The Montreal Carabins are celebrating their third national championship after defeating the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 30-16 in the 60th Vanier Cup on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The victory at Regina's Mosaic Stadium marks Montreal's second Canadian university football title in three years.
Rookie Quarterback Shines in Championship Performance
U Sports rookie of the year Pepe Gonzalez delivered a spectacular performance, passing for 344 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Carabins to victory. The quarterback connected with receivers Brandon Gourgon, Hassane Dosso, and Simon Larose for scoring plays that secured Montreal's dominant position throughout the game.
Gonzalez was named the game's most valuable player after his impressive showing in the championship contest. "Coming to Saskatchewan, we didn't know what to expect," Gonzalez commented during the on-field celebration. "We practised in the cold and rain. We were prepared for any weather we were going to face down here and yeah, I think we were blessed to have this amazing weather, for sure."
Controversial Call and Defensive Dominance
The game featured a controversial moment late in the first half when officials picked up a penalty flag after Gonzalez appeared to cross the line of scrimmage before making a critical throw. The decision allowed Montreal to continue their drive, resulting in a Philippe Boyer field goal that extended their lead to 15-11 at halftime.
Carabins head coach Marco Iadeluca praised his team's defensive effort in the second half. "We were hoping he'd have his best game of the season today and I think he did," Iadeluca said of Gonzalez. "The kid has ice in his veins. Our defence is our DNA and we shut them down in the second half."
Montreal's defence limited Saskatchewan to just a single field goal in the second half, outscoring the Huskies 15-5 after the break. The Carabins recorded three sacks and two interceptions against Huskies backup quarterback Jake Farrell, who completed 20 of 31 attempts for 229 yards with no touchdowns.
Historical Significance and Regional Context
The victory holds special significance for Montreal football, coming just six days after the CFL's Montreal Alouettes lost the Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Carabins' win also represents the fourth consecutive national championship for a Quebec-based university program, following Laval's victories in 2024 and 2022.
For the Huskies, the loss extends their Vanier Cup drought to seven straight appearances since their last championship win in 1998. The game served as a quasi-home date for Saskatchewan, being played just a 2½-hour drive from their Saskatoon campus in the first Vanier Cup hosted by Regina.
The Montreal win avenged a 2021 national semifinal loss to Saskatchewan and marked the Carabins' first championship won in Western Canada. A small but enthusiastic contingent of Carabins fans celebrated behind the visitor's bench as their team secured the historic victory.
