CFL Regular Season Wrap-Up & Semi-Finals Preview: The Playoffs Are Here!

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And just like that the CFL regular season is over, and it’s time to look at the CFL Semi-Finals preview. After 21 weeks of rouges, blocked kicks, wild comebacks, and a few “did that just happen?” moments, we’ve made it to playoff time. The Grey Cup chase is officially on, and the semi-finals are ready to deliver drama, upsets, and bragging rights.

Before we look ahead, let’s take one last glance at how we got here.

🗓️ Regular Season Recap: What a Ride

This season had everything: quarterback controversies, killer defenses, and a few surprise surges that shook up the standings. Check out these highlights from CFL.ca.

The East

Hamilton and Montreal were the clear front-runners most of the way, but Toronto played spoiler more than once. Montreal finished strong, looking sharp and playoff-ready, while Hamilton’s late push secured their spot in the Eastern Final. Ottawa showed flashes but never found consistency, and Toronto’s season will be remembered for close games that didn’t quite go their way.

The West

The West stayed wild from start to finish. Saskatchewan proved why they’re still a powerhouse — disciplined, balanced, and just plain tough. BC’s offense hit its stride late in the year, peaking at the perfect time. Calgary had some big wins but couldn’t stay consistent, while Edmonton… well, let’s just say the Elks had their moments, but the road was bumpy.

Winnipeg, on the other hand, clawed their way back into playoff contention thanks to a crossover rule that once again gave the West an edge.

⚖️ Quick Standings Snapshot

East Division:
1️⃣ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
2️⃣ Montreal Alouettes
3️⃣ Toronto Argonauts
4️⃣ Ottawa Redblacks

West Division:
1️⃣ Saskatchewan Roughriders
2️⃣ BC Lions
3️⃣ Calgary Stampeders
4️⃣ Edmonton Elks
5️⃣ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Crossover)

And yes, once again, the West benefits from the crossover rule. Winnipeg will be packing their travel bags and heading east for the semi-finals.

🔥 Semi-Finals Preview

Four teams, two games, one step from the Finals.

🏟️ Eastern Semi-Final: Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Montreal Alouettes

📅 Saturday, Nov. 1 — 3:00 PM ET

The crossover lives! Winnipeg slips into the East for another playoff run, but they’ll have to do it against a Montreal team that’s been gaining steam all season. The Alouettes’ offense has looked dangerous lately — fast, confident, and tough to contain.

Evie’s Pick: Montreal. Winnipeg might hang around for three quarters, but the Als finish stronger.

🏟️ Western Semi-Final: Calgary Stampeders @ BC Lions

📅 Saturday, Nov. 1 — 6:30 PM ET

Calgary’s grit versus BC’s firepower. The Stamps always play hard in November, but the Lions have looked electric on both sides of the ball lately. Home-field advantage in BC Place could be the difference here.

Evie’s Pick: BC — the Lions are on fire and ready to roar.

🏆 Looking Ahead

The winners of these two showdowns move on to face the big dogs:

  • Montreal’s winner travels to Hamilton for the Eastern Final.
  • BC’s winner will take on Saskatchewan in the Western Final.

From there, it’s off to the Grey Cup — November 16th, under the bright lights.

💬 Evie’s Take

Every CFL season ends with surprises — and this one’s no different. The crossover debate is alive and well (and yes, it always seems to help the West), but that’s part of the league’s charm. If you’re still standing in November, you earned it.

The playoffs are where legends are made, heartbreaks are replayed, and someone inevitably tries to kick a 61-yarder just to see if they can.

Spread the Game Day Vibes 🏈🏒⚾🏀

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