SASKATOON, Sask. - The stage is officially set for the Canada West Football season after the conference announced the 2025 regular season and playoff schedule Tuesday morning (May 13).
The University of Saskatchewan (Usask) Huskie Football team will officially kick off their quest for a 22nd Hardy Cup and 4th Vanier Cup on Saturday, August 30 when they travel to Edmonton for a matchup with the Alberta Golden Bears. It will mark the first opening week game between the two programs since the 2018 season, which saw the Dogs capture a dominant 42-0 win at home. The season-opener will also feature the first meeting between the Dogs and new Golden Bear head coach Stevenson Bone, who was named Alberta's 29th head coach back in January.
Week 2 will then see the Huskies make their home debut at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park with the UBC Thunderbirds set to visit Saskatoon for the first of two meetings between the Dogs and T-Birds in 2025. The last time the two teams met, the Huskies pulled off a semifinal upset victory on the road in dramatic fashion,
scoring 18 points in less than four minutes to advance to the 2024 Hardy Cup.
The Dogs will then hit the road again, this time heading East, for a Week 3 showdown with the Manitoba Bisons. Similarly to the Golden Bears, the Bisons will also be sporting a first-year head coach in Stan Pierre, who took over following the retirement of long time head coach Brian Dobie. In their previous meeting with Manitoba,
the Dogs handed the Bisons their first and only loss of the 2024 regular season in dominant 42-24 fashion at home.
Week 4 features the most highly anticipated rematch of the season, with the defending conference champion Regina Rams scheduled to visit Griffiths for the first time since the 2024 Hardy Cup. In what will be the lone regular season matchup with their provincial rivals in 2025, the Dogs will be out for revenge after dropping two of their three meetings with the Rams last year.
The following week features the only other team the Huskies will take on just once during the regular season in the Calgary Dinos, who closed out the 2024 season with a 2-6 record thanks in part to 44-40 (OT) and 16-11 losses to Saskatchewan.
Prior to the conference-wide bye week, the Huskies will host their first rematch of the season when the Golden Bears visit Saskatoon for the first time since week 5 of the 2024 season. That game saw the Dogs hand an, at the time No. 9-ranked, Alberta team a
33-30 loss thanks to a game-winning field goal from Lukas Scott with under a minute remaining.
The home stretch of the 2025 regular season then begins on the road for Saskatchewan, as they'll make the trip to Vancouver for another meeting with the UBC Thunderbirds. The Huskies will then close out the regular season schedule at Griffiths Stadium when they play host to the Manitoba Bisons.
For the top four teams in the conference, the playoffs will then begin on November 1, leading to the 88th Hardy Cup set for Saturday, November 8, 2025. This year's conference champion also earns the benefit of a home bowl game, with the winner of Canada West set to host the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference champion in the 2025 Mitchell Bowl. The U SPORTS Football season then culminates in Regina and Mosaic Stadium with the 60th Vanier Cup.
Prior to the regular season on Wednesday, August 20, the Saskatchewan Huskies and UBC Thunderbirds will get their first taste of action at Griffiths Stadium, as they face off in an exhibition game. It will mark the first time since the 2013 season in which the conference rivals have faced off in the pre-season.
Don't miss a single play of the Dogs' 2025 season with season tickets, available for Huskie Football, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, and Volleyball now at
HuskieTickets.com.
2025 HUSKIE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
PRE-SEASON
- Wednesday, August 20 vs UBC Thunderbirds | 7:00 PM CST | Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
WEEK 1
- Saturday, August 29 at Alberta Golden Bears | 6:30 PM MDT | Foote Field | Edmonton, Alta.
WEEK 2
- Friday, September 5 vs UBC Thunderbirds | 7:00 PM CST | Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park * HOMECOMING *
WEEK 3
- Saturday, September 13 at Manitoba Bisons | 5:00 PM CDT | Princess Auto Stadium | Winnipeg, Man.
WEEK 4
- Friday, September 19 vs Regina Rams | 7:00 PM CST | Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park * U-PRAIRIE CHALLENGE *
WEEK 5
- Saturday, September 27 at Calgary Dinos | 1:00 PM MDT | McMahon Stadium | Calgary, Alta.
WEEK 6
- Saturday, October 4 vs Alberta Golden Bears | 7:00 PM CST | Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park * FOOTBALL DAY IN SASKATOON *
WEEK 7 - BYE WEEK
WEEK 8
- Friday, October 17 at UBC Thunderbirds | 6:00 PM PDT | Thunderbird Stadium | Vancouver, B.C.
WEEK 9
- Saturday, October 25, 2025 vs Manitoba Bisons | 2:00 PM CST | Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
2025 CANADA WEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
*game dates/times subject to change. All times local.
WEEK 1
- Thursday, August 28 - Manitoba Bisons @ UBC Thunderbirds / 6:30 PM PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
- Friday, August 29 - Regina Rams @ Calgary Dinos / 5:30 PM MDT / McMahon Stadium
- Friday, August 29 - Saskatchewan Huskies @ Alberta Golden Bears / 6:30 PM MDT / Foote Field
WEEK 2
- Friday, September 5 - UBC Thunderbirds @ Saskatchewan Huskies / 7:00 PM CST / Griffiths Stadium
- Friday, September 5 - Manitoba Bisons @ Calgary Dinos / 7:00 PM MDT / McMahon Stadium
- Friday, September 5 - Alberta Golden Bears @ Regina Rams / Mosaic Stadium
WEEK 3
- Friday, September 12 - Calgary Dinos @ Alberta Golden Bears / 6:30 PM MDT / Foote Field
- Friday, September 12 - Regina Rams @ UBC Thunderbirds / 6:00 PM PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
- Saturday, September 13 - Saskatchewan Huskies @ Manitoba Bisons / 2:00 PM CDT / Princess Auto Stadium
WEEK 4
- Friday, September 19 - Regina Rams @ Saskatchewan Huskies / 7:00 PM CST / Griffiths Stadium
- Friday, September 19 - Calgary Dinos @ UBC Thunderbirds / 6:00 PM PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
- Saturday, September 19 - Alberta Golden Bears @ Manitoba Bisons / 2:00 PM CDT / Princess Auto Stadium
WEEK 5
- Friday, September 26 - UBC Thunderbirds @ Alberta Golden Bears / 6:30 PM MDT / Foote Field
- Saturday, September 26 - Saskatchewan Huskies @ Calgary Dinos / 1:00 PM MDT / McMahon Stadium
- Saturday, September 26 - Manitoba Bisons @ Regina Rams / 2:00 PM CST / Mosaic Stadium
WEEK 6
- Saturday, October 4 - UBC Thunderbirds @ Manitoba Bisons / 12:00 PM CDT / Princess Auto Stadium
- Saturday, October 4 - Calgary Dinos @ Regina Rams / 2:00 PM CST / Mosaic Stadium
- Saturday, October 4 - Alberta Golden Bears @ Saskatchewan Huskies / 7:00 PM CST / Griffiths Stadium
WEEK 7 - BYE WEEK
WEEK 8
- Friday, October 17 - Saskatchewan Huskies @ UBC Thunderbirds / 6:00 PM PDT / Thunderbird Stadium
- Saturday, October 18 - Calgary Dinos @ Manitoba Bisons / 1:00 PM CDT / Princess Auto Stadium
- Saturday, October 18 - Regina Rams @ Alberta Golden Bears / 2:00 PM MDT / Foote Field
WEEK 9
- Friday, October 24 - UBC Thunderbirds @ Regina Rams / 7:00 PM CST / Mosaic Stadium
- Saturday, October 25 - Alberta Golden Bears @ Calgary Dinos / 1:00 PM MDT / McMahon Stadium
- Saturday, October 25 - Manitoba Bisons @ Saskatchewan Huskies / 2:00 PM CST / Griffiths Stadium
WEEK 10 - HARDY CUP SEMIFINALS
- Saturday, November 1 | No. 4 at No. 1 & No. 3 at No. 2
WEEK 11 - 88th HARDY CUP
- Saturday, November 8 | Semifinal Winners
WEEK 12 - MITCHELL BOWL
- Saturday, November 15 | OUA Champion at CW Champion
WEEK 13 - 60th VANIER CUP
- Saturday, November 20 | Mitchell Bowl Champion vs Uteck Bowl Champion | Mosaic Stadium | Regina, Sask.
