The CFL is about to turn back the clock.
For the first time in 31 years, the league will play four games on the same Saturday. Week 15 will feature 12 straight hours of CFL football on September 12. The action begins at 1 p.m. ET when the Ottawa Redblacks visit the Toronto Argonauts. It will not end until late Saturday night when the Montreal Alouettes face the BC Lions in Vancouver.
In between, two of the CFL’s biggest rivalries take center stage
Saskatchewan travels to Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl at 4 p.m. ET. Then, Calgary and Edmonton renew the Battle of Alberta at 7 p.m. The last CFL four-game Saturday came on August 26, 1995, during the league’s U.S. expansion era.
So, Saturday will already be historic. However, the games themselves could be even more important. With the regular season moving into its final stretch, playoff races are tightening. Some teams are trying to establish themselves as Grey Cup contenders. Others are simply trying to keep their seasons alive.
Here are four teams with the most to prove during the CFL’s historic Week 15 quadruple-header.
Ottawa Redblacks: Find Something to Build On
At this point, Ottawa is not playing for playoff positioning. The Redblacks are playing for progress.
An 0-11 record tells most of the story. However, quarterback Jake Maier continues to produce through the air despite the losses.Now, Ottawa gets an interesting opportunity. The Redblacks are coming off a bye. Meanwhile, Toronto enters Week 15 on a shorter week after playing Monday.
A victory would not suddenly change Ottawa's season. However, beating a division rival on the CFL's biggest Saturday of the year would finally give the Redblacks something positive to build around. Don't hold your breathe though. This Ottawa team is one of the worst CFL teams of all time.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Protect Home Field in the Banjo Bowl
Few teams will enter Saturday with more motivation than Winnipeg. The Blue Bombers came painfully close to beating Saskatchewan in the Labour Day Classic. Winnipeg forced overtime after tying the game as regulation expired, only to watch the Roughriders escape with the victory. Now comes the rematch.
And this time, it is in Winnipeg. The Banjo Bowl rarely needs additional storylines. This year, it has several. Saskatchewan has established itself as one of the CFL's top teams. Winnipeg, meanwhile, is still fighting to secure its position in a crowded West Division playoff race.
A win would do more than avenge the Labour Day loss. It would remind the rest of the West that Winnipeg remains dangerous when the calendar begins moving toward October and November.
Calgary Stampeders: The Margin for Error Is Disappearing
For Calgary, the situation is becoming much simpler. Win. The Stampeders enter another Battle of Alberta with their postseason hopes under increasing pressure. On the other side, Edmonton has an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth with a victory. That creates two completely different motivations inside the same rivalry game.
The Elks can take another major step forward in what has become an impressive season. Calgary is fighting to prevent its season from slipping away. Rivalry games are always important. This one could help determine whether Calgary is still playing meaningful football when October arrives.
BC Lions: Prove They Can Beat the CFL's Best
BC is in a much different position. The Lions are not fighting simply to survive. They are trying to prove they can contend. Montreal has already secured a playoff spot and a home playoff game. The Alouettes have given the rest of the league a measuring stick.
That makes Saturday night's matchup particularly interesting for BC. The Lions have put themselves in strong playoff position. However, beating Montreal would send a different message. It would show that BC should be viewed as more than a likely playoff team. It would show that the Lions may be capable of making noise once they get there.
Twelve Hours That Could Reshape the CFL Playoff Race
Saturday begins with history. By the time it ends, the CFL playoff picture could look much different.
Ottawa is searching for its first victory. Winnipeg wants revenge and valuable West Division positioning. Calgary is running out of opportunities. BC gets a chance to measure itself against one of the league's best teams. And all four stories will unfold during one afternoon and evening. Four games. Eight teams.
Twelve consecutive hours of football. For the first time since 1995, the CFL owns an entire Saturday. Now we find out which teams make the most of it.