As the 2026 season approaches, CFL.ca is here to catch you up with the 5 Things To Know series. Each article will look at key storylines facing each team this season, while examining off-season movement and where your team might stand in 2026.
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders are coming off one of the most memorable seasons in recent franchise history.
In 2025, the team finished first in the West Division, looked like one of the most complete rosters in the league and capped it all off by winning the 112th Grey Cup in head coach Corey Mace’s second year at the helm.
Here are five things to know about this year’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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1. NO RESTING ON OUR LAURELS
The Roughriders didn’t escape free agency untouched.
Linebacker A.J. Allen, defensive back C.J. Reavis and defensive lineman Malik Carney all moved on, taking with them key snaps from a championship defence. But Saskatchewan made it a priority to keep its foundation intact.
That meant locking in the players who defined their identity on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Trevor Harris returns to lead the offence, while weapons like receiver Samuel Emilus and receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker remain in place. Up front, offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick anchors the line, while running back AJ Ouellette continues to power the ground game. Defensively, the likes of defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., linebacker Jameer Thurman, defensive lineman Mike Rose and defensive back Tevaughn Campbell ensure continuity where it matters most.
For Harris, that approach starts with the tone set by general manager Jeremy O’Day.
“I think there’s a tone set from the top down,” Harris told CFL.ca. “After you win a Grey Cup, it’s not, ‘good job guys, let’s kick our feet up.’ Jeremy O’Day set the tone. AJ Ouellette is back, Jermarcus Hardrick is back, I’m back, Schaffer-Baker, KeeSean, Sam, you can go across the board.
“On defence, Mike Rose is back, Jameer Thurman extended, Rolan Milligan extended, Tevaughn Campbell — they went out and got after it. There was no resting on our laurels.”
2. BACK-TO-BACK ASPIRATIONS
Winning a Grey Cup is one thing. Doing it again is a completely different challenge.
The last team to win back-to-back championships was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who captured titles in 2019 and 2021, with the 2020 season cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last team to do it in consecutive years was the Montreal Alouettes in 2009 and 2010.
For Saskatchewan, the challenge won’t just be replicating what worked, it’ll be adjusting to a league that now views them as the team to beat.
3. AT LEAST ONE MORE
If the Roughriders are going to make another Grey Cup run, it will once again start with quarterback Trevor Harris.
The Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Player delivered one of the most efficient seasons in the league in 2025, leading all quarterbacks in completion percentage while operating an offence built on ball control and limiting mistakes.
At this stage of his career, Harris offers a level of command, decision-making and leadership that few can match. He’s the perfect fit for what Saskatchewan wants to do offensively, and the extension ensures that window remains open.
Pro Football Focus metrics back that up. Harris finished the 2025 season with a 90.0 offensive grade, the highest among CFL quarterbacks, reinforcing just how efficient and consistent he was throughout the year. It’s another indicator that, even at this stage of his career, he remains one of the league’s most reliable performers under centre.
4. THIS IS NOT EVEN MY FINAL FORM
As dominant as Saskatchewan looked at times in 2025, there’s an argument to be made they haven’t reached their peak.
Injuries forced key players like Emilus, Schaffer-Baker and Harris himself to miss time, yet the team still found ways to win. That speaks to both their depth and their ability to adapt throughout the season.
With better health and additional reinforcements, including defensive lineman James Vaughters, there’s a very real possibility the Roughriders could be even better in 2026. For the rest of the league, that’s not exactly comforting.
5. QB2 PLEASE STEP UP
That’s not to say everything is settled heading into the new season.
With veteran quarterback Jake Maier departing for the Ottawa REDBLACKS, the Roughriders are left with an important question behind Harris. The backup quarterback role is critical, especially for a team with championship aspirations.
Tommy Stevens brings value in short-yardage situations, but the competition for the No. 2 job remains open. Jack Coan, Brayden Schager and Jordan McLeod are all in the mix, while Kurtis Rourke, selected in the 2025 CFL Draft, represents more of a long-term investment.
How Saskatchewan settles that spot could end up being one of the most important storylines of their season.
