The Saskatchewan Huskies and Regina Rams are once again expected to be at the centre of the Canada West football race. The provincial rivals were ranked first and second, respectively, in the 2026 Canada West preseason Coaches Poll released Thursday, one day before the regular season kicks off.
The defending Hardy Cup champion Huskies received three first-place votes, while the Rams picked up two. UBC received the other first-place vote. Saskatchewan edged Regina by just two points in the poll.
The rankings come after the two Saskatchewan schools have met in each of the last two Hardy Cup finals. Regina captured the conference championship in 2024 before the Huskies reclaimed the title last season with a dramatic 25-24 comeback victory.
Saskatchewan advanced to the Vanier Cup last year before falling 30-16 to the Montreal Carabins at Mosaic Stadium. The Huskies will begin their title defence with plenty of experience returning, including quarterback Anton Amundrud.
The fifth-year quarterback is back after his 2025 season was cut short by a lymphoma diagnosis. Defensive lineman Nathan Jule is also expected to make an impact after missing the last two seasons because of injury.
“We are excited for the challenge ahead this season,” Saskatchewan head coach Scott Flory said. “Every week presents a fast, physical, and highly competitive matchup, which means we must be prepared to perform at our best every game.”
The Rams enter the season looking to get back to the Hardy Cup final and finish the job against their provincial rivals.
“We are excited to compete in the toughest conference in U SPORTS,” Regina head coach Mark McConkey said. “We are looking to have continued success in this conference by staying focused on playing our brand of football.”
UBC was ranked third, followed by Calgary, Manitoba and Alberta.
The Thunderbirds return quarterback Drew Viotto and will look to build on the experience gained by a young team last season.
Calgary is ranked fourth after a 2025 season that included three one-score losses. The Dinos will be looking to turn those close games into victories as they pursue their first playoff berth since 2019.
Manitoba is fifth after graduating 19 players from last year's roster, including quarterback Jackson Tachinski. Alberta rounds out the poll in sixth.
The 2026 Canada West season opens Friday with Regina visiting Alberta and UBC travelling to Calgary. The Huskies begin their title defence Saturday night in Winnipeg against Manitoba.
After an eight-game regular season, the top four teams will advance to the Canada West semifinals on Nov. 7. The Hardy Cup final is scheduled for Nov. 14, with the conference champion advancing to the Uteck Bowl on Nov. 21 for a berth in the Vanier Cup.
The 61st Vanier Cup will be played Nov. 28 at Stade TELUS–Université Laval in Quebec City.
