GAME INFORMATION

Date: Friday, Oct. 1
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Venue: Thunderbird Stadium
Watch: Sasktel 49, 349 / Canadawest.tv
Listen: HuskieFAN

SEASON TICKETS || SCHEDULE || WATCH LIVE 

Travelling west for their second homecoming game in as many weeks, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will be looking to right the ship following what was a rocky season opener. 

Saskatchewan struggled to get much going offensively in week one versus the Dinos, while Calgary seemingly had their way against the Huskies through the air.

Despite their loss, the Huskies remain nationally ranked and sit at number-nine in the country; a ranking they'll be looking to prove with a win over the Thunderbirds, who are also searching for their first win of the season following a 44-19 thumping at the hands of Alberta Golden Bears in week one. 

It's a different looking Thunderbirds program than the one the Huskies are used to facing, which starts with the departure of linebackers Nick Cross and Ben Hladik. Cross, a Regina native and former Ram was selected ninth overall in the 2021 CFL Draft, while Hladik was a third-round pick of the BC Lions in this years draft, which will make life a lot easier under centre for Mason Nyhus.

Nyhus is looking to bounce back after what he would consider a disappointing week one. While the fourth-year quarterback racked up 238 yards and two touchdowns through the air, both of which going to Colton Klassen, the Huskies failed to put together many long, time-killing drives. The Dinos defence forced eight two-and-outs from the Huskies, which failed to keep Calgary and their potent offence on the sidelines.

Look for Nyhus to get Sam Baker involved early-and-often. Baker was destructive in Saskatchewan's last meeting against UBC, totalling seven receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns. The Toronto Argonauts 2021 selection figures to be a big part of this Huskies offence in 2021.

Saskatchewan will be looking to snap a streak of three-straight regular-season games lost in Vancouver, with their last regular-season win on the road against the Thunderbirds coming back in 2015.

Saskatchewan began the 2019 season 0-1 also entering a matchup with the Thunderbirds, emerging with a 40-7 victory helping kickstart an eventual run to the Hardy Cup.

Head-to-head:

• All-time vs. UBC Saskatchewan is 60-32
• Last 10 meetings: UBC is 4-6
• Huskies 2019 record vs UBC: 1-1
• Last regular season meeting: 38-37 Thunderbirds win on Oct. 19 2019 in Vancouver

By the numbers:

2,500 - The Thunderbirds are expecting a sellout for their first home game in 714 days, with limited tickets selling out in advance of the game.

65 - The story surrounding this Thunderbird program entering this season is Garrett Rooker. The first-year quarterback from League City, Texas was a high-profile land for Thunderbirds head coach Blake Nill and he earned the job as the starter under centre out of camp. Rooker, who threw for 372 yards to go along with two touchdowns and one interception in his Canada West debut, was a star in 6A high school football in Texas, 

603 - Last Saturday afternoon wasn't pretty for Saskatchewan defensively. They allowed 603 total yards against Calgary, 455 of which came through the air. They'll need to clean that up against.a Thunderbirds offence which had success throwing the football in their season-opener last weekend.

0-2 - The Huskies have not started a Canada West season 0-2 since 2015, a trend they will look to continue with a win Friday night in Vancouver.

179 - Despite totalling 458 total yards, the story of week one for the Thunderbirds was discipline. They racked up 22 penalties, totalling 179 yards in the contest, which is something the Huskies hopes carries over into week two

Elsewhere in the Canada West:

Manitoba at Alberta, Friday Oct. 1 at 7:00 p.m.
Calgary at Regina, Saturday, Oct. 2 at 2:00 p.m.