The CFL is officially back.
Week 1 continues on Friday night as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers travel to take on the Calgary Stampeders in the 2026 season’s first edition of Friday Night Football on TSN.
Watch the Blue Bombers take on the Stampeders LIVE at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT across the TSN Network, streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.
While it might not seem like there is much up for grabs in this game given how early it is, every matchup counts – especially in what is expected to be a very close West Division.
These teams meet early in the season once again in 2026, as the pair had all three of their matchups within the first 10 weeks in 2025. Calgary had Winnipeg’s number last year, sweeping the season series 3-0 and outscoring the Bombers 106-63 in those matchups.
The Stampeders will try to have similar success this year, and the key could be a run game led by Dedrick Mills.
In 2025, the 29-year-old led the CFL in rushing yards by far (1,409), rushing touchdowns (11), and was second in yards per carry among qualified backs (5.6) despite leading the league in carries (250). Mills also led in rush yards after contact (877) and was second in missed tackles forced (51).
To put into context just how dominant Calgary’s run game was, Mills’ 1,409 yards were the second-highest total since 2013, when former Stampeders running back and Canadian Jon Cornish had more than 1,800 yards.
Calgary ran the ball the highest amount last season at just over 40 per cent, while averaging 126.7 rushing yards per game (first). It’s a physical, pounding run game, and leaning into their strengths could be the key, especially when going up against what is an elite pass defence in Winnipeg.
Over the past two seasons, the Bombers have allowed the fewest number of passing yards per game (248.1), passing touchdowns (41), the lowest opponent completion percentage (61.6 per cent), and the most pass knockdowns.
The group of defensive backs is loaded, but they are led by star halfback duo Deatrick Nichols and Evan Holm. Both have gotten multiple All-CFL nods in their time as a pair since 2022 and are great in coverage. They are also both durable, with one game being missed between the pair since 2023.
Stopping Calgary’s rushing attack and forcing Vernon Adams Jr. to make throws into that dangerous secondary will be the key for Winnipeg.
Offensively, the Bombers catch a break, as Stamps’ star defensive linemen Jaylon Hutchings and Folarin Orimolade have been ruled out.
That should mean there’s more breathing room for veteran Zach Collaros to find his new weapons in Tim White and Canadian Tommy Nield, while running back Brady Oliveira might be able to run free.
The Winnipeg native has been fantastic over the past four seasons, claiming the Most Outstanding Player award, back-to-back Most Outstanding Canadian awards, and two All-CFL nominations along the way.
Despite missing three games with a shoulder injury in 2025, Oliveira led the league in scrimmage yards (1,709) and yards per carry (5.8), while sitting second in receptions amongst backs (61) and fourth in rushing yards after contact (704).
Both of these teams like to utilize their star backs quite a bit, and given that it’s Week 1, they should be involved quite a bit in bread-and-butter plays.
Whichever team can limit the other’s ground game and not allow those easy plays to become big ones could come out on top in what will be a physical opening game.
