The Canadian Football League is back.
It's been almost two years since the last time players suited up. Way back on Nov. 24, 2019, in the 107th Grey Cup, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for their first title since 1990. Now, 620 days later teams will hit the field once again after the entire 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re so excited to kick off this season,” commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. “Excited for our players, our coaches, our partners and especially our fans, who have stuck with us and stood by us. It’s going to be a great season leading to a Grey Cup that promises to be an incredibly special moment in history for our game, our league and our country."
Things are going to be a little different this year for the CFL but Canada's football league is back. Here's a breakdown of everything we know regarding the CFL's return.
When does the 2021 CFL season start?
- Training camp start date: July 10
- CFL season start date: Aug. 5
While the CFL was originally hoping for a June start date, the season will officially kick-off now on Aug. 5.
How many games will be played?
The league's Board of Governors approved a 14-game schedule. Normally the CFL plays an 18-game slate but due to the late start date, they elected to cut the number of games down.
When is the 108th Grey Cup?
- Date: Dec. 12, 2021
- Location: Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.
The last time the CFL hit the field was at the 107th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alta., on Nov. 24, 2019. More than two years later, the 108th edition will be played on Dec. 12, 2021.
Regina, Sask., was scheduled to host the 108th playing of the Canadian tradition but the 2020 version was cancelled due to the pandemic. The city will now serve as the venue in 2022 instead. Hamilton, Ont., which was awarded the 2021 game back on Feb. 21, 2019, will keep the 2021 game and host it at the home of the Tiger-Cats, Tim Hortons Field.
Hamilton last hosted on Nov. 24, 1996 at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Toronto Argonauts won the 84th Grey Cup backed by the game's Most Valuable Player, Doug Flutie, under heavy snow and -10ºC temperatures at kickoff. The average temperate on Dec. 12 in Hamilton is -1ºC (31ºF).
Who are the Edmonton Elks?
The Edmonton Eskimos switched its name to the Elks on June 1.
New Name. Same Game.
— Edmonton Elks (@elks) June 1, 2021
Let’s play some football. #ElksCharge pic.twitter.com/RhtwzcAmhv
Will there be fans?
Fans are expected to be back in the stands for the start of the season; however, the capacity is still be decided. Per Ambrosie, the numbers will be decided by local officials.
How to watch all CFL games
In Canada, all CFL games will be aired on TSN. If you want to watch the games in the United States, games will be carried on ESPN's networks or streamed on ESPN+.
What is the 2021 CFL schedule?
The CFL schedule was released on June 15 and things may look a little funky — but with good reason. East Division teams will head out West for the first two weeks due to more restrictions currently in place regarding the ability to have fans in Ontario and Quebec.
While there won't be any pre-season games in 2021, there will be lots of big matchups including a double-header on Labour Day (Hamilton hosting Toronto and the Battle of Alberta in Calgary) and two triple headers on Sept. 11 and Oct. 23. Speaking of Saturdays, over the course of the 16-week schedule there will be games on 14 Saturdays.
West Division
BC Lions
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri., Aug. 6 | at Saskatchewan | 9:30 p.m. |
| 2 | Thurs., Aug. 12 | at Calgary | 9:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Thurs., Aug. 19 | vs. Edmonton | 10 p.m. |
| 4 | Sat., Aug. 28 | at Ottawa | 7 p.m. |
| 5 | BYE | — | — |
| 6 | Sat., Sept. 11 | vs. Ottawa | 10 p.m. |
| 7 | Sat., Sept. 18 | at Montreal | 7 p.m. |
| 8 | Fri., Sept. 24 | vs. Saskatchewan | 10:30 p.m. |
| 9 | Fri., Oct. 1 | vs. Winnipeg | 10 p.m. |
| 10 | BYE | — | — |
| 11 | Sat., Oct. 16 | vs. Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 12 | Sat., Oct. 23 | at Winnipeg | 7 p.m. |
| 13 | Sat., Oct. 30 | at Toronto | 4 p.m. |
| 14 | Fri., Nov. 5 | at Hamilton | 7 p.m. |
| 15 | Fri., Nov. 12 | vs. Calgary | 10:30 p.m. |
| 16 | Fri., Nov. 19 | vs. Edmonton | 10:30 p.m. |
Calgary Stampeders
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat., Aug. 7 | vs. Toronto | 7 p.m. |
| 2 | Thurs., Aug. 12 | vs. BC | 9:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Fri., Aug. 20 | vs. Montreal | 9:30 p.m. |
| 4 | Sun., Aug. 29 | at Winnipeg | 7 p.m. |
| 5 | Mon., Sept. 6 | vs. Edmonton | 4:30 p.m. |
| 6 | Sat., Sept. 11 | at Edmonton | 7 p.m. |
| 7 | Fri., Sept. 17 | at Hamilton | 7 p.m. |
| 8 | BYE | — | — |
| 9 | Sat., Oct. 2 | vs. Saskatchewan | 7 p.m. |
| 10 | Sat., Oct. 9 | at Saskatchewan | 7 p.m. |
| 11 | Sat., Oct. 16 | at BC | 7 p.m. |
| 12 | Sat., Oct. 23 | vs. Saskatchewan | 9:45 p.m. |
| 13 | Fri., Oct. 29 | at Ottawa | 7 p.m. |
| 14 | BYE | — | — |
| 15 | Fri., Nov. 12 | at BC | 10:30 p.m. |
| 16 | Sat., Nov. 20 | vs. Winnipeg | 7 p.m. |
Edmonton Elks
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat., Aug. 7 | vs. Ottawa | 10 p.m. |
| 2 | Sat., Aug. 14 | vs. Montreal | 7 p.m. |
| 3 | Thurs., Aug. 19 | at BC | 10 p.m. |
| 4 | Thurs., Aug. 26 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. |
| 5 | Mon., Sept. 6 | at Calgary | 4:30 p.m. |
| 6 | Sat., Sept. 11 | vs. Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 7 | Sat., Sept. 18 | vs. Winnipeg | 9:45 p.m. |
| 8 | BYE | — | — |
| 9 | Tues., Sept. 28 | at Ottawa | 7:30 p.m. |
| 10 | Fri., Oct. 8 | at Winnipeg | 8:30 p.m. |
| 11 | Fri., Oct. 15 | vs. Winnipeg | 9 p.m. |
| 12 | BYE | — | — |
| 13 | Fri., Oct. 29 | vs. Hamilton | 9:45 p.m. |
| 14 | Fri., Nov. 5 | at Saskatchewan | 9:45 p.m. |
| 15 | Sat., Nov. 13 | vs. Saskatchewan | 7 p.m. |
| 16 | Fri. Nov. 19 | at BC | 10:30 p.m. |
Saskatchewan Roughriders
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri., Aug. 6 | vs. BC | 9:30 p.m. |
| 2 | Sat., Aug. 14 | vs. Hamilton | 10 p.m. |
| 3 | Sat., Aug. 21 | vs. Ottawa | 7 p.m. |
| 4 | BYE | — | — |
| 5 | Sun., Sept. 5 | vs. Winnipeg | 6 p.m. |
| 6 | Sat., Sept. 11 | at Winnipeg | 4 p.m. |
| 7 | Fri., Sept. 17 | vs. Toronto | 9:45 p.m. |
| 8 | Fri., Sept. 24 | at BC | 10:30 p.m. |
| 9 | Sat., Oct. 2 | at Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 10 | Sat., Oct. 9 | vs. Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 11 | BYE | — | — |
| 12 | Sat., Oct. 23 | at Calgary | 9:45 p.m. |
| 13 | Sat., Oct. 30 | at Montreal | 7 p.m. |
| 14 | Fri., Nov. 5 | vs. Edmonton | 9:45 p.m. |
| 15 | Sat., Nov. 13 | at Edmonton | 7 p.m. |
| 16 | Sat., Nov. 20 | at Hamilton | 4 p.m. |
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurs., Aug. 5 | vs. Hamilton | 8:30 p.m. |
| 2 | Fri., Aug. 13 | vs. Toronto | 8:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Sat., Aug. 21 | at Toronto | 4 p.m. |
| 4 | Sun., Aug. 29 | vs. Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 5 | Sun., Sept. 5 | at Saskatchewan | 6 p.m. |
| 6 | Sat., Sept. 11 | vs. Saskatchewan | 4 p.m. |
| 7 | Sat., Sept. 18 | at Edmonton | 9:45 p.m. |
| 8 | BYE | — | — |
| 9 | Fri., Oct. 1 | at BC | 10 p.m. |
| 10 | Fri., Oct. 8 | vs. Edmonton | 8:30 p.m. |
| 11 | Fri., Oct. 15 | at Edmonton | 9 p.m. |
| 12 | Sat., Oct. 23 | vs. BC | 7 p.m. |
| 13 | BYE | — | — |
| 14 | Sat., Nov. 6 | vs. Montreal | 7 p.m. |
| 15 | Sat., Nov. 13 | at Montreal | 4 p.m. |
| 16 | Sat., Nov. 20 | at Calgary | 7 p.m. |
East Division
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thurs., Aug. 5 | at Winnipeg | 8:30 p.m. |
| 2 | Sat., Aug. 14 | at Saskatchewan | 10 p.m. |
| 3 | BYE | — | — |
| 4 | Fri., Aug. 27 | at Montreal | 7:30 p.m. |
| 5 | Mon., Sept. 6 | vs. Toronto | 1 p.m. |
| 6 | Fri., Sept. 10 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. |
| 7 | Fri., Sept. 17 | vs. Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 8 | Wed., Sept. 22 | at Ottawa | 7:30 p.m. |
| 9 | Sat., Oct. 2 | vs. Montreal | 4 p.m. |
| 10 | Mon., Oct. 11 | vs. Toronto | 4 p.m. |
| 11 | BYE | — | — |
| 12 | Sat., Oct. 23 | vs. Ottawa | 4 p.m. |
| 13 | Fri., Oct. 29 | at Edmonton | 9:45 p.m. |
| 14 | Fri., Nov. 5 | vs. BC | 7 p.m. |
| 15 | Fri., Nov. 12 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. |
| 16 | Sat., Nov. 20 | vs. Saskatchewan | 4 p.m. |
Montreal Alouettes
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYE | — | — |
| 2 | Sat., Aug. 14 | at Edmonton | 7 p.m. |
| 3 | Fri., Aug. 20 | at Calgary | 9:30 p.m. |
| 4 | Fri., Aug. 27 | vs. Hamilton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 5 | Fri., Sept. 3 | at Ottawa | 7:30 p.m. |
| 6 | BYE | — | — |
| 7 | Sat., Sept. 18 | vs. BC | 7 p.m. |
| 8 | Fri., Sept. 24 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. |
| 9 | Sat., Oct. 2 | at Hamilton | 4 p.m. |
| 10 | Mon., Oct. 11 | vs. Ottawa | 1 p.m. |
| 11 | Sat., Oct. 16 | at Ottawa | 4 p.m. |
| 12 | Fri., Oct. 22 | vs. Toronto | 7:30 p.m. |
| 13 | Sat., Oct. 30 | vs. Saskatchewan | 7 p.m. |
| 14 | Sat., Nov. 6 | at Winnipeg | 7 p.m. |
| 15 | Sat., Nov. 13 | vs. Winnipeg | 4 p.m. |
| 16 | Fri., Nov. 19 | vs. Ottawa | 7:30 p.m. |
Ottawa REDBLACKS
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat., Aug. 7 | at Edmonton | 10 p.m. |
| 2 | BYE | — | — |
| 3 | Sat., Aug. 21 | at Saskatchewan | 7 p.m. |
| 4 | Sat., Aug. 28 | vs. BC | 7 p.m. |
| 5 | Fri., Sept. 3 | vs. Montreal | 7:30 p.m. |
| 6 | Sat., Sept. 11 | at BC | 10 p.m. |
| 7 | BYE | — | — |
| 8 | Wed., Sept. 22 | vs. Hamilton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 9 | Tues., Sept. 28 | vs. Edmonton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 10 | Wed., Oct. 6 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 11 | at Montreal | 1 p.m. | |
| 11 | Sat., Oct. 16 | vs. Montreal | 4 p.m. |
| 12 | Sat., Oct. 23 | at Hamilton | 4 p.m. |
| 13 | Fri., Oct. 29 | vs. Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 14 | Sat., Nov. 6 | vs. Toronto | 4 p.m. |
| 15 | BYE | — | — |
| 16 | Fri., Nov. 19 | at Montreal | 7:30 p.m. |
Toronto Argonauts
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat., Aug. 7 | at Calgary | 7 p.m. |
| 2 | Fri., Aug. 13 | at Winnipeg | 8:30 p.m. |
| 3 | Sat., Aug. 21 | vs. Winnipeg | 4 p.m. |
| 4 | Thurs., Aug. 26 | vs. Edmonton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 5 | Mon., Sept. 6 | at Hamilton | 1 p.m. |
| 6 | Fri., Sept. 10 | vs. Hamilton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 7 | Fri., Sept. 17 | at Saskatchewan | 9:45 p.m. |
| 8 | Fri., Sept. 24 | vs. Montreal | 7:30 p.m. |
| 9 | BYE | — | — |
| 10 | Wed., Oct. 6 | vs. Ottawa | 7:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Oct. 11 | at Hamilton | 4 p.m. | |
| 11 | BYE | — | — |
| 12 | Fri., Oct. 22 | at Montreal | 7:30 p.m. |
| 13 | Sat., Oct. 30 | vs. BC | 4 p.m. |
| 14 | Sat., Nov. 6 | at Ottawa | 4 p.m. |
| 15 | Fri., Nov. 12 | vs. Hamilton | 7:30 p.m. |
| 16 | BYE | — | — |