On September 22nd, 2025, CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston unveiled some major changes that would take effect over the course of two seasons.  A live conference was held just steps away from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, at Hotel X on the Canadian National Exhibition Grounds.  Not only were there major changes to be implemented, but in some cases, they were drastic, depending on the point of view from a player’s perspective, a fan’s perspective, a league’s perspective and the business perspective.  Here is a synopsis of what will be implemented in 2026 and 2027, with a breakdown of each change:

2026 Phase

The Rouge Will be Modified

Why the reasoning for this?:

• Increase the entertainment of the game by contributing to more aggressive play calling
• No more games decided by a missed field goal, a punt or a kickoff that goes through the endzone
• No single point when:
  • Missed field goals go wide of the goalposts
  • Punts or kickoffs sail or bounce through the back or sides of the end zone without being touched by a returner
• Single point awarded when:
  • A returner can’t take a punt, field goal or kickoff out of the end zone
  • A returner takes a knee

Note: All photos via the CFL

What the fans think:  It will be a positive one from a fan’s perspective.  The Rouge is one of the elements in the CFL that has stood the test of time.  The modification to this scoring piece in the CFL makes this fairer.  

My take on this:  This was long overdue.  This topic has only come to fruition in the last four to five seasons, in which games have been won on a field goal or a punt that sailed out of the endzone, where no player had a chance in returning the ball.  It only makes sense to do this out of fairness to the game. I’m sure we can agree that nobody wants their season to be on the line from conceding a point by default as the ball was not playable to determine a regular-season win, a playoff win, and, more importantly, a Grey Cup.

Game flow will be improved with team benches moving to opposite sides of the field and an automatic 35-second play clock beginning as soon as the previous play is whistled dead.

Why the reasoning for this?:

·        Team bench locations:

o   Avoids lengthy player substitutions

o   Eliminates players running 60+ yards down the field right before a play

o   Avoids unnecessary interactions between opposing teams

o   Consistency across the league – some benches are currently on opposite sides, while others are side by side

·        35-second play clock:

o   The current 20-second play clock is manually initiated by an official, leading to variability

o   Eliminates inconsistency in overall timing and pace

o   Instills a sense of urgency in players to progress the game and continue the drive quickly

What the fans think:   The benches on the opposite sides of the field will be positive.  On some fields, it will eliminate long runs in and out for players on various formations and substitutions.  The play clock is set too high, and will benefit the team with the ball possession.

My take on this:  This was also a long time coming.  The change will only benefit both the visiting team and the home team.  In reference to the play clock, you are now setting it too close to the NFL play clock. This places the team in a position to kill time more efficiently.  Therefore, preventing the possibility of more comebacks in the last 3:00 of the game.

2027 Phase

Goalposts will be moved to the back of the end zones.

Why the reasoning for this?:

·        Removes an obstruction for teams trying to score a touchdown

·        More room for QBs to make unobstructed passes to the end zone

·        More options for offences starting drives near their own goal line

·        Better views of the end zone in the stadium and on TV

·        No more “doinks” from QBs off the uprights

·        Safer for players

·        The league projects:

o   10 per cent more completions in the end zone

o   60 more touchdowns each year

What the fans think:  The fans are not going to take this adjustment lightly.    

My take on this: When we dissect the movement of the goalposts to the back of the end zone, there have never been any issues in the past regarding player safety and excessive obstruction for an offence.  It is still rare to this day that the “doink” plays into effect.  More importantly, you have now eliminated the possibility of a player returning one to the house.  Every time there is an action, there is a reaction, in this case, with the goalposts being moved.  A special teams return from a missed field goal will occur minimally now.  It’s rare that it occurs in the NCAA and the NFL, with the posts located at the endzone. Say goodbye to the special teams’ players currently and the ones in the past that have made some of the best plays in history, in the case of Henry “Gizmo” Williams, Earl “The Pearl” Winfield, and Michael “Pinball” Clemons.  To add to this, field goals will be hard to come by.  In American football rules, any placement of the ball to spot a field goal results in an additional 17 yards being added.  It’s 7 yards from the snap of the ball to the holder, and an additional 10 yards of the depth of the endzone.  Under the new CFL adjustments, a kick from the 30-yard line will now be an estimated 52-yard attempt, factoring in the new outline.

The field will be adjusted: End zones will be changed from 20 yards deep to 15, and the field will be changed from 110 yards to 100

Why the reasoning for this?

·        End zones:

o   Maintains the CFL, having the largest end zone of any pro football league

o   Ensures scoring remains high

o   Preserves the importance of the kicking game

o   Allows all end zones league-wide to be the same size

·        The field:

o   The 65-yard width will be maintained

o   Offences will start closer to the opponent’s end zone

o   Encourages more aggressive play-calling on third down with offences starting drives 10 yards closer to the opponent’s end zone and field goals being only 5 yards further, despite the shifted goalposts

o   Condensed field and end zones create extra space, allowing teams more opportunities for premium seating in the end zone

What the fans think:  The fans will be neutral on this one with the 15-yard endzones.  This is one of the lesser of the two evils of a change by the CFL.  With that said, having the field shrunk from 110 yards to 100 yards will not sit well.

My take on this:  The reduction of the endzone to me will not be a be-all end-all.  I’m not liking the field reduction to 100 yards.  This is now making the game follow the NFL, with the hope of obtaining new football fans in difficult markets like Toronto.  The only positive in this is that the CFL maintains the 65-yard-wide field.

Final thoughts:  The instinct among football fans, the media, and the CFL is that this is a lot to absorb all in one day.  There was a lot of thought that went into these final adjustments.  Everyone will have a valid opinion on this.  It is alleged that this was not brought to the attention of current players on their thoughts.  Should it have been brainstormed in a collaborative effort?  Nathan Rourke is not too pleased as he stated his opinions firmly.  In an era where players get fined for comments, will Nathan Rourke be fined?  I sure hope not.  His comments were coming from the heart and his emotions on his sleeve.  There is nothing wrong with his comments directed at such a drastic change in the CFL.            

What about minor football, high school football, and USports football?  Who will pay for the field adjustments?  This will still cost them a pretty penny.  Is the CFL willing to pay for adjustments?  This again will be in the millions on all of the football fields across Canada.

Is this a new option to lure an attempt at American expansion?

At the end of the day, yesterday’s press conference was a day that changed the CFL forever.  Many components of this can either work or completely fail.  Only time will tell.  It’s still worth a shot.  7 out of 9 CFL teams lost money last year.  The CFL needs ways to inject more financial stability.  From these changes, is this the jolt that the CFL needs?  Will it work?  If these adjustments don’t work, will they place the goalposts back to their original location, and go back to a 110-yard playing surface, but keep the 15-yard endzone? There a lot of questions.  

To all you fans, leave a comment below on your thoughts.