The Saskatchewan Roughriders are entering 2026 as reigning champions, a status they will celebrate with the presentation of Grey Cup rings commemorating their fifth title in franchise history. The club secured the championship with a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg last November, capping a remarkable season that has left fans in Riderville dreaming of a repeat.
A Season Built on Culture and Continuity
The foundation for the 2025 championship was laid the previous year under first-year head coach Corey Mace. After an aggressive free agency period in 2024, Mace and his staff established a strong team culture that became a daily talking point. Despite a mid-season seven-game winless streak, the Riders finished 2024 with a 9-8-1 record and advanced to the West Final, losing to the eventual Grey Cup participant Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
That experience proved invaluable. Entering 2025 training camp in Saskatoon, with the majority of the roster returning and a few key free-agent additions, a palpable sense of something special was in the air. The team translated that belief into on-field success, posting the CFL's best regular-season record at 12-6.
The Path to the Championship
Saskatchewan's dominance was evident early, as they stormed out of the gate with eight wins in their first nine games. Their season, however, was not without its tests. A puzzling inability to beat the Calgary Stampeders, who defeated them twice, including in Week 12, served as a recurring challenge.
The team's resilience shone through. Back-to-back victories against archrival Winnipeg in the Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl reasserted their powerhouse status. After subsequent losses to Montreal and Edmonton, the Roughriders responded emphatically with wins over Ottawa and Toronto to clinch first place in the West Division.
With top spot secured, the club strategically rested starters in the final two meaningless games, prioritizing health for the playoffs. This preparation paid off in the West Final on November 8th against the B.C. Lions, a game famously decided by a legendary, championship-calibre drive.
The Ultimate Question: Can They Do It Again?
As the 2025 team takes its place alongside the franchise's other Grey Cup winners (1966, 1989, 2007, 2013), the focus inevitably shifts to the future. The core of a championship roster remains, and the culture instilled by Coach Mace is now battle-tested. However, the Canadian Football League is defined by its parity, and defending a title is one of sports' toughest tasks.
The upcoming 2026 season will test whether the Roughriders' special build is a one-year wonder or the start of a sustained dynasty. The parade down Regina's Albert Street is now a cherished memory, but the work to create another has already begun. The challenge of repeating as Grey Cup champions is immense, but Saskatchewan has proven it possesses the blueprint for success.
