Saskatchewan Roughrider

Growing up in Covington, Ohio, A.J. Ouellette embraced the “three yards and a bucket of blood” philosophy of running the football. That mindset, while one of the keys to Ouellette’s well-established success, isn’t entirely conducive to self-preservation. That is where Saskatchewan Roughriders Running Backs Coach Andrew Harris enters the equation.

As one who wore No. 23 as a team captain at Texas Tech University, DaMarcus Fields hoped to carry the same digits as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive backfield. “Then I learned about Ron Lancaster,” Fields says with a laugh. “I said, ‘What position did he play? Quarterback? What type of guy wears 23 at quarterback?’ ” Nobody in a Saskatchewan uniform. Not since Oct. 29, 1978, when the legendary Lancaster made his final regular-season appearance as a Roughriders player.

Rider Nation, the Labour Day Classic is sold out. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have sold out their ticket inventory for the biggest game of the year as Mosaic Stadium prepares to welcome a packed house for the historic Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Fans still have one opportunity to be part of the action: A limited number of $30 Co-op Community Zone tickets remain available exclusively through participating Co-op Food Stores, Home Centres and Gas Bars across Saskatchewan.

Josh Woods already boasts the second-highest single-season interception-return yardage total of any Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker. And the team is only five games into its 2026 season. Woods helped the Roughriders improve their record to 4-1 by registering a 107-yard pick six in Sunday’s 38-7 CFL victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Mosaic Stadium. At the same venue on June 26, his 19-yard interception return had extinguished a promising drive by the Toronto Argonauts.

On a day when the Saskatchewan Roughriders tied their all-time temperature record, it took the offence a little while to heat up. But when it did, it was essentially curtains for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who succumbed 38-7 at Mosaic Stadium on a sweltering Sunday. The game was deadlocked at 4-4 when Trevor Harris found a wide-open Samuel Emilus for a 10-yard touchdown at 13:21 of the second quarter.

"The fight in this team, regardless of circumstance, there is no question about that."

The Saskatchewan Roughriders sport a 4-1 record for the third consecutive season after defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-7 on a scorching-hot Sunday at Mosaic Stadium. In 35-degree conditions before 25,746 spectators, Saskatchewan put forth a dominant defensive performance to move into a first-place tie with the Edmonton Elks (also 4-1) in the West Division. The Elks are next on the agenda for the Roughriders, who are now on a bye week. Edmonton visits Mosaic Stadium on July 23.

"I thought we did a really good job up front giving me the opportunity to get loose."

Grey hairs are a small price to pay for a Grey Cup. “I get a lot of people who stop me in town and say, ‘Can you stop giving us so many grey hairs? Could we just win a couple of two-possession games?’ ” Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris said leading up to Sunday’s CFL clash with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).

Due to a hand injury, Jayden Dalke watched from afar when the Saskatchewan Roughriders visited the Ottawa REDBLACKS on July 3. But there was still a distinct Dalke presence at TD Place. Ryan and Shannon Dalke, who routinely travel to watch their 30-year-old son play in the CFL, were in the stands to cheer on the Roughriders.