When the University of Saskatchewan reached the Vanier Cup in 2021 and 2022, the dogs were on the road. This year, the Huskies only had to travel two-and-a-half hours to Regina.
"I was talking with our defensive coordinator, Cody Halseth, it's been crazy because every Vanier run we've been on at the U of S has been on the road. We won the Hardy Cup at home, then the Uteck Bowl and a road trip to Vanier out east, they've been massive travels," Saskatchewan assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, Mason Nyhus said on the SportsCage.
"This year has not really felt the same way because it's pretty normal being at Griffiths and going down to Regina — I think it's a massive advantage for us."
In 2021, when Nyhus was the Huskies starting quarterback, Saskatchewan lost the Vanier Cup against Western University 27-21, then fell short the following year in 2022 to the Laval Rouge et Or 30-24. After Nyhus’ playing career concluded, he went to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds as the team's quarterbacks coach and made it to the Vanier Cup in 2023 but lost to the Montreal Carabins 16-9.
"Passing on knowledge to the guys, it's one of those things where small, little, detailed mistakes get amplified in these big games. I can look back on both games I played and the one I coached with UBC in '23 as well. I look back in all three of those games, you can point out three or four plays, a silly mistake or a drop pass or missed assignment — it amplifies — and they result in wins and losses," Nyhus recalled.
"It's one of those things that you've got to be super detail-oriented when there's an opportunity to make a play; you've got to go make it."
Saskatchewan went 7-1 in the Canada West during the 2025 regular season and finished first. Meanwhile, the Carabins went 6-2 in the Quebec Conference (RSEQ) and finished second with a 6-2 record.
"They're well coached. You can tell they're physical and then they play with a good competitive level. Their schemes are really good and they trust their athletes," Nyhus explained.
"I have a lot of friends from out east that played in the RSEQ and played for Montreal, Laval and McGill, they're all really good football players with good football minds. We respect them and it's going to be a hard-fought game."
The Vanier Cup between Montreal and Saskatchewan goes on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium with kickoff at 1 p.m.
