SASKATOON, Sask. — The University of Saskatchewan Huskie Football team returns home this weekend for the start of a three-game home stand at Griffiths Stadium. The first contest brings U SPORTS Top 10 match up the turf with the No. 5 Huskies hosting the No. 7 UBC Thunderbirds in the first of two meetings between the programs this season. Serving as the finale to the second annual Football Day in Saskatoon, presented by the Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, Saturday (Oct. 3) will feature over 2,000 athletes taking to the field in Nutrien Park as early as 9:00 AM.
Kick off between the Huskies and Thunderbirds is set for 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com, with fans also having the option to tune in live on CanadaWest.tv or SaskTel Max TV, and listen live at HuskieFAN.ca or the HuskieFAN app.
As Canada West heads into the back half of the 2026 season the conference outlook has become clear, and Week 5 offers Saskatchewan another opportunity to set themselves apart. Entering with a 3-1 record following a U-Prairie Challenge win in Regina last week, the Huskies will square off with a UBC team at equal standing in the conference. The winner of Saturday's contest will take clear control of Canada West and effectively control their own destiny in the race for the top seed and home field advantage in the Hardy Cup Playoffs.
For the second consecutive week the Saskatchewan defence will be tasked with going up against a stout ground game. Led by rookie running back Marvyn Larozar, UBC is producing 203.8 total yards per game this season with nearly 150 per outing coming from their speedy ball carrier. Averaging 8.8 yards per carry, the freshman T-Bird ranks third in the nation with 587 yards and has produced two 200-yard performances.
The UBC defence has proved itself to be very capable this season as well, allowing the fewest points (17.0) and yards per game (341.8) in Canada West. However this week will be the ultimate test with Saskatchewan coming in boasting the most productive and highest scoring offence in the conference. Averaging 42.3 points and just under 500 yards of offence per game, the Huskies possess the third-best passing attack in the nation. Fifth-year quarterback
Anton Amundrud ranks first or second in Canada West in yards (1st, 1248) touchdowns (1st, 11), passing efficiency (1st, 176.8), and completion percentage (64.2%) while commanding what is arguably the deepest receiving core in the nation. Rookie
Keaton Belsher leads all green & white pass catchers with 421 yards and four scores while veterans
Rhett Vavra (243 yds, 2 TDs) and
Dawson Lennea (214 yds, 3 TDs) underscore the aerial attack.
Saskatchewan has been the dominant team head-to-head as of late, going 9-2 against UBC since 2021 and last season handed the T-Birds four losses across the preseason, regular season, and playoffs. Averaging a total of 53 points per game in the last 11 meetings, Saturday's Football Day in Saskatoon is sure to feature plenty of fireworks and cap off a fay filled with football, games, activities, and community.
GAME NOTES
HOME STRETCH: Saskatchewan returns home for just their second game at Griffiths this season. The contest begins a run of three consecutive home games. Following this Saturday's game vs UBC the Huskies will also host the Manitoba Bisons (Oct. 16) and Alberta Golden Bears (Oct. 23) before closing out the campaign on the road in Vancouver (Oct. 30).
POLE POSITION UP FOR GRABS: This Saturday, first-place in the Canada West standings is available with both Saskatchewan and UBC entering the game with 3-1 records. A win would go a long way for either team in securing home-field advantage throughout the Hardy Cup postseason.
QUEEN CITY CONQUEST: Last week in Regina, the Huskies earned a 38-31 win over their provincial rivals. The contest featured a tightly contested first half before Saskatchewan exploded for 21-unanswered points in the third quarter and held off a late fourth-quarter Rams comeback attempt.
T-BIRD TRIUMPH IN WINNIPEG: On the road against the Manitoba Bisons, UBC earned a 32-6 victory in a game which saw the visitors pull ahead and not look back. The T-Bird defence put on an impressive performance, limiting the Bisons to just 226 yards of offence and 0 points against, the 6 Maniotba points all came from safeties.
FIREWORKS AHEAD?: Griffiths Stadium will feature the two most productive units in the conference going head-to-head this week. Saskatchewan sits atop the conference averaging 486.3 yards while the Thunderbirds are averaging 454.8. Separating the two programs is more than just 30 yards per game as well. The Huskies have 16 redzone trips and have found the endzone 11 times while UBC has made nine trips and scored five majors.
IN THE TRENCHES: The run game will once again be a key matchup for Saskatchewan this week. UBC is sporting the conference's most productive run offence, averaging just over 200 yards per game. The Huskie defence, allowing just 110 yards on average, will be tasked with limiting rooie running back Marvyn Larozar, a speedy back averaging 148.6 yards per game, the second-most in the nation.
VS THE T-BIRDS: Saskatchewan has been highly successful as of late when going head-to-head with the Thunderbirds. Since 2021 the Huskies are 9-2 against UBC and last season handed the Vancouver-based program four losses across the preseason, regular season, and playoffs.
TOP 5: Fifth-year quarterback
Anton Amundrud continues to climb the program record books, seemingly moving up in one category or another with each passing week. This past week was no different as the field general went 28-for-37 for 369 yards and stwo touchdowns.
With yet another impressive game, Amundrud moved into third place in career completions and fourth place in both career passing yards and touchdowns.
He now trails Doug Siemens by 33 completions, Laurence Nixon by 49 yards and current offensive coordinator
Mason Nyhus by one touchdown.
ALONE AT NO. 5: Fifth-year receiver
Rhett Vavra also continues to improve his place in the record books. The pass catcher owns sole possession of fifth in program history after hauling in his 15th and 161th caeer majors two weeks ago in Alberta.
BELSHER MAKING A BID FOR R.O.Y.: Freshman receiver
Keaton Belsher has begun putting his bid for Rookie of the Year together. Through the first three games of his career, the Moose Jaw product leads Canada West with four receiving touchdowns and 23.1 yards per reception. His four majors are also tied for the most in the nation. Additionally, he ranks second in receiving yards (346) and fifth in receptions (15).
The last Huskie receiver to take home Rookie of the Year honours was slot back Scott McHenry in 2005.
A FAMILY AFFAIR: The 2026 Huskie Football roster features a remarkable 8 sets of brothers including Tyler and
Ethan Clazie, Tyrus and
Elias Flory, Porter and
Ryker Hanson, Nathan and
Thomas Jule, Sam and
Max Pratt, Mark and
Matthew Schroeder, Taz and
Sullivan Smith-Windsor, and David and
Daniel Tabien.
