The Saskatchewan Roughriders kicked off the 2026 CFL season in dramatic fashion with a comeback win over the B.C. Lions. The Green and White admittedly weren't perfect in the 31-27 victory on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, but there's lots to like about the team that enters the season with expectations as large as last year. Here are the top takeaways from Saskatchewan's Week 1 performance.
1. Trevor Harris Focused on the Game
Trevor Harris told reporters after the game that he didn't even watch Saskatchewan's championship banner unveiling because he was too busy getting ready. That paid off as the Grey Cup MVP got off to a scoring start with two touchdown drives capped off by consecutive touchdown passes to Samuel Emilus. Fast starts and strong finishes, while dealing with whatever happens in the middle of a game, is a strong strategy to winning football because, as Harris also mentioned, you'll never play perfect football.
2. Nathan Rourke Keeps Things Interesting
The Roughriders controlled much of the game, but when Nathan Rourke is the opposing quarterback, you can never get too comfortable. After Saskatchewan squandered their 14-point lead, Rourke put the Lions ahead by three points before yet another surgical drive by Harris capped off by a third touchdown pass to Emilus, which ate up more than two minutes and gave Rourke just 42 seconds to try and mount a comeback, which was ultimately unsuccessful.
3. Receivers Shine
Saskatchewan's receivers were a big reason the team won. Emilus (91 yards), Kian Schaffer-Baker (165 yards), KeeSean Johnson (131 yards), Jaylen Johnson (19 yards), and Dhel Duncan-Busby (11 yards) all made key catches at key times. Harris was on the money with many of his throws, completing 30 of 36 for 417 yards, but the receivers needed to make the tough catches, and they did so on Saturday night. That bodes well for 2026 if they can all stay healthy.
4. Next-Man-Up Mentality
Health can sometimes make or break a season, especially at certain positions. But depth and preparation can help ease that pain, and the Roughriders showed that cliché next-man-up mentality on Saturday with Canadians Nelson Lokombo and Jaxon Ford stepping up for halfback Rolan Milligan Jr., who was injured in the first half.
5. Battling Through Injuries
Milligan's injury was too serious for him to return, and he could miss next week's game. However, some kudos must be given to those who battled through injuries, including KeeSean Johnson and right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, who both appeared to injure themselves before returning to action. That's also what it takes to win.
6. A.J. Ouellette's Key Plays
Running back A.J. Ouellette had a solid game with 69 yards on 15 carries, but two plays on Saskatchewan's final drive helped secure the win. First, he drew a pass interference call, which had to be challenged by Saskatchewan, before throwing an absolute massive pass-protection block on Harris' final touchdown throw to Emilus. Without those two plays, the outcome might have been different.
7. Special Teams Contributions
The special teams unit, which was revamped in the offseason, performed well. Kicker Brett Lauther was perfect on field goals and converts, while punter Adam Korsak pinned the Lions deep in their own territory multiple times. Coverage units also limited big returns, giving the offense favorable field position.
8. Defensive Resilience
Despite allowing 27 points, the defense came up with crucial stops when needed. Defensive end Anthony Lanier II recorded two sacks, and linebacker Micah Teitz had a key interception in the second half. The defense bent but didn't break, holding the Lions to field goals on several drives.
9. Offensive Line Holds Up
The offensive line, featuring veteran Jermarcus Hardrick and newcomers, protected Harris well for most of the game. They allowed only one sack and opened holes for Ouellette and the running game. Their performance was critical in the fourth quarter when the team needed to sustain drives.
10. Looking Ahead
The Roughriders start the season 1-0, but there is room for improvement. Penalties and missed assignments in the secondary need to be cleaned up. However, the team showed resilience and the ability to win close games, which bodes well for the rest of the season.
