It is always a special day amongst players and fans all over the world when the Canadian Football League kicks off their season today.

And this season is no different from years past.

Players and fans alike share this special moment as a time of celebration, bonding, and road trips, marked by the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. 

No matter how you put it, and even if a team is good enough to win the Grey Cup, go on a deep run in the playoffs, or have a competitive season from a rebuild, this season will produce a lot of drama.

Before we begin, we are going to take the approach that no team suffers huge losses to their respective depth chart for a long stretch of the duration of the 2025 CFL season.  Every fan and team know that injuries are inevitable in football.  Our approach is that the key injuries are short to medium in length during the 2025 CFL season, where the team with the most depth, talent, and resilience will overcome the challenges they face during the 2025 CFL season.  

So, without further ado, let us predict the 2025 season.

East Division

Montreal Alouettes: 12-6

Toronto Argonauts: 11-7

Hamilton Tiger-Cats:  10-8

Ottawa REDBLACKS: 8-10

When breaking down the CFL East Division, there is no doubt that it is Montreal’s division to lose.  They have the best combination of balance on both offence and defence.  The big question in Montreal will be about Davis Alexander.  Is he able to continue his success with now being a full-time starter?  Aside from that, McLoud McLeod Bethel-Thompson is a good problem to have as QB2.

The Toronto Argonauts have a great offence heading into 2025.  But it’s the defence that has a lot of questions. Losing DL Jake Ceresna (Signed with Edmonton), DB Royce Metchie (Signed with Edmonton), DL Robbie Smith (Signed with Edmonton), and DL Jared Brinkman (Signed with Edmonton) creates a natural void on the defence in 2025.

Since punching their ticket in back-to-back Grey Cups in 2019 and 2021 (the 2020 season being cancelled), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have not obtained a double-digit win total since the 15-3 record back in 2019.  The fans in the Hammer have been more than discouraged when it comes down to the product on the field. This has been the case of digging themselves out of a hole too early in a season that has been the norm in past seasons. Starting with a 0-4 record, then playing a catch-up game post-Labour Day is something they must correct.  However, they loaded up on some big weapons by acquiring DB Reggie Stubblefield, WR Kenny Lawler, and WR Drew Wolitarsky.

Ottawa is on the right track when it comes to building for the future.  Dru Brown had an incredible season in 2024 with 3959 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, and will only get better.  On that note, it’s difficult to see Ottawa win multiple games within the East Division when locking horns with Toronto, Montreal, and Hamilton, especially on the road.  Going 2-7 last year on the road is a record that they must reverse in some capacity.

West Division

Saskatchewan Roughriders:  12-6

Winnipeg Blue Bombers:  11-7  

Edmonton Elks:  10-8

BC Lions:  9-9   

Calgary Stampeders:  7-11

Coach Core

y Mace will anchor the Saskatchewan Roughriders to the top of the West Division in 2025.  If A.J. Ouellette can play the majority of the season, they will be a force in the running game.  Mix in the core players with LB Jameer Thurman, DB Rolan Milligan, and DB Marcus Syles, this will be a highly competitive team in 2025.

With 5 consecutive Grey Cup appearances for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it is a remarkable achievement.  But fans of the W will state that they let a few slip away with a 2-3 record in the big game.  It’s always difficult to retain a championship team every season.  This is just the fact of reality in pro football.  GM Kyle Walters always comes up big in locating talent.  The 2025 Winnipeg Blue Bombers team will still be one of the best teams in the CFL in 2025.  They still have the best running back in the game in Brady Oliveira, who will flirt with the most yards carried.  Add in the WR Dalton Schoen, who missed all of last season due to injury, and DE Willie Jefferson, and they still retained a good part of their core.  The pressure will be on the Blue Bombers this year as they will be hosting the Grey Cup.

The Edmonton Elks will turn a corner and make the playoffs in 2025. In the last two years, they drafted to fit team needs by also going with undrafted free agents and via free agency. They overhauled their defence in a hurry.  With that said, this is only on paper.  On paper is never a guarantee, assuming victory comes to fruition.  With the accusations of DL Jake Ceresna, DB Royce Metchie, DL Robbie Smith, and DL Jared Brinkman, this puts Edmonton in the conversation with some of the top defences in the CFL.  Add in the existing core of LB Nyles Morgan and LB Nick Anderson, and this will be a fun team to watch.

The one is

sue for the BC Lions will be their offensive line.  They are too thin in this category.  They made a great trade with the Toronto Argonauts in obtaining OL Dejon Allen, who is a proven talent at his right tackle position.  With that said, the Lions’ offensive line will be challenged a lot this season. Another issue is will QB Nathan Rourke. Will he be capable of engineering the offence if he experiences too much pressure?

The rebuild in Calgary is official.  But it’s not a bad thing.  Expect QB Vernon Adams Jr. to have a great season.  He is capable of tossing for north of 4,000 passing yards this season.  They’re still going to a squad that will still cause some upsets along the way in 2025.  However, it’s difficult to place them high in the division with a log jam of talent throughout the West.

West Semi-Final

The Edmont

on Elks take a step in the right direction and play a tight game in Winnipeg.  Winnipeg, however, will be victorious in advancing on the road in Regina, Saskatchewan, to face their natural rivals, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

East Semi-Final

The Tabbies embark on their 68-kilometre journey to BMO Field to take on the Toronto Argonauts.  Expect a lot of fireworks in this game as both sides show a hard-nosed brand of blue-collar football.  The Argonauts squeak out a nail-biter and repeat their East Final in Montreal.  

We

st Final

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers showcase their talents in a hostile environment in Regina, Saskatchewan.  The Saskatchewan Roughriders come out on top and stall Winnipeg’s 6th trip to a Grey Cup.

East Final

In a see-s

aw battle between the Alouettes and the Argos, both teams counter with a jab for a jab boxing match.  The Alouettes get revenge on the Boatman on their home turf and punch their ticket to the Grey Cup.

Grey Cup 112

It’s a battle of the top two defences in the CFL from the 2025 season.  It’s a game of hard-running football, mixed in with a few passing plays.  The Saskatchewan Roughriders reach the top of the mountain and beat the Montreal Alouettes. The Riders win their 5th Grey Cup in franchise history.

CF

L Awards

Most Outstanding Player:  Brady Oliveira, RB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers 

Honourable Mention: Vernon Adams Jr, QB, Calgary Stampeders, Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Nathan Rourke, QB, BC Lions

Mo

st Outstanding Defensive Player:  Wynton McMannis, LB, Toronto Argonauts.

Honourable Mention:  Rolan Milligan, DB, Saskatchewan Roughriders, DB Marc–Antoine Dequoy, Montreal Alouettes, Willie Jefferson, DL, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Tyrell Ford, DB, Edmonton Elks.

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman:  Ryan Hunter, OL, Toronto Argonauts

Honourable

Mention:  Stanley Bryant, OL, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Martez Ivey, OL, Edmonton Elks, and Brandon Revenberg, OL, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player:  Janarion Grant, WR/KR, Toronto Argonauts   

Honourable Mention: Javin Leake, RB/KR, Edmonton Elks, James Letcher, WR/KR, Montreal Alouettes

Mo

st Outstanding Canadian:  Brady Oliveira, RB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Honourable Mention: Nathan Rourke, QB, BC Lions

Coach of the Year Award:  Corey Mace, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Honourable

Mention: Mark Kilam, Edmonton Elks, Jason Moss, Montreal Alouettes

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