The 2026 CFL season kicks off Thursday night as Davis Alexander chases history in Hamilton, with both teams banged up heading in.
This Week's CFL Schedule
Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
| When | Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 11:30 PM ET |
| Where | Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton |
| TV | TSN (Canada) | CBS Sports Network (U.S.) |
| Line | Montreal -2 | O/U 52 |
The 2026 CFL regular season opens right here, and there's plenty to unpack. Hamilton is hosting a season opener for the first time since 2019 — and they haven't won one since 2018. Montreal, meanwhile, has won its first game in each of the last three seasons and enters as a slight road favourite. The Alouettes have gone 7-3 against Hamilton since 2022, but the Tiger-Cats swept the season series in 2025, so the Ticats have momentum in this head-to-head spot.
The biggest storyline? Davis Alexander is 11-0 to start his CFL career, and a win tonight would extend his own league record for consecutive wins to start a career to 12. He has the edge at quarterback, but the injury report is a mess on both sides — this one could turn into a grind-it-out affair at a loud Tim Hortons Field. Montreal is favoured by a field goal or less, and the over/under of 52 feels aggressive given how many offensive pieces are missing. Keep an eye on the total — the under has a strong case here.
Players to Watch:
- Davis Alexander (Montreal, QB) — Carries an 11-0 CFL record into Week 1 and is one win away from making that record 12-0, all his own.
- Kenny Lawler (Hamilton, WR) — Coming off a league-best 14 TD catches in 2025, his next TD grab will be the 40th of his career — and with Shemar Bridges out, Hamilton will lean on him hard.
- Jose Maltos Diaz (Montreal, K) — Two field goals away from 100 in his career; kickers become difference-makers in low-scoring openers.
Injury Watch: Montreal is without WRs Hakeem Harris, DeVonte Dedmon, and Zakhari Franklin — all hamstring — gutting their receiving depth. RB Stevie Scott III is also out. Hamilton loses WR Shemar Bridges (groin), OL Jonathan Denis and Arvin Hosseini (both placed on six-game injury), LB Wynton McManis (knee), and DL TyJuan Garbutt (knee). LB Braxton Hill is questionable. Both rosters are thin before a single snap is taken.
Pick: Montreal 24-20. The Alouettes' depth advantage at QB and three straight season-opening wins is enough to edge a Hamilton squad missing key pieces up front and in the secondary — but this is going to be a close one all the way to the fourth quarter.
CFL Standings
| Team | W | L | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Alouettes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quick Hits
- Hamilton placed OL Jonathan Denis and Arvin Hosseini on the six-game injured list on June 3, leaving their offensive line thin heading into the opener — protecting the QB just got a lot harder.
- Montreal is also without three wide receivers (Harris, Dedmon, Franklin) due to hamstring injuries, meaning Alexander will need to spread the ball to lesser-known options — a potential fantasy fade on Alouettes pass-catchers this week.
- Fantasy tip: Kenny Lawler is the safest target in this game — he's Hamilton's clear No. 1 wideout with Bridges out, and he's one TD from 40 in his career and motivated to make a statement in the home opener.
- Justin Lawrence (MTL, DL) is one tackle away from his 100th career game — a nice milestone to watch for on the defensive side of the ball Thursday night.
Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.