Photo credit: Ryan Flaherty

By Ryan Flaherty

cfl action in saskatoon

Griffiths Stadium To Host Roughriders Preseason Game In 2026

Aug 15, 2025 | 2:19 PM

Saskatchewan Roughrider fans in the Saskatoon area have had the opportunity to take in the team’s training camp at Griffiths Stadium over the years. Now they’ll get a chance to watch an actual Rider game on the Huskies’ home turf as well.

The Riders and Huskies, along with with the City of Saskatoon and Discover Saskatoon, have announced plans to bring a CFL preseason game to Griffiths next season, marking the first time since 1991 that the green and white will play a contest in the city.

“We love the fact that they’re coming up here,” Huskies football coach Scott Flory said. “It’s aspirational for our guys to be able to see how professional organizations work, so we’re more than happy to do it.”

The idea of playing a game on campus is something the Riders and USask had been discussing for several years but it was actually a completely different sport that helped turn the idea into a reality.

Next year, Canada will host the FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico. With several matches scheduled to be played at BMO Field, home of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, the Argos have to move some of their regular season games to other venues, including one which will be played against the Riders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. That means there will be ten regular season games in the Queen City in 2026 instead of the usual nine, giving the Riders a chance to play their lone home preseason game elsewhere without sacrificing a date at their home field.

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And with the Riders already holding training camp at Griffiths on a regular basis, playing a game there as well seemed like a no-brainer.

“Logistically, it makes a lot of sense. They’re already here, they’re in the dorms right across the street and it’s just super convenient for them. They don’t have to break camp at all and travel down to Mosaic, they get to just wake up, walk across the street and play a football game,” Riders president and CEO Craig Reynolds said.

For the Huskies football program, hosting a Rider game at Griffiths deepens an already strong relationship between the teams. It doesn’t hurt that former Huskies Nelson Lokombo, Nick Wiebe and Noah Zerr currently play for the green and white, while 2025 draft picks Seth Hundeby and Daniel Wiebe are set to join them next year after completing their U SPORTS eligibility.

“We’ve had a habit of drafting Huskies and that’s for good reason. They’re good players, well-coached. And there’s a couple players on the roster this year for the Huskies that are going to be playing in that pre-season game, I can pretty much guarantee that,” Reynolds said.

It was only a couple of years ago that the Huskies set an attendance record during a game against the archrival Regina Rams, and Flory is eager to see how many people the venerable venue can fit for a CFL contest.

“I’m pretty sure the magic of a little yellow rope will be holding people back around the track there. It’s gonna be crazy. I know a couple years ago when we had our homecoming game, there was over ten thousand there. It’ll be crazy, it’ll be a zoo but it will be outstanding. The energy and everything that gets pumping through here, I just know it will be electric and the players will love it,” Flory said.

The game will take place next May with the specific date and opponent to be determined when the CFL releases its 2026 schedule.

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Twitter/X: @RFlahertypxp