Photo: John Hodge/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Jake Ceresna is all smiles these days.
The two-time All-CFL defensive lineman is thrilled to be with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — he called defensive coordinator Jordan Younger a “defensive genius” — and seems excited for 2027, when the league’s expanded playoff format will take effect.
“I think it’s going to be good for the league. We’re gonna get an extra week of playoffs,” said the 31-year-old native of New Fairfield, Conn.
“You could lose the first week of the playoffs and then go on to win a Grey Cup, which would be crazy. I think it would be a hell of a story. What if you lose to the team week one, and then you beat someone, and then you gotta come back and play them again, and then you beat them?
“I think it’ll be good. We get an extra week of playoffs, so it’s not really short. Right now, if you win your division, you only get one home game, and then you’re right to the Grey Cup, so it gives more opportunity for fans around the league to come to playoff games in a better atmosphere. I think it’ll be good.”
After this year, the CFL playoffs will grow to eight teams and four rounds, including the Grey Cup.
The top two teams in both divisions will play non-elimination games in round one, while the bottom four seeds face-off in “play-in” games. The next two rounds will play out similarly to the current playoff format, culminating in the Grey Cup.
The changes have received positive reviews and negative reviews, with league commissioner Stewart Johnston suggesting fans will “get past” the optics of having eight teams in the playoffs.
Ceresna understands those who have criticized the new format, though he appreciates the CFL’s willingness to shake things up.
“(Critics) probably will (scoff at eight of nine teams making the playoffs). We’ll see what happens. Maybe we get a couple of extra teams in the league or something down the road, and then it kind of evens it out, but you know what I like? Stewart’s trying new things,” said the veteran defender.
“For a long time, the thing about the CFL was always, ‘It’s a dying league, it’s just the same old thing,’ but now he’s trying new stuff and throwing stuff at the wall, so we’ll see — that’s better than just the same old song and dance and letting it decline. Let’s try something new, let’s switch it up. If it doesn’t work, I guess we could always go back.”
Brady Oliveira was a vocal detractor of the new format when the announcement was made last month.
“Eight out of nine teams in the (CFL) playoffs takes away from what makes those games special,” he wrote on social media. “Playoff football is supposed to be earned. If anything, grow the league by adding more teams, not the number of automatic spots.”
On Sunday, the two-time All-CFL running back reiterated some of this criticism while also acknowledging the league’s leadership must have made it with good intentions.
“Optically, when you just say in a sentence, ‘Eight of the nine teams are going to be in the playoffs,’ that was the only thing that was kind of a concern for me. I was like, ‘Might as well put all nine teams in then,’” said Oliveira.
“At the end of the day, we have to have belief and faith that the commissioner, the board of governors, they’re all making the best decision, whatever is going to grow this league. (The format change) is not ’til next year. Let’s really hope that they’re making the best decisions possible. I love this league, I want to continue to see it grow. I know the product is so amazing and we need to get more eyes on it.”
“I get it from a business standpoint with more games, more revenue, TV partnerships, all that stuff, so if that’s going to bring more eyes to the game, then I’m for it.”
The CFL’s playoff format has remained unchanged for 2026, which is the campaign on which everyone’s currently focused.
Come next year, expect even more coaches, players, and members of the media to weigh-in on both sides of the debate.
For a full breakdown of the new playoffs, click here.
