Roughriders want to take most direct route to playoffs by winning last two games

REGINA – In a complicated CFL playoff picture, the Saskatchewan Roughriders understand one simple fact — close out the season with victories in their final two regular season games and they’re in the post-season.

The Roughriders (8-8) are heading into a game Saturday against the visiting Montreal Alouettes (13-3) still looking to lock down a playoff spot.

There are a few ways the post-season picture might play out over the last two weeks, but Riders head coach Corey Mace is focusing on the simplest option. 

“The easiest one to come to a solution is to just go out and do what you’re supposed to do and it’ll take care of itself,” Mace said. “Our mindset every week is to go into a game and try to come out 1-0. That’s never changed so we’re focused on that.”

After a 6-2 start to the 2026 season, the defending Grey Cup champions have struggled down the stretch and are currently on a four-game losing streak. The Saskatchewan offence will get a boost from having receivers KeeSean Johnson, Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker together in the starting lineup for the first time since July 23. 

While Johnson has played in 15 games this season, Schaffer-Baker and Emilus have been limited to 10 and seven games, respectively, due to injuries. 

Riders quarterback Trevor Harris is looking forward to having the threesome back in their starting lineup. 

“We’ve played three games with those guys healthy altogether, and I think if you go ask Montreal about having Tyson (Philpot) and (Tyler) Snead out, how do you feel? Ask B.C. without (Keon) Hatcher and (Justin) McInnes, it’s a big difference,” said Harris.

“So, the fact that we’ve got these guys back is big time. We can move them around on the checkerboard and let them kind of do their thing.”

Harris said that having the receiving corps at full strength makes Saskatchewan’s offence more versatile, which will help running back A.J. Ouellette.

“Our (backups) have done a good job filling in this year for these guys, but they’re highly paid for a reason, and so we look forward to having them all out there at the same time.” 

The Alouettes have clinched first place in the East Division and the outcome of their final two regular season games will not affect their playoff future. They will host the East final on Nov. 7. 

With that in mind, Alouettes head coach Jason Maas has made some changes to his roster for Saturday’s game. Dustin Crum will take over as starting quarterback with Davis Alexander moved to the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.

Starting receivers Tyson Philpot (124 catches for 1,809 yards and 13 touchdowns) and Tyler Snead (95 receptions for 1,474 yards and 13 touchdowns) will not dress for Saturday’s game. 

Maas, who is 46-23-1 with one Grey Cup title in four seasons with the Alouettes, emphasized that resting some players doesn’t take away from his expectations for his team. 

“Playing football is playing football, and competing is competing and our guys understand that,” he said. “You can’t rest everybody, and you’ve got to play, and you’ve got to finish games, and you’ve got to finish the season. Our guys are focused this week on finishing.”

Mace isn’t expecting the Alouettes, who defeated the Riders 44-24 on Monday in Montreal, to go through the motions on Saturday. 

“We know that we’re playing the Montreal, the Alouettes. They are a good football team, regardless of who they put out there,” Mace said. “Those guys have been around winning football. They played football. We expect a great game from these guys, but we’re in a position right now where we’ve got to focus strictly on ourselves. That’s where our mindset’s at.”

Crum will be making his first start as an Alouette since joining Montreal in the off-season. In three seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks, Crum posted a 5-15 record in 20 starts. He’s seen action in three games this season, completing 10-of-13 passes for 86 yards. 

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (13-3) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (8-8) 

Saturday at Mosaic Stadium 

RECORD CHASE OVER: Philpot had the CFL record for most receiving yards in a single season in his sights before it was announced he wouldn’t be playing Saturday. He was on pace for 2,035 yards, one yard shy of Allen Pitts’ league record of 2,036 yards set in 1994. Philpot’s current total of 1,809 receiving yards is the CFL record for a Canadian player. 

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CAREER YEAR: Harris is having a career year for the Riders with his 5,117 passing yards, passing his previous personal best of 5,116 set with Ottawa in 2018. He has 31 touchdown passes this season, two shy of his career high of 33 set with Toronto in 2015. Harris enters Saturday’s game with 3,501 career completions, just seven behind Bo Levi Mitchell for seventh place on the CFL all-time list. 

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MAKING THE MOST OUT OF A BAD SITUATION: Despite missing six games due to injury, Schaffer-Baker needs just 39 yards receiving to record his first 1,000-yard season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.