The Montreal Alouettes are preparing for their second Grey Cup appearance in three years, facing the Saskatchewan Roughriders in what promises to be an electrifying CFL championship showdown in Winnipeg. This marks a potential dynasty in the making for Montreal, who nearly reached last year's final had they not faltered against Toronto in the East Division final.
Quarterback Health Takes Center Stage
The biggest question surrounding the Alouettes concerns quarterback Davis Alexander's left hamstring, which he re-injured for the third time this season during the fourth quarter of the division final against Hamilton. Despite the setback, Alexander continued playing and secured his 13th consecutive career victory, including nine wins this season.
Montreal's championship hopes heavily depend on Alexander's mobility and pain tolerance. The team has demonstrated they're simply not the same without their dynamic quarterback, who brings competitive fire, swagger, and motivation to the entire roster. Alexander has been receiving intensive treatment throughout the week and is expected to start, but his ability to scramble effectively remains uncertain.
Veteran Quarterback Seeks Legacy-Defining Win
On the opposite sideline, 39-year-old Trevor Harris looks to cement his football legacy with his first Grey Cup victory as a starting quarterback. The former Alouettes quarterback enjoyed an outstanding regular season, passing for 4,549 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Harris led the CFL with a 73.6% completion rate, including an impressive 53.8% on passes exceeding 20 yards—significantly higher than the league average of 44.3%. His efficiency and accuracy make him particularly dangerous in high-pressure situations.
Critical Matchups That Could Decide the Championship
The battle in the trenches will be crucial, especially Montreal's ability to pressure Harris. Saskatchewan bucked CFL trends by starting only one Canadian on their offensive line—center Logan Ferland—with import right-tackle Jermarcus Hardrick likely to be named the league's outstanding offensive lineman.
Both teams allowed only 26 sacks during the regular season, while Montreal tied with B.C. for the league lead with 45 sacks. The Roughriders didn't surrender a single sack in their division final victory.
Running back A.J. Ouellette presents another major challenge for Montreal's defense. The 5-foot-8, 208-pound powerhouse gains strength as games progress, demonstrated by his 113-yard performance on 17 carries against B.C. The Alouettes contained Ouellette effectively in both regular-season meetings, holding him under 100 yards each time.
Special teams could prove decisive if the game comes down to kicking. Montreal's Jose Maltos set a franchise record with 58 field goals this season and connected on four more in the division final, including the game-winning 45-yarder as time expired. Saskatchewan's Brett Lauther made all three attempts against B.C. but finished the season 39 for 54 (72.2%).
Historical Context and Coaching Decisions
The Roughriders haven't appeared in the Grey Cup since 2013 and carry a disappointing 4-15 record in championship games dating to 1923. Montreal's 8-11 Cup record is only marginally better, though the Als have won their last three appearances.
Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace made bold decisions in the West Division final that paid off handsomely. He opted for a short field goal while trailing by seven points with under three minutes remaining, then chose not to gamble on third-and-10 from his 36-yard line with 1:42 left. His defense delivered the stop, and Harris rewarded that confidence by engineering a 76-yard touchdown drive in just 52 seconds.
The Alouettes (10-8) enter the championship having won seven of their last eight games, while the West Division champion Roughriders (12-6) began the week as 3.5-point favorites. This marks the first Grey Cup meeting between these franchises since 2009 and 2010, when Montreal won both thrilling contests by one and three points respectively.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at IG Field in Winnipeg, with broadcast coverage on CTV, TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, and RDS.
