What a turnaround it has been for the BC Lions.
They started the season without a home, forced out of BC Place until Week 8 due to the FIFA World Cup.
When they finally returned to Vancouver, they did so without star quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was injured in the fourth game of the season.
It contributed to a woeful 1-5 start, putting them in last place in the West Division. But since then, the Lions have been on fire, rattling off nine wins in their last 10 games.
BC’s latest victory, 41-20 over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, clinched a playoff spot.
OFFICIALLY CLINCHED 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eU6zdAYJOs
— BC LIONS (@BCLions) October 10, 2026
With a 10-6 record, the Lions can clinch a home playoff date as soon as this weekend. They’ve even got a shot at catching the Edmonton Elks for first in the West.
If they do that, the Lions would host the Western Final on Nov. 7. If they can’t catch Edmonton, they’ll play in the Western Semi-Final on Oct. 31. The 113th Grey Cup is scheduled for Calgary on Nov. 15.
BC owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against both Edmonton and Saskatchewan, and leads the head-to-head series against Winnipeg.
BC’s looking good in the West Division standings, with just two games left in the regular season. (CFL.ca)
The Lions are looking to end a rather lengthy Grey Cup drought, having not won since 2011. Only the Hamilton Tiger-Cats own a longer championship drought.
No other team has a longer drought in terms of Grey Cup appearances than the Lions, given the Ti-Cats have been to four Grey Cups since 2011.
We’ll see if Nathan Rourke can get his team over the hump. BC has been to three Western Finals in the past four seasons, and came agonizingly close to beating Saskatchewan on the road last year.
“I think the group believes the next time they take the field that they’re going to be able to accomplish something great,” head coach Buck Pierce told reporters after Friday’s win. “They’re able to continue to believe if they get another opportunity that we’re going to be successful.”
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