul LaPolice discuss where they think Rourke could get taken in the CFL draft, what teams could use him most, if Elgersma will be available in the draft, and if there's a risk in drafting U Sports QBs.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I know it might not be the most popular thing to say at the moment, and I'm not even a fan of American football, but I still think it's a shame the XFL-CFL merger that was floated during covid never happened... it had the potential to be a major game changer, and it would have been interesting to see "Rider Nation" get more international recognition.

I guess I could agree if by "game changer" you mean "irreversibly change the game for the worse'".

I think we need to do 100% the opposite. Canadian Football should get less like American Football. Do you think the Aussies or Irish care about "international recognition" for their national football games"

I think you could put all forms of football on a spectrum like 1his:

1. Soccer
2.
3. Gaelic Football
4. Aussie Rules
5.
6. Rugby Union
7. Rugby League
8.
9.
9.5 Canadian Football
10. American Football

I'd love to see Canadian Football somewhere in the 8-8.5 range instead. I really thought covid was a big opportunity to do something like that.

IMO, all you'd need to do is
1. go back to 2-way players being the default (the actual impetus for a change, since it would cut roster spots and payroll by a lot)
2. Somehow enforce "hurry up" offense as the default - not stopping play, as soon as you're tackled just start setting up the LOS again, and let that evolve from there and see what happens.

The actual during-play rules don't even need to change much and we'd something more flowing. It doesn't have to be soccer, even rugby has a fair amount of stoppages, but something not so stop-start as modern gridiron.

But we have too many Americans involved in coaching, team management, and league management for that to ever happen.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by jonny24

I guess I could agree if by "game changer" you mean "irreversibly change the game for the worse'".

I think we need to do 100% the opposite. Canadian Football should get less like American Football. Do you think the Aussies or Irish care about "international recognition" for their national football games"

But we have too many Americans involved in coaching, team management, and league management for that to ever happen.

Totally agree, we have to make the game more Canadian not less. Increase the ratio, not lessen it. If the league wants to increase its profile start a FAST channel.

I do disagree (and agree) with the part about management. While there are too many Americans involved for my liking, I think the glass ceiling has been broken when it comes to Canadian coaches, assistants and management. I will say I wasn't thrilled to see Paul LaPolice's attitude towards Canadian QBs in the interview I watched, he could have been a little more encouraging.

To try and copy a second rate American league to become more like the NFL is a sure recipe for disaster. Every attempt since the AFL/NFL merger has failed.

Unfortunately, I don't think the present attitude towards the US will last when it pertains to sports, the wannabees will still gravitate towards the US.

Personally, I am so sick of rich,overpaid, entitled athletes (see Alphonso Davies as latest example) that I can't watch any pro sports now. Just sick of the whole thing.

[Ozabald]

Originally Posted by jonny24

I guess I could agree if by "game changer" you mean "irreversibly change the game for the worse'".

I think we need to do 100% the opposite. Canadian Football should get less like American Football. Do you think the Aussies or Irish care about "international recognition" for their national football games"

I think you could put all forms of football on a spectrum like 1his:

1. Soccer
2.
3. Gaelic Football
4. Aussie Rules
5.
6. Rugby Union
7. Rugby League
8.
9.
9.5 Canadian Football
10. American Football

I'd love to see Canadian Football somewhere in the 8-8.5 range instead. I really thought covid was a big opportunity to do something like that.

IMO, all you'd need to do is
1. go back to 2-way players being the default (the actual impetus for a change, since it would cut roster spots and payroll by a lot)
2. Somehow enforce "hurry up" offense as the default - not stopping play, as soon as you're tackled just start setting up the LOS again, and let that evolve from there and see what happens.

The actual during-play rules don't even need to change much and we'd something more flowing. It doesn't have to be soccer, even rugby has a fair amount of stoppages, but something not so stop-start as modern gridiron.

But we have too many Americans involved in coaching, team management, and league management for that to ever happen.

Get rid of the rouge. Being rewarded for failure is so Canadian. Imagine a tie Grey Cup game decided by a missed field goal on the last play of the game. Let's have a rouge in the NHL. Game 7 of the SCF in overtime. A team is awarded a penalty shot and the shooter hits the goal post. Give them a half goal for the effort and the Stanley Cup.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Ozabald

Get rid of the rouge. Being rewarded for failure is so Canadian.

This is the biggest CFL myth there is, (usually spouted by the NFL wannabes). It doesn't "reward" failure, it penalizes the opposing team for not running the ball out.

The CFL doesn't need dead plays like the NFL and its "fair catch"

And if it's "so Canadian" that is supposed to be a bad thing? You want to be an American right now? Really?

[elly63]

Originally Posted by jonny24

But we have too many Americans involved in coaching, team management, and league management for that to ever happen.

While one is one too many, I just counted that 7/9 of GMs and 5/9 of Head Coaches are Canadian. I would doubt the number has ever been that high. Included in both of those is Dave Dickenson who became a citizen about this time last year. I also forgot about Pinball who is a naturalized citizen.

GMs: Ted Goveia (HAM), Danny Maciocia (MTL), Shawn Burke (OTT), Dave Dickenson (CGY), Jeremy O'Day (SSK), Kyle Walters (WPG), Michael Clemons (TOR)

HC: Bob Dyce (OTT), Dave Dickenson (CGY), Mark Kilam (EDM), Corey Mace (SSK), Mike O'Shea (WPG)

[craner]

Originally Posted by elly63

This is the biggest CFL myth there is, (usually spouted by the NFL wannabes). It doesn't "reward" failure, it penalizes the opposing team for not running the ball out.

The CFL doesn't need dead plays like the NFL and its "fair catch"

And if it's "so Canadian" that is supposed to be a bad thing? You want to be an American right now? Really?

I don’t think they should get rid of the rouge for the reasons you mention but I do think they should tweak the rule to require the ball to land in the end zone so the opposing team has a chance to run it out. You can’t just kick it through the back or over the sideline in the air.

[elly63]

Three Canadian QBs selected in CFL draft

Saskatchewan Roughriders select Indiana Hoosiers QB Kurtis Rourke in 2025 CFL Draft
Winnipeg Blue Bombers select Wilfrid Laurier QB Taylor Elgersma in 2025 CFL Draft
Alouettes select Montreal Carabins QB Jonathan Sénécal in 2025 CFL Draft

At present, Rourke will go to the the San Francisco 49ers camp as they drafted him in the NFL draft.

Elgersma had over a dozen NFL rookie mini-camp invites following the 2025 NFL Draft and is presently with the Green Bay Packers

[elly63]

CFL teams welcome 2025 Canadian QB internship class, led by McGill star Éloa Latendresse-Régimbald
3Down Staff 3downnation.com May 7, 2025

Quarterbacks from Canadian universities across the country will join professional counterparts on the field for the 2025 Canadian Football League QB internship program. It runs through CFL rookie camps and training camps until the end of May.

Since the inaugural QB internship program in 2010, teams have welcomed collegiate quarterbacks to join CFLers in the leadup to the season to further develop skills, participate in practices and attend team and positional meetings.

Notable past participants:

– Taylor Elgersma (TOR: 2022 and 2023, HAM: 2024)
– Jonathan Sénécal (MTL: 2022 and 2024)
– Arnaud Desjardins (WPG: 2023)
– Tre Ford (MTL: 2018, HAM: 2019)
– Michael O’Connor (BC: 2015 and 2016, TOR: 2018)

CFL QB internship — 2025 class
​(Team | Name | School | Hometown)

Montreal | Éloa Latendresse-Régimbald | McGill | Montreal

– Started all eight regular season games in 2024
– 2,061 passing yards, 53.6 completion percentage with eight touchdowns
– Led RSEQ with 781 rushing yards and nine majors
– 2024 McGill Most Valuable Player

Ottawa | Alex Vreeken | Queen’s | Kingston, Ont.

– Appeared in five games in 2024
– 1,046 passing yards, 59.8 per cent completion rate with six touchdowns
– 92 rush yards and one major
– 2025 U Sports East-West Bowl selection

Toronto | Nick Orr | Waterloo | Caledon, Ont.

– Five regular season games played in 2024
– 822 passing yards, 51 per cent completion percentage with three touchdowns
– Rushed for 263 yards, 6.7 yards per rush
– 2025 U Sports East-West Bowl selection

Hamilton | Tristan Aboud | Guelph | Montreal

– 10 games played in 2024, eight regular season and two playoff starts
– Completed 67.4 per cent of passes for 2,994 yards with 14 touchdowns
– Rushed for 351 yards, averaged 9.2 per carry

Winnipeg | Cole Anseeuw | Manitoba | Winnipeg

– Entering second season with the Bisons
– As a freshman, played behind 2025 CFL Draft prospect, Jackson Tachinski

Saskatchewan | Anton Amundrud | Saskatchewan | Lloydminster, Alta.

– Started nine games in 2024
– Passed for 2,593 yards with 12 touchdowns and a 68.1 per cent completion rate
– Rushed for 145 yards
– 2025 U Sports East-West Bowl selection

Calgary | Cohen Wright | Saskatchewan | Calgary

– Played in one game as a freshman
– Completed five-of-six attempts for 73 yards

Edmonton | Eli Hetlinger | Alberta | Edmonton

– Five games played in 2024
– 87-of-138 (63 per cent) passing for 969 yards and seven touchdowns
– Past participant of QB internship program (EDM: 2023, SSK: 2024)

BC | Alex La Vecchia| UBC | Ottawa

– Freshman in 2024 behind two seniors

[elly63]

TSN to broadcast two preseason CFL games in 2025, rest available on CFL+
John Hodge 3downnation.com May 12, 2025

TSN is set to broadcast two CFL preseason games in 2025, according to a schedule recently posted to the network’s website.

The two preseason games chosen for broadcast will feature the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, May 24 and the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, May 30. The former will overlap slightly with a preseason game between the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders, while the latter will overlap in full or in part with three other games that same day.

According to a CFL spokesperson, the league will carry the other seven preseason games on its streaming service, CFL+. This will include the preseason game between the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions on May 19 as well as the three untelevised preseason games on May 24 and May 30.

TSN will carry all 81 regular-season CFL games in 2025, 19 of which will also be shown on CTV. Last year, seven regular-season games were shown exclusively on CTV. This year, there will be no CTV exclusives as the games will be simulcast on TSN and CTV.

The East Semi-Final, East Final, and Grey Cup will also be simulcast on TSN and CTV, while the West Semi-Final and West Final will be shown exclusively on TSN.

CTV was launched in 1961 and remains Canada’s largest television network. The CFL was shown on CTV from 1962 to 1986 with the network simulcasting the Grey Cup with CBC during that time. The network was purchased by Bell, which also owns TSN, in 2001.

Regular-season CFL television ratings fell six percent from 2023 to 2024 but viewership exploded in the playoffs with increases of 41.7 percent for the East and West Semi-Finals and 18.2 percent for the East and West Finals. Viewership for the Grey Cup was essentially flat year-over-year, though English-language ratings increased by 19.9 percent.

None of these figures include streaming numbers from TSN Direct.

[elly63]

Snoop Dogg to play Lions Season Opener

[TimB09]

Good to see CTV pick up more games this year. Must've done well enough ratings-wise to warrant that happening.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by elly63

Snoop Dogg to play Lions Season Opener

Pretty disappointing decision from the Lions here, I'm a season ticket holder and I've written in to ask them to reconsider.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Pretty disappointing decision from the Lions here, I'm a season ticket holder and I've written in to ask them to reconsider.

Why? I think it's pretty cool - He's not the most current in music but definitely still a star.

Edit: Ha also went by Snoop Lion for a spell, maybe he'll bring it back

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by jonny24

Why? I think it's pretty cool - He's not the most current in music but definitely still a star.

Edit: Ha also went by Snoop Lion for a spell, maybe he'll bring it back

Comments in this Reddit thread sum it up:

Can't support this guy after he sold his soul to Trump during the campaign.

Fuck this guy. Go play another show for Trump.

One of the world's biggest sell-outs. Hasn't put out any decent music in a decade. His "performances" are half-assed. He just goes around cashing in on his image.

There are so many qualified and talented Canadian artists. In the current climate, picking an American artist who's aligned themselves with Trump is an incredibly stupid decision.

[jonny24]

Oh, fair enough. Last I heard about was when he was doing Olympic coverage.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Pretty disappointing decision from the Lions here, I'm a season ticket holder and I've written in to ask them to reconsider.

You best cancel them then

[elly63]

Ticket sales for B.C. Lions’ season-opener surpass 40,000 in 48 hours since Snoop Dogg announcement

Edit: Tickets are apparently selling faster than last year's 50 Cent BC Place sellout