The Saskatchewan Roughriders offseason continues to gather momentum and head coach Corey Mace likes what he sees.
Fresh off being named the CFL’s Coach of the Year, Mace joined the SportsCage to provide an update on where the Green and White stand as the calendar inches closer to training camp, the CFL Draft and, ultimately, the start of their title defence. If there was one word that defined his message, it was competition. From returning veterans to newcomers looking to carve out a role, the bench boss made it clear nothing will be handed out when camp opens.
“You’ve got to earn it just like everybody else,” Mace said. “Whether you’re a veteran guy, a first-round pick or undrafted, you’ve got to show something that helps this team be better.”
That mindset extends across the entire roster. The Riders added veteran long snapper Aaron Crawford on Monday, bringing another experienced piece into the fold. Mace said the offseason work by general manager Jeremy O’Day and the football operations staff has helped put together a roster that should create battles across the board.
“There’s going to be some competition and some roster spots to fill, but that’s what you want. If anything, it’s just going to breed competition.”
For Mace, the goal isn’t to “run it back” simply because the Roughriders know what championship football looks like. Instead, it’s about re-establishing the standard every day.
“We know what that feels like. We know what that looks like but you’ve got to go earn the right to be in that game again.”
The Riders also enter 2026 with some new faces on the coaching staff, including Joshua Bell stepping into the defensive coordinator role and Micah Johnson beginning his coaching career working with the defensive line. Mace praised both men, noting Bell has been preparing for this opportunity for years while Johnson’s winning mentality should translate naturally from player to coach.
Training camp will once again feature a familiar structure, with Saskatchewan preparing for two preseason games in short order before opening the regular season. One of those games promises to be a marquee event for football fans across the province.
The Roughriders will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saskatoon in their final preseason tune-up, and tickets for that game went on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. through Riderville.com. The game marks a rare preseason opportunity for fans in Saskatoon on May 23 to get up close to the Green and White, with Mace expecting plenty of recognizable faces on the field.
“It’s the last dress rehearsal. It’s their chance with live bullets to go out there and execute at a high level and put on a show for our fan base.”
With the Riders set to play nine games at Mosaic Stadium this season, plus the neutral-site Toronto home game in Regina, the Saskatoon contest adds yet another major football event for Saskatchewan fans. And if Mace is right, the atmosphere at Griffiths Stadium should feel every bit as electric as a game day in Regina.
“Smaller crowd compared to Mosaic, but I’m sure the energy is going to be just as insane.”
For a team coming off a Grey Cup championship, the message from the head coach is simple: the standard has been set, and now the work begins again.
