The Calgary Stampeders open the 2026 season at home in new threads, with a fresh franchise quarterback and a burning score to settle against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Game Details
- Matchup: Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Calgary Stampeders
- When: Friday, June 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM MT / 9:00 PM ET
- Where: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB
- TV: TSN
Odds
- Spread: Winnipeg Blue Bombers -2
- Moneyline: Calgary Stampeders +105, Winnipeg Blue Bombers -125
- Over/Under: 48
Overview
It is Week 1 of the 2026 CFL regular season and McMahon Stadium gets the party started with a West Division showdown. Calgary swept Winnipeg in all three meetings last year — twice at home — so the Bombers come into this one with something to prove. The market gives Winnipeg a slim two-point edge on the road, which tells you everything about how tight this rivalry is. For the Stampeders, this is their eighth straight season opening at home, and this crowd will be loud from the first whistle.
The storylines pile up fast. Calgary is debuting brand-new uniforms — altered shoulder striping, a Western-style number font and a CGY wordmark on the back of the neck — and the team is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its 2001 Grey Cup title, with 18 alumni including head coach Wally Buono set to return on Friday. The Stamps also have a Grey Cup of their own to think about: McMahon Stadium hosts the 113th Grey Cup on November 15, making home-field statement games like this one matter even more. Winnipeg, meanwhile, arrived in Calgary coming off back-to-back preseason losses to Saskatchewan and BC, though they rested starters heavily. New offensive coordinator Tommy Condell has generated real buzz around a retooled Bomber attack, and a rejuvenated Zach Collaros is the engine of it all.
Calgary's biggest wrinkle heading into Friday is at kicker. Veteran Rene Paredes — who had scored in every single Stampeders game since 2011 (247 consecutive appearances) — is listed as questionable with a groin injury. First-round Global Draft pick Jude McAtamney, a Northern Irishman who played five NFL games with the New York Giants across 2024-25, is set to handle the duties if Paredes can't go. That is a significant swing factor in a game projected to land right around 48 total points. On the other side of the ball, Winnipeg's defence is anchored by Willie Jefferson and a linebacker corps that includes Tony Jones — who racked up 102 defensive tackles a year ago. The Bombers are no pushover defensively. But Calgary swept this series in 2025 and holds a 72-37 all-time advantage at McMahon Stadium. The Stamps have the home edge, the motivation, and a quarterback who is one win away from a career milestone. Give the slight edge to Calgary at home.
Key Players
- Vernon Adams Jr. (Calgary, QB) — Threw for 4,247 yards in 2025 and needs just one more win as a starter to reach 50 for his career; also 24 rushing yards from 2,000 for his career, adding another layer of motivation on opening night.
- Dedrick Mills (Calgary, RB) — Led the entire CFL with 1,409 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025; needs just two more rushing TDs for 20 in his career, and he is the engine of Calgary's ground game.
- Clarence Hicks (Calgary, DL) — Piled up 12 sacks last season, making him the most dangerous pass-rusher on Calgary's defensive front against a Bomber offensive line that will be tested early.
- Zach Collaros (Winnipeg, QB) — New coordinator Tommy Condell has the veteran quarterback looking refreshed after two difficult seasons; the Bombers' offence runs through him and he's been around long enough to know how to win in hostile environments.
- Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg, RB) — Rushed for 1,163 yards in 2025 and gives Collaros a reliable check-down valve; if Winnipeg wants to keep Calgary's pass rush honest, Oliveira has to find room early.
Keys to the Game
- Calgary must establish Dedrick Mills on the ground early to control the clock and take pressure off of Adams, especially with kicking uncertainty at the back end of drives.
- The Stampeder pass rush — led by Hicks — needs to disrupt Collaros before Condell's new offence finds its rhythm; get to Collaros in the first half and this game stays close or tips Calgary's way.
- Special teams will be the wildcard: if McAtamney handles the kicker duties, he must be sharp in a pressure moment, because field position and late-game points could easily decide a game sitting right on a 48-point total.
Injury Report
| Player | Team | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldon Arnold | Calgary | DB | Ankle | Out |
| Clark Barnes | Calgary | WR | Hamstring | Questionable |
| Reggie Begelton | Calgary | WR | Knee | Out |
| Morice Blackwell II | Calgary | DB | Foot | Out |
| Anton Haie | Calgary | DB | Hamstring | Out |
| Jaylon Hutchings | Calgary | DL | Hamstring | Questionable |
| Tomas Jack-Kurdyla | Calgary | OL | Knee | Available |
| Ben Labrosse | Calgary | DB | Illness | Available |
| Folarin Orimolade | Calgary | DL | Achilles | Available |
| Rene Paredes | Calgary | K | Groin | Questionable |
| Micah Teitz | Calgary | LB | Head | Available |
Depth Chart
Calgary Stampeders official Week 1 starters vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers projected starters:
| Position | Calgary Stampeders | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Vernon Adams Jr. (backup: Josh Love) | Zach Collaros |
| RB | Dedrick Mills (backup: Ludovick Choquette) | Brady Oliveira |
| FB | — | Michael Chris-Ike |
| WR / Receiver | Tevin Jones, Jalen Philpot, Erik Brooks, Dejon Brissett | Tim White, Nic Demski, Ontaria Wilson |
| SB / Slot | Vyshonne Janusas, Jesulayomi Ojutalayo | Tommy Nield, Kevens Clercius |
| OL (LT–RT) | D'Antne Demery, Zack Williams, Chris Fortin, Christy Nkanu, William Barnes | Stanley Bryant, Gabe Wallace, Asotui Eli, Pat Neufeld, Jarell Broxton |
| DE | Clarence Hicks, Shaun Peterson Jr. | Kydran Jenkins, Willie Jefferson |
| DT | Miles Brown, Charles Wiley | Cameron Lawson, Jake Ceresna |
| WLB / SAM / MLB | Kyle Wilson, Marquel Lee, Kelechi Anyalebechi | Kyrie Wilson, Tony Jones, Redha Kramdi |
| CB | Jaydon Grant, Ashton Miller-Melancon | Jonathan Moxey, Trey Vaval |
| HB | Damon Webb, Anthony Johnson | Evan Holm, Deatrick Nichols |
| S | Adrian Greene | Cam Allen |
| K | Jude McAtamney** (Rene Paredes Q) | Sergio Castillo |
| P | Mark Vassett** | Jamieson Sheahan |
| LS | Jason MacGougan | Ian Leroux |
| Returner | Tyreik McAllister | Trey Vaval |
** Global player designation. Calgary depth chart is official Week 1; Winnipeg depth chart is CFL.ca projected (preseason).
Score Prediction
Calgary Stampeders 26 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers 22. The market-implied line sits at Calgary 23, Winnipeg 25, but the Stamps' home advantage — they are 72-37 all-time at McMahon in this series — and the Bombers' shaky preseason offence tips the scale. Calgary's defence, headlined by Hicks and his 12 sacks from a year ago, makes life uncomfortable enough for Collaros that Winnipeg's new-look attack can't quite find its footing on the road in Week 1. Paredes' status is the one real wild card; if McAtamney holds up, the Stamps cover and win a tight one at home.
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Who takes this one? Drop your prediction in the comments.