After some big-time offence and statement victories in Week 8, the Canadian Football League is back in action for Week 9 on TSN.
This week features four games packed into three days across the TSN network, with the slate starting Thursday as the BC Lions travel to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Friday Night Football features the league-best Montreal Alouettes travelling to the nation’s capital to take on the league-worst Ottawa Redblacks.
Week 9 wraps up with a Saturday doubleheader, beginning with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats playing host to the explosive Calgary Stampedes, before the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders battle for the second straight week to cap things off, this time at Commonwealth Stadium.
Lions vs. Blue Bombers
The week begins with a West Division matchup as the Lions turn to a new quarterback in an effort to get back on track against the Blue Bombers.
Watch the Lions battle the Blue Bombers LIVE at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT across the TSN Network, streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.
Rookie pivot Kaidon Salter is expected to make his first start of his CFL career Thursday after relieving Chase Brice in the team’s 26-12 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in Week 8.
The 23-year-old Dallas native completed nine of his 15 pass attempts for 121 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in what was the dual pivot’s debut.
It’s worth noting that Salter’s style more closely resembles reigning Most Outstanding Player and Canadian Nathan Rourke, who is set to miss his second straight game. More mobility will be a welcome sight given the state of the offensive line, which has allowed the most sacks in the league (18) and is battling multiple injuries.
The team that has gotten to the quarterback the most in 2026? Of course, it’s the Bombers, as Willie Jefferson and Jake Ceresna are tied for the league lead at five apiece. Add in that Jordan Younger’s defence has been notoriously one of the best pass defences north of the border since he took over, and the unit is once again elite in 2026, making for a tough situation for a debutant.
It’s not all doom and gloom for BC, which is trying to stop a two-game skid, as the team boasts the league’s best run defence. That bodes extremely well against a team that loves to run through star back Brady Oliveira. The Bombers could also be without one or both of their bookend tackles in Jarell Broxton and Stanley Bryant, as they both are dealing with knee injuries. Lions’ superstar edge Mathieu Betts is tied with Jefferson and Ceresna for the league lead in sacks and has taken over games before, which gives BC some hope.
Alouettes vs. Redblacks
Friday Night Football features the Redblacks aiming for their first win of the season as they welcome the streaking Alouettes to the nation’s capital.
Watch the Alouettes take on the Redblacks LIVE at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT across the TSN Network, streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.
There is more intrigue in this one than you would think for a matchup that features the league’s best going up against the league’s worst.
For starters, it’s a short week for a Montreal team riding a four-game win streak, which will only have had four days off by the time Friday rolls around. Compare that to Ottawa, which is coming off a bye week, and will have 11 total days off to prepare for the Alouettes.
The Alouettes also only narrowly beat the Redblacks back in Week 4, as Jake Maier had his best start in his young Ottawa career. In that one, the 29-year-old completed 71.0 per cent of his passes for 336 yards while adding three touchdowns.
Ottawa will have to find a way to slow down a prolific Montreal offence. Canadian wideout Tyson Philpot was phenomenal in the previous matchup, making 12 grabs for 198 yards.
Recently, however, it’s been the ground game getting it done for the Als with Travis Theis. After a career-high 123 yards along the ground in Week 7, Theis got to rumbling once again in Week 8, setting a new career high of 156 against the Tiger-Cats.
Ottawa is allowing the most rushing yards per game north of the border (123.2). How effective Montreal’s running game is will be a key focus for both sides.
Stampeders vs. Tiger-Cats
Saturday starts with the offensively spectacular Stampeders travelling to the Hammer to battle with the defensively terrific Tiger-Cats.
Watch the Stampeders battle the Tiger-Cats LIVE at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT across the TSN Network, streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.
This one is truly an immovable object meeting an unstoppable force, as the Stampeders’ offence has been prolific. The Stamps are averaging a league-best 39.7 points per game and are the only team to drop 50 points in a game – and they’ve done it twice.
It starts with pivot Vernon Adams Jr., who has etched his name in history in 2026. The 33-year-old not only set the record for the most touchdown passes without an interception to start the season (18), but his 23 consecutive majors without being picked off, dating back to last year, are a new all-time high.
The identity of the team has been on the ground, however, with 2025 rushing champ Dedrick Mills. The 29-year-old leads the league in carries (95) and yards (584), as he brings a physical presence, along with the offensive line, to Pat DelMonaco’s offence.
It will be Brent Monson, who spent more than a decade with Calgary, and his Hamilton defence next up to try and slow this Calgary offence down.
The Tiger-Cats are top two in most defensive statistical categories, including points allowed (27.1), net offence allowed (369.7), and passing yards allowed (283.1).
Hamilton has been a bit more susceptible to the run, which may not bode well going up against a Calgary team that leads the league in rushing yards per game, average gain per rush, and is only behind Hamilton in total rushing attempts.
There is intrigue going the other way too. Canadian pivot Tre Ford enters his third start for the Tiger-Cats and will go up against a Calgary defence that is allowing the most net offence, passing yards, and the second most points. However, the game will be won or lost by how effective the teams’ elite units are going up against each other.
Roughriders vs. Elks
Week 9 wraps up with a rematch from last week as the Elks and Roughriders battle in the second half of a home-and-home.
Watch the Roughriders take on the Elks LIVE at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT across the TSN Network, streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.
If you were lucky enough to watch last week’s clash, then you should know that these are top teams north of the border and that another great showdown could be in store.
A walk-off field goal was the difference in Week 8 as Edmonton came into Mosaic Stadium and won their third straight game.
While it’s been star running back Justin Rankin and their pad-popping defence getting most of the headlines, quarterback Cody Fajardo showed they could get it done in the air. The 34-year-old threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns against his former team, which was especially impressive given the Riders were the CFL’s top pass defence.
It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a row, however, especially against a team as talented and physical as the Riders. Saskatchewan still boasts a balanced and efficient offence, led by the deadly accurate Trevor Harris, a three-headed monster at receiver, and a mauling run game with a star-studded offensive line and the bashing A.J. Ouellette.
It was a shootout in Regina in Week 8, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see more of a defensive, grind-it-out game in the rematch in Edmonton as both teams feature playmakers at all three levels defensively.
