With the Canadian Football League season winding down, the conversation around who the league’s Most Outstanding Player will be is heating up.
There are two names, both from the Montreal Alouettes, that have dominated the conversation. The quintessential quarterback Davis Alexander and the remarkable receiver Tyson Philpot.
Montreal has been atop the standings all season after a narrow Grey Cup defeat last season, and Alexander and Philpot are a huge reason why.
Each player rested in Week 20’s loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and according to TSN’s Matthew Scianitti, Alouettes head coach Jason Maas says Alexander and Philpot, among others, are unlikely to draw in for the team’s regular season finale against the Toronto Argonauts.
That means it’s likely both of their MOP-worthy seasons have been completed, and according to FanDuel, they are two favourites.
| Name | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Davis Alexander | Montreal Alouettes | -700 |
| Tyson Philpot | Montreal Alouettes | +430 |
| Nathan Rourke | BC Lions | +3300 |
| Cody Fajardo | Edmonton Elks | +6000 |
| Zander Horvath | BC Lions | +6000 |
*Odds courtesy of FanDuel
Davis Alexander
The heavy favourite is the 28-year-old American, and for good reason.
Alexander’s numbers are in rare company, his 328.6 passing yards per game lead the CFL, while his 35-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and his 122.7 passing rate are the best and second-best marks among qualified pivots since 2016 (no later year is available on the CFL’s website).
Alexander also leads the league in adjusted completion percentage (78.6 per cent), throws of 30 or more yards (37), and has a CFL-low 2.2 turnover worthy play percentage in 2026, which are also some of the best marks for a season since 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.
The quarterback on the best team is usually a good bet to win the award, especially when the resume looks as good as Alexander’s does.
Tyson Philpot
While Alexander has a fantastic case to win MOP, Philpot’s resume should not be overlooked.
Look at any receiving stat category, and you’ll probably see Tyson Philpot’s name at the top. The 26-year-old will more than likely finish with the triple crown, leading the CFL in yards (1,809), receptions (124), and touchdowns (13).
To put those numbers into historical context, Philpot put up the most receiving yards in a season since Geroy Simon’s MOP 2006 season, the most catches since Derrell Mitchell’s 1998 year, and the second-most receiving touchdowns since Romby Bryant in 2010.
The Delta, B.C. native also led the league in 2026 in yards per route run (3.21), yards after the catch (750), explosive pass plays (46), wide receiver rating (140.3), and missed tackles forced on receptions (35), according to Pro Football Focus.
Unfortunately for the Canadian, history is not on his side. There have only been 29 non-quarterback winners of the award and only nine receiver winners, with only four wideout winners since 1988.
Each player put up historic seasons, even while resting the final two games of the campaign. Both have more than a qualified resume to claim the award, and whoever wins will be more than deserving and a great representation of the 2026 season.