Riders’ Craig Reynolds says CFL schedule, playoff changes ‘good for business’

Saskatchewan Roughriders' president & CEO Craig Reynolds speaks to reporters on April 28, 2026

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ president and CEO Craig Reynolds is giving his take on the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) schedule changes, which were announced Tuesday.

“It’s already hard to win the Grey Cup, I think this makes it harder,” Reynolds told reporters Tuesday. “Last year we were advantaged by finishing first and winning one game to get to the Grey Cup, now you’ve got to win at least two.”

The new schedule includes an earlier start to the regular season and the Grey Cup championship game moving forward two weeks.

The season will shift to begin Victoria Day Weekend, anchoring the start of each new CFL campaign with an iconic Canadian holiday and the unofficial start of summer.

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From May to Thanksgiving, long weekends will serve as defining moments in the regular season, creating new tentpole CFL traditions in addition to the league’s legendary Labour Day Weekend games.

The new start to the season also means the postseason will conclude earlier in the fall, taking full advantage of warmer weather for fans in attendance and providing prime playing conditions for CFL stars to showcase their skills.

“All summer long, the CFL will be front and centre – exactly where it belongs,” said Commissioner Stewart Johnston.

“We’re establishing CFL Long Weekends, from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, to create can’t-miss events for fans in the stadium and those watching at home.”

The changes will come into effect at the beginning of the 2027 season.

2027 key dates

• CFL Invitational Combine | February 26
• CFL Combine presented by Anytime Fitness | Week of March 15
• CFL Canadian Draft | April 13
• CFL Global Draft | April 14
• Rookie Camp Opens | April 21
• Training Camp Opens | April 24
• Week 1 | Victoria Day Weekend
• Week 6 | Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day/Fête nationale du Québec (Que.)
• Week 7 | Canada Day Weekend
• Week 11 | August Long Weekend (Civic Holiday)
• Week 16 | Labour Day Weekend
• Week 21 | Thanksgiving Weekend

Playoffs

• Round One – Division Showdowns and Play-In Games | October 15-16
• Round Two – Elimination Games | October 23
• Round Three – Grey Cup Semi-Finals | October 30
• 114th Grey Cup – November 7

New playoff format

Four additional playoff games amp up late-season intrigue as teams battle for all-important playoff positioning. Finishing top-two in the divisions guarantees at least two playoff games.

Postseason re-seeding – regardless of division – and two victories being required to advance to the championship introduces the possibility of postseason rematches and new playoff and Grey Cup clashes.

The format mirrors Aussie Rules Football’s (AFL) playoff structure. There are 18 teams in the AFL.

“Finishing first or second, but certainly first, gives you an advantage because you’re going to have potentially more playoff games to help your chances to get to the Grey Cup,” said Reynolds.

“It is a huge incentive. You’re hosting a playoff game if you finish fifth or sixth as well, right. So there’s just more potential to host home playoff games which is good for business.”

Round One - Two division showdowns and two play-in games

Division Showdown: The first- and second-place teams in each division face off. Winners earn a bye to Round Three (Grey Cup Semi-Finals) with home-field advantage; losers move on to Round Two (Elimination Games).

Play-In Games: Teams finishing outside the top-two in each division are seeded Nos. 5-8, with No. 9 eliminated from playoff contention. The Play-In Games will see No. 5 host No. 8, and No. 6 host No. 7. Winners advance to Round Two, while losers are eliminated.

Round Two - Elimination games

Division Showdown losers host Play-In Game winners with matchups based on regular-season records. Winners advance to Round Three (Grey Cup Semi-Finals), and losers are eliminated.

Round Three - Grey Cup Semi-finals

Division Showdown winners host Elimination Game winners with matchups based on regular-season record. Victors advance to the Grey Cup.

Grey Cup Championship

“More games. More drama. More entertainment. That was the mission, and that’s exactly what this format will deliver,” added Johnston.

“We’re raising the stakes so every game carries real consequences – more teams in the hunt, right to the end.”

Reynolds dismissed the thought having eight of the league’s nine teams making the playoffs diminishes the importance of the regular season.

“I acknowledge there’s some thinking around that,” he said. “The reality is seeding is going to be really, really important … if you finish eighth, that’s a tough road to get to the Grey Cup. With the reseeding each round, you’ve got to win essentially four games on the road.”

-With files from TSN