The Manitoba Bisons opened the U Sports football season with a statement, and nobody saw it coming. The Saskatchewan Huskies were the casualty.
Despite graduating 19 players from last year's roster, Manitoba put together a dominant performance Saturday, knocking off the third-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies 40-22 in Winnipeg.
The Huskies entered the season ranked No. 3 in the country and were the No. 1 team in the Canada West coaches poll, making the loss one of the biggest upsets of the opening weekend.
For Saskatchewan, the afternoon quickly became a nightmarish start to the season and coach Scott Flory was willing to make a major change at quarterback to start the second half.
Anton Amundrud, who returned this season after successfully battling cancer, started the game as the undisputed starter. Still, after struggling to find some first-half rhythm, he was replaced at halftime.
Jake Farrell, who led the Huskies to a Hardy Cup championship, came into the game at quarterback to begin the second half, with Saskatchewan trailing 23-4.Â
Amundrud eventually returned to the game with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter, but his return was short-lived. His first pass was completed to Kyle Conteh. Amundrud was later intercepted by Nick Pereira in the fourth quarter, with Pereira returning the ball inside the Saskatchewan five-yard line.
That interception led to Gavin Perkins' second touchdown of the afternoon and gave Manitoba a commanding 37-15 lead with 7:38 remaining.
Farrell was back in at quarterback for Saskatchewan's next possession and finished the game 5-for-7 for 79 yards. He also rushed twice for 19 yards.
Elias Flory eventually saw action at quarterback as well after Farrell was injured late in the fourth quarter. Flory completed three of five passes for 24 yards.
Amundrud finished 17-of-34 passing for 268 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. He also had two fumbles, one of which was lost.
While the quarterback carousel became one of the biggest storylines for Saskatchewan, the larger problem was that Manitoba controlled the game from almost the opening whistle.
Saskatchewan took an early 3-0 lead on a Lucas Scott field goal, but Manitoba responded with a safety late in the first quarter. The Bisons then scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the second quarter, with Perkins punching it in from one yard out to make it 9-3.
Manitoba added a touchdown reception from Brendt Adams before taking advantage of another Saskatchewan turnover to build a 23-4 halftime lead.
The Huskies did show some life after Farrell entered the game. Kayden Miller scored Saskatchewan's first touchdown of the season early in the third quarter, rushing for a score after the Huskies intercepted Manitoba.
HUSKIE TOUCHDOWN🚨
Kayden Miller is in for the first Huskie major of the season! pic.twitter.com/lvZc3WIXpB
— Huskie Football (@skhuskies) September 5, 2026
Miller finished with 87 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while adding five receptions for 39 yards.
But Manitoba immediately answered with a 70-yard touchdown pass from Cole Anseeuw to Mikun Odunuga. Odunuga finished with three catches for 116 yards and a touchdown, while Anseeuw completed 12 of 27 passes for 248 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
The Bisons finished with 469 yards of total offence compared to 315 for Saskatchewan and held the ball for nearly eight minutes longer.
For a Manitoba team that graduated so many players coming into a transitional 2026 season, it was an impressive opening statement.
For Saskatchewan, it was anything but.
The No. 3-ranked Huskies came into the season with high expectations and that top spot in the coaches poll. Instead, they leave Winnipeg with a lopsided loss, questions at quarterback, and plenty to clean up before their next outing – their homecoming game next Friday night against 1-0 Calgary.
Manitoba, meanwhile, has immediately announced that the rebuilding label may not apply to this group after all. The Bisons travel to Regina to take on the 1-0 Rams next Friday.
