Men’s Football News

Fifteen teams are still in contention to hoist the Vanier Cup a month from now as the U SPORTS football schedule has reached the conference semifinal stage. 

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

The nationally top-ranked Western Mustangs (OUA), reigning Vanier Cup champion Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ) and seventh-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West) all kick off the defence of their conference titles on Saturday.

In the AUS, new champions will be crowned as 2018 titlist StFX failed to qualify for the post-season. The No. 5 Acadia Axemen, who finished atop the league standings with a perfect 8-0 record, have earned a direct berth into the Loney Bowl final and will host the title match on Nov. 9.

Here is a game-by-game look at Saturday’s conference semifinals, as well as a detailed schedule and all television broadcast and webcast info.

OUA

No. 9 Waterloo (4-4 / 1-0) at No. 1 Western (8-0)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV & tape delayed on Rogers TV

Last week (Waterloo): 44-21 road win vs. Ottawa (OUA quarter-final)

Last week (Western): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 5, 2019 – regular season at Western): Western 45, Waterloo 42

In a nutshell: Looking for its third straight conference title, Western has won 28 straight games overall against OUA opponents dating back to the 2016 Yates Cup final... Waterloo is coming off its first playoff win since a triumph over Laurier in the 1999 Yates Cup... The Mustangs (36.3 points per game) and Warriors (36.0), who combined for 87 points in their regular season clash on Oct. 5, were the top-two scoring teams in the OUA in league play but Western had the advantage on the defensive side of the ball as Waterloo ranked 25th in the country in both points (35.4) and total yards (497.8) allowed per game.

Keep an eye on (Waterloo): Running back Dion Pellerin led U SPORTS in rushing touchdowns (11) and all-purpose majors (12) in league play.

Keep an eye on (Western): Former Vanier Cup MVP Chris Merchant finished second in U SPORTS in completion percentage (68.5) and third in passing yards (2,378).

No. 3 Guelph (6-2 / 1-0) at No. 4 McMaster (6-2)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
OUA TV & Cable 14

Last week (Guelph): 22-17 home win vs. Carleton (OUA quarter-final)

Last week (McMaster): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Aug. 25, 2019 – regular season at Guelph): McMaster 25, Guelph 10

In a nutshell: This will mark the first playoff contest between the two programs since a 17-11 quarter-final win by McMaster on home turf in 2016... In the regular season opener for both teams on Aug. 25, at Guelph, Clark Barnes returned the opening kickoff on 100 yards to give the Gryphons a 7-0 lead 16 seconds into the game but the Marauders dominated the rest of the way (463 total yards to 273) en route to a convincing 25-10 win... Quarterbacks should be under pressure on Saturday as Guelph (32) and McMaster (27) finished first and fourth in the nation in sacks in conference play.

Keep an eye on (Guelph): Defensive lineman Alain Cimankinda was second in the country in league play with 7.5 sacks.

Keep an eye on (McMaster): Quarterback Andreas Dueck had a breakout season and finished second in the nation with 2,431 passing yards, while completing a U SPORTS-leading 200 passes.

RSEQ

Concordia (2-6) at No. 2 Laval (7-1)

1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT

Last week (Concordia): 23-17 home loss vs. McGill

Last week (Laval): 35-10 road win vs. Sherbrooke

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 6, 2019 – regular season at Laval): Laval 74, Concordia 0

In a nutshell: Laval is making its 22nd straight playoff appearance and has won at least one post-season round every year over that period with the exception of 2002, when the Rouge et Or were upset 29-21 by Concordia in the conference semis... Laval has won 33 straight overall against Concordia dating back to a 38-30 road loss on Oct. 4, 2003... The stingy Rouge et Or defence, which ranked first in the country in conference play in points (9.0), total yards (229.8) and passing yards (145.3) allowed per game, goes up against a Stingers’ passing attack which ranked first in the RSEQ with 252.5 yards per contest.

Keep an eye on (Concordia): James Tyrrell led the RSEQ with 52 receptions (second in U SPORTS) and 779 receiving yards (third in U SPORTS).

Keep an eye on (Laval): Linebacker Adam Auclair, the 2017 U SPORTS defensive player of the year, led the RSEQ in both solo tackles (35) and total tackles (45).

McGill (3-5) at No. 6 Montreal (6-2)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
TVA Sports

Last week (McGill): 23-17 road win vs. Concordia

Last week (Montreal): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 4, 2019 – regular season at Montreal): Montreal 21, McGill 3

In a nutshell: Montreal has won 27 straight games overall against its cross-town rivals since the start of the 2003 campaign, including a 48-2 conference semifinal win on home turf last fall... The Carabins have advanced to the Dunsmore Cup final each of the past six seasons, while McGill is looking for its first playoff win since 2002... A defensive battle is expected on Saturday between two teams that struggled to score in the regular season, finishing 22nd and 25th in the nation in points per game (Montreal - 18.0 / McGill - 15.5), but ranked second and fourth in the country in yards allowed per contest (Montreal – 270.9 / McGill - 321.0).

Keep an eye on (McGill): Defensive lineman Andrew Seinet-Spaulding led the RSEQ with seven sacks (fourth in U SPORTS) and 13.5 tackles for a loss (second in U SPORTS).

Keep an eye on (Montreal): Ryth-Jean Giraud led the RSEQ in rushing yards (575) and ranked third among U SPORTS running backs in yards per carry (6.3).

AUS

Mount Allison (3-5) at Bishop’s (4-4)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
AUStv & Bell Aliant TV1 

Last week (Mount Allison): 33-31 home loss vs. Acadia

Last week (Bishop’s): Bye

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 19, 2019 – regular season at Mount Allison): Mount Allison 35, Bishop’s 13

In a nutshell: This marks the first-ever playoff contest between the two programs (national Bowl games included)... The Gaiters are making their first post-season appearance since they joined the AUS in 2017, while the Mounties extend their season for the first time since 2016, when they beat Acadia in the semifinal round before dropping a 29-8 decision against StFX in the Loney Bowl final... The rivals split their two-game series during the regular season, both winning on home turf (Bishop’s 27-23 on Sept. 14 / Mount Allison 35-13 on Oct. 19)... The Mounties’ defence led the AUS in points allowed (20.1 per game) in the regular season and were first in the country in interceptions (19), while the Gaiters topped the conference in sacks (24).

Keep an eye on (Mount Allison): Josh Hicks led the AUS in receptions (43) and receiving yards (739).

Keep an eye on (Bishop’s): Linebacker Louve Moussenguet tied for the AUS lead in sacks (5.5) and tackles for a loss (8.5).

Manitoba (4-4) at No. 8 Calgary (6-2)

2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV

Last week (Manitoba): 47-14 road loss vs. Regina

Last week (Calgary): 36-17 home win vs. UBC

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 19, 2019 – regular season at Manitoba): Manitoba 43, Calgary 29

In a nutshell: The two teams also met in the first round of the playoffs at McMahon Stadium a year ago, with Calgary prevailing 37-13... Making their 13th straight playoff appearance, the Dinos are looking to advance to the Hardy Cup final for the 12th consecutive year... The Bisons are looking for their first playoff victory since a 27-15 upset win over Calgary in the 2014 Hardy Cup final... Calgary’s passing attack ranked first in Canada West and second in U SPORTS in league play (322.4 yards per game), while Manitoba’s rushing attack ranked second in the conference and eighth in the country (174.4).

Keep an eye on (Manitoba): Defensive lineman Derek Dufault topped Canada West with seven sacks (fourth in U SPORTS) and ranked second in tackles for a loss (8.5).

Keep an eye on (Calgary): Jalen Philpot was second in Canada West in both receptions (52 - one off the national lead) and receiving yards (767 – fourth in U SPORTS).

Alberta (4-4) at No. 7 Saskatchewan (5-3)

5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Canada West TV Presented by Co-op & SaskTel maxTV, TELUS Optik TV, Bell MTS Fibe TV

Last week (Alberta): 22-9 road loss vs. Saskatchewan

Last week (Saskatchewan): 22-9 home win vs. Alberta

Last head-to-head matchup (Oct. 26, 2019 – regular season at Saskatchewan): Saskatchewan 22, Alberta 9

In a nutshell: The rivals meet in Saskatoon for the second straight week as Saskatchewan prevailed 22-9 last Saturday to secure second place and home-field advantage for the semifinal round... Alberta had won the first head-to-head contest of the season on Sept. 21, a 19-17 thriller in Edmonton... The Huskies captured their first Hardy Cup title since 2006 a year ago when they posted their first playoff wins since 2009, while the Golden Bears, who return to the post-season after a one-year absence, are looking for their first playoff victory since a 31-30 upset of top-seeded Saskatchewan in 2010... The Huskies were the top rushing team in the nation in league play (221.5 yards per game), while the Bears’ passing attack ranked seventh in U SPORTS (291.0).

Keep an eye on (Alberta): Ben Kopczynski led U SPORTS in receptions (53) and receiving yards (799).

Keep an eye on (Saskatchewan): Adam Machart led the nation with 1,330 rushing yards, a single-season school record, and his 8.5 yards per carry were tops among U SPORTS running backs.