CFL Preseason Today May 29: Four Games Close Week 3 – Watch All Free on CFL+

Four CFL preseason games close out the 2026 preseason on Friday, May 29 — and fans can watch every one of them live and free on CFL+, the league's free streaming platform. Only one of the four games (Montreal at Ottawa) airs on TSN. The other three are CFL+ exclusive.

Tonight's CFL Preseason Schedule

All four games are the final preseason tune-up for each club before final roster cuts on Saturday, May 30. The 2026 CFL regular season opens Thursday, June 4 when Hamilton hosts Montreal.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts

The two teams meet for a second time after Toronto won 20-10 in Hamilton on May 23. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will start Jake Dolegala at quarterback. Dolegala went 5-of-14 for 61 yards with one interception in the rain-soaked opener last week. Tre Ford is listed as Hamilton's backup. Bo Levi Mitchell will not dress for the finale, per head coach Scott Milanovich.

The Toronto Argonauts will start Nick Arbuckle. Chad Kelly is not on the depth chart for this game. Kelly returned to the field in the opener for the first time in about 18 months, going 3-of-7 for 29 yards and rushing twice for 24 yards in his first action since the 2024 East Final leg injury. Tucker Horn and Anthony Guercio are the other quarterbacks dressed for Toronto. The Argos will also sit most of their projected starting offensive linemen (Ryan Hunter, Dakoda Shepley, Peter Nicastro, Desmond Bland) and starting receivers (Makai Polk, Damonte Coxie, Jake Herslow, Kevin Mital). Jyran Mitchell gets the first look in the open running back competition.

Players to Watch:

• Nick Arbuckle (Argonauts, QB) – Threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions filling in for Kelly all of last season.

• Jake Dolegala (Tiger-Cats, QB) – Looking for a better performance after a difficult opener in poor weather.

• Sam Hicks (Argonauts, RB) – Scored two touchdowns in the first preseason meeting and has a chance to lock down the starting running back job.

• Tre Ford (Tiger-Cats, QB) – Backs up Dolegala. Competing for a regular-season role after coming over from Edmonton in free agency.

Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks

This is the only CFL preseason game on TSN this week. The two teams meet for a second time after Ottawa won 27-12 in Montreal on May 22. The Ottawa Redblacks made a major announcement this week: head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie named Jake Maier the team's 2026 starting quarterback over incumbent Dru Brown. Maier went 10-of-14 for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason opener. Brown, who went 2-7 as Ottawa's starter in an injury-shortened 2025 season, is now the backup.

Maier will start tonight and Brown is listed as the No. 2 quarterback for the finale. The Montreal Alouettes, the 2025 East Division runner-up, will use this game to give starters limited tune-up work and evaluate roster bubble players before final cuts.

Players to Watch:

• Jake Maier (Redblacks, QB) – Just named the Week 1 starter. Gets one more start before opening the regular season June 6 against Edmonton.

• Dru Brown (Redblacks, QB) – Demoted to backup this week. Will get reps tonight as the team manages the QB rotation.

• Davis Alexander (Alouettes, QB) – Montreal's 2025 Most Outstanding Player. Played the opener and his snap count tonight will be a storyline.

• Giordano Vaccaro (Redblacks, OL) – The 2026 first overall pick continues to settle into his starting left guard role.

For the team's announcement on the quarterback switch, see TSN's report.

BC Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will start Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma in the preseason finale, the team announced Thursday. Zach Collaros, who started in last week's 31-27 loss to Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, will not start. Elgersma, the 18th overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft, is competing for the backup spot behind Collaros after stints with the Green Bay Packers and Birmingham Stallions in 2025.

The BC Lions close out their preseason after a 34-16 loss to Edmonton in Langford last week. Buck Pierce's club rotated Chase Brice, Kaidon Salter, and Jarret Doege at quarterback in the opener. Nathan Rourke did not dress for game one.

Players to Watch:

• Taylor Elgersma (Blue Bombers, QB) – The 6-foot-5 native of London, Ont. gets the start in his bid to win the No. 2 spot behind Collaros.

• Chase Brice (Lions, QB) – Started the opener and went 8-of-10 for 71 yards with a touchdown pass to Hergy Mayala.

• Brady Oliveira (Blue Bombers, RB) – Played in the opener and scored a two-yard rushing TD. Watch for his usage tonight.

• Tim White (Blue Bombers, WR) – Connected with Collaros for a 57-yard catch on Winnipeg's opening drive last week.

Lions head coach Buck Pierce on Brice's performance in the opener, via BCLions.com: "I thought he did well, thought he executed the offence well. It looked like he was moving the pocket well. He stood in there and made some tough throws. We were excited to see him get the start and get a couple of series under his belt. I thought he looked well."

Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks host the Calgary Stampeders in a "Night at the Knothole" theme game at Clarke Stadium, the original home of Elks football. Edmonton's usual home venue Commonwealth Stadium will host FIFA World Cup matches three nights later, prompting the venue switch.

Edmonton enters off a 34-16 win over BC. Cody Fajardo will play. Defensive end Malik Carney, signed in free agency from Saskatchewan after winning the Grey Cup in November, will make his Elks debut.

Calgary will rest a large group of starters and give backup Josh Love the start. Vernon Adams Jr. will stay in Calgary. Ben Wooldridge is the No. 2 quarterback, Jacolby Criswell is third-string, and Canadian tight end Quincy Vaughn is pencilled in as the fourth quarterback (he typically handles short-yardage). Calgary beat Saskatchewan 20-15 in its preseason opener on May 18.

Players to Watch:

• Cody Fajardo (Elks, QB) – Gets the first series at quarterback in his preseason finale.

• Josh Love (Stampeders, QB) – Gets the start with Adams Jr. and most starters held back. Went 5-of-10 for 68 yards in the opener and rushed for a touchdown.

• Malik Carney (Elks, DE) – Plays his first game in an Elks uniform after winning the 112th Grey Cup with Saskatchewan.

• Austin Mack (Elks, WR) – Caught a late second-quarter touchdown from Fajardo in the opener.

Fajardo, on the team's preseason opener performance, via GoElks.com: "Every team had a scoring drive, guys were dialed into the details, I'm extremely impressed with how our receivers played, our substitution was fantastic … and it was fun to watch the 2s, 3s, and 4s get a lot of time and a lot of reps, and they put some really good stuff on tape, so it was just fun to be a part of."

Carney, on his Elks debut, via GoElks.com: "I'm extremely excited to get my hands on somebody. Just to get my hands on somebody, that's what I'm excited for, and just to get back running around in this No. 2 (jersey) and celebrate with the guys."

Up Next: 2026 Regular Season Opens June 4

Quick Hits

• All four preseason games tonight stream live and free on CFL+. The Montreal-Ottawa game is also on TSN and RDS.

• Final roster cuts for all nine teams are due Saturday, May 30.

• Chad Kelly will not play again before the regular season after his one-game return last week.

• Jake Maier was officially named Ottawa's Week 1 starter this week, replacing Dru Brown.

• Taylor Elgersma's start gives Winnipeg a long look at the 6-foot-5 Wilfrid Laurier product before final cuts.

• Edmonton's "Night at the Knothole" at Clarke Stadium is the team's first game at the original Elks home venue in decades.

• Calgary is sitting Vernon Adams Jr. and most starting offensive contributors with the regular-season opener seven days away.

Which team closes the preseason on a high note? Drop your picks in the comments and watch every game free on CFL+.