And so, it begins.
The Western Division Final, in Edmonton, Alberta.
It’s been a long time coming since the City of Edmonton has been able to say that.
Does it feel different?
Yes.
Not since 2015 have the Edmonton Elks, then called the Edmonton Eskimos, been able to say that. During that game, they defeated Calgary 45-31.
After years of rebuilds that never saw the light at the end of the tunnel, Edmonton is back on the big stage. The 2026 season for Edmonton was a great turnaround at a rapid rate, and nobody saw it coming, especially the oddsmakers.
However, you don’t win a Grey Cup on a regular season alone. Edmonton now faces an ambitious BC Lions team that also feels it’s their destiny to go to the Grey Cup, as is the case out east with Montreal vs. Winnipeg.
Buckle up, CFL fans; this game has all the makings of some great football.
Game Details
Date: Saturday, November 7th, 2026
Location: Commonwealth Stadium / Edmonton, Alberta
Kickoff time: 6:30 pm ET
Channel: TSN and RDS
Stream: CFL+
Weather forecast at kickoff: 8°C. It will feel like 6°C. Clear skies with a wind gust of 18km/h from the southeast.
Odds
Spread: BC Lions (- 1.5) – 114 / Edmonton Elks (+1.5) – 106
Moneyline: BC Lions – 125 / Edmonton Elks + 104
Over / Under: Over 57.5 – 110 / Under 57.5 – 110
Via FanDuel Sportsbook
Game Notes:
Division Final appearances: BC (26) and Edmonton (46).
Seven previous meetings in the Western Final (EDM 5 – BC 2).
Most recent: 2011 | EDM 23 – BC 40
Edmonton last hosted the Western Final in 2015.
The Lions are 11-28 (.282) as the visiting team in the Grey Cup Playoffs, while Edmonton is 39-16 (.709) at home.
Since 1972, the Western Final host is 32-20 (.615).
The teams split the season series.
Week 5: BC 36 – Edmonton 24
Week 7: Edmonton 19 – BC 17
Playoff records:
Head coaches: Buck Pierce (2-1) and Mark Kilam (0-0)
Starting quarterbacks: Nathan Rourke (3-2) and Cody Fajardo (3-3).
Season series standouts:
BC: Rourke | Week 5 | 320 passing yards, one TD, 75.0 completion percentage
BC: Keon Hatcher Sr. | nine catches, 175 receiving yards, one TD
BC: Jackson Findlay | 13 defensive tackles, one interception
EDM: Fajardo | 677 passing yards, four TDs, 69.3 completion percentage
EDM: Austin Mack | 12 catches, 180 receiving yards (15 yards per catch), one TD
EDM: Justin Rankin | 30 touches, 174 yards from scrimmage
Source: CFL
Injury Report: Edmonton
Nick Anderson, LB, Calf injury, Available
David Beard, OL, Rib injury, Available
DK Bonhomme, DL, Knee injury, Out
Justin Brinkman, DL, Groin injury, Available
Brett Boyko, OL, Head injury, Out
Malik Carney, DL, Back injury, Available
Joel Dublanko, LB, Hamstring injury, Available
Tyrell Ford, DB, Hand injury, Available
Chelen Garnes, DB, Knee injury, Available
Silas Hubert, DL, Ankle injury, Available
Kordell Jackson, DB, Ankle injury, Available
Carter Kettyle, WR, Hamstring injury, Available
Mark Korte, OL, Head injury, Available
Austin Mack, WR, Calf injury, Available
Brock Mogensen, LB, Hamstring injury, Questionable
Jordan Murray, OL, Foot injury, Questionable
Carter O’Donnell, OL, Leg injury, Available
Jacob Plamondon, FB, Shoulder injury, Doubtful
ShunDerrick Powell, RB, Knee injury, Available
Justin Rankin, RB, Ankle injury, Available
JJ Ross, DB, Groin injury, Available
Noah Taylor, DL, Knee injury, Available
Ladarius Tennison, DB, Head injury, Available
Lenny Johnson, DB, Back injury, Questionable
Injury Report: BC
Levi Bell, DL, Head injury, Out
T.J. Burke, DL, Knee injury, Out
Nick Cenacle, WR, Shoulder injury, Out
Nate Demontagnac, WR, Hip injury, Questionable
Jett Elad, DB, Hip injury, Out
David Gusta, DL, Head injury, Out
Adam Konar, LB, Knee injury, Available
Parker McKenna, LB, Head injury, Questionable
Seven McGee, WR, Foot injury, Out
Garry Peters, DB, Knee injury, Questionable
Patrice Rene, DB, Shoulder injury, Out
Darnell Sankey, LB, Hand injury, Available
Matt Spatny, DL, Knee injury, Out
Stanley Thomas-Oliver, DB, Hip injury, Questionable
Depth Charts
Players to watch: Edmonton Elks
QB – Cody Fajardo
4,788 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, and 10 interceptions.
He might not be in the same conversation with some of the quarterbacks in the CFL to a certain extent. On the flip side, what you get with Cody Fajardo is an intellectual quarterback who doesn’t make many mistakes. He has been a great architect this season for the Elks in sustaining long drives to wear down a defence.
RB – Justin Rankin
1,170 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 640 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown.
Justin Rankin was one of the impact players for the Elks this season who makes the offence move consistently. If the running game struggles, he will make an impact as a receiver.
WR – Austin Mack
1,254 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns, 15.3 average yards per catch.
He brought a big contribution to the Edmonton offence. He has great hands, route running, along with shaking off a defender to get open. Expect Austin Mack to play a big role in the West Final.
DE – Malik Carney
33 tackles and 11 sacks.
He is a unit on your defence. Malik Carney will need to be an impact player to slow down the BC offence.
With experience on his side, he will be a big help on the Edmonton defence.
LB – Nick Anderson
65 tackles, 1 sack and 2 interceptions.
It’s been a great linebacking duo with Nick Anderson and Joel Dublanko this season. For the most part, they have a good read on one another when it comes to stopping the run or defending the pass.
LB – Joel Dublanko
73 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 interception.
In his short career since being drafted by Edmonton, Joel Dublanko has taken giant strides on the defence. He will play a big role on 2nd and short plays.
Players to watch: BC Lions
QB – Nathan Rourke
4,614 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, with a QB rating of 111.8.
He is the full package of what you want in a quarterback. He has the football IQ to break down any defence. His dual-threat talents are a nightmare for any defence. Expect Nathan Rourke to carry his team on his back if it comes down to a do-or-die scenario. He is capable of breaking down a defence with precision throws, along with evading many defences when he is running the ball.
He also makes it look very easy.
RB – Zander Horvath
884 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns, with a 4.9 yards per carry average.
When the BC running game was not up to par, Zander Horvath was placed in certain offensive schemes to inject life into the running game.
And it surely paid dividends.
Zander Horvath became a utility player in the backfield, taking snaps on short-yardage in the QB position, or in his natural RB position. It opened up the running game to complement James Butler, who was struggling early in the season.
S – Jackson Findlay
104 total tackles and 2 interceptions.
Jackson Findlay is one of the best in the league at protecting the defensive backfield. 92 of the 104 total tackles were solo tackles.
DE – Mathieu Betts
Some say that Mathieu Betts took a step back this season. Part of the reason was the overall depth on the BC Lions defence this season.
The Lions’ defence was complementary football where everyone gets to eat. With a lot of playoff experience on his side, Mathieu is still an impact player.
WR – Keon Hatcher Sr.
1,147 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns, 15.5 average yards per catch, and 374 total yards after the catch this season.
He is a good problem to have when he is one of your allies. Just like the BC receiving core in general, he is a game-changer.
WR – Jermaine Jackson
1,018 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, with an average of 15.9 yards per catch.
He has great hands, along with a solid route-running routine.
WR – Justin McInnis
1,060 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, with an average of 16.8 yards after the catch.
Another big-time receiver who is also a big weapon on the BC offence. He is a player who gets open at ease and makes a secondary appear to be exposed. Expect Justin McInnins to be a thorn in the Edmonton defence.
WR – Jevon Cottoy
763 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, with a 14.1 average yards per catch.
With depth at the wide receiver position for the BC Lions, Jevon Cottoy adds another dimension on secondary scoring. This is also the case with Stanley Berryhill.
LB – Darnell Sankey
114 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception.
The future Hall of Fame member seems to be better with age. He is a rock on the BC defence. The Edmonton offensive line will have their hands full if they cannot limit his impact on the field.
Keys to an Edmonton victory:
Embrace this moment.
At the moment, Edmonton has sold over 30,000 tickets for the West Division Final. There is the possibility that it can pass the 40,000 mark.
It will feel different, because it is different.
Edmonton must keep the crowd tuned in to their favour. Do not fall flat. Keep the energy from the fans as your asset.
Attention to detail.
The game will be viewed through a different lens. Don’t just run through the plays. This moment took too long in the making. Pay attention while under the microscope. Know your execution of a play. Your reactionary gap will be vital.
Tight defence.
You will be playing the hottest team in the last 12 weeks of regular season play. 13, including the BC win over Saskatchewan last week.
The onslaught of what BC displays on a regular basis makes it easier said than done. The Edmonton defence has to play a tight game to increase their chances of winning.
Spread the ball for a balanced offence.
Austin Mack has been remarkable for the Elks this season. Edmonton needs to stretch the BC pass defence by including Justin Rankin, Brendan O’Leary-Orange, TJ Luther, Joshua Cephus, Kaion Julien-Grant, and Joe Robustelli.
Win the time of possession.
This will be a tough task when you face one of the best overall quarterbacks in the CFL. To counter this, Edmonton needs long drives to wear down the BC Lions' defence.
Take the points as they come available.
Gambling on 3rd down will be present during specific parts of the game. Do not be too aggressive, as it will be tempting. At the end of the day, you are here to win a football game. Sometimes you will have to take the conservative approach and kick for field goals, as you have one of the best kickers in the league.
The game within the game: X-Factors
The Edmonton secondary against the potent BC Lions receivers.
Who wins the battle?
Will the Edmonton receiving core get the better hand over the BC secondary?
Who wins the battle?
The battle in the trenches.
Who wins the battle?
Can the Edmonton offensive line keep the BC front seven in check?
The running game battle.
Who wins the battle?
The Edmonton game, or the BC running game?
The BC defence vs. the Edmonton offensive weapons.
Who wins the battle?
The BC defence, or the Edmonton offence?
Who wins the special teams battle?
Who wins the battle on overall special teams play on returns or defending?
This will be huge in this game. Who will have a better overall special teams play as a whole?
The turnover battle.
Who wins the turnover battle?
The Edmonton defence has been incredible this season on most defensive statistics. BC has a good defence also. In a one-game knockout, who wins the battle?
Prediction
On one side, you have a BC team that has been more consistent in the last three seasons. On the other side, you have an Edmonton team that has come out of the ashes and has restored its pride in Edmonton football.
Edmonton has eased a lot of pain for Edmonton fans over the last 6 seasons. The countless losing streaks, the 5-win season, and the 7-win season can be put to rest for the time being. Because after all, winning cures many problems.
And a Cinderella story is one for the ages.
Final Score
Edmonton Elks: 31
BC Lions: 30
Expect a back-and-forth game in the West Division Final. BC will be playing lights-out football. Edmonton will make plays at the right time to keep the score within reach.
It’s hard to go against an Edmonton team that has been dominant in takeaways this season.
Edmonton wins an epic classic.