SASKATOON, Sask. — The U SPORTS No. 3-ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies are set to return to Griffiths for the second consecutive Canada West contest this Friday (Oct. 16), as they take on the Manitoba Bisons in a rematch of the 2026 season-opener. The two programs return to action from the conference wide bye week each looking to further solidify their chances at a playoff berth and earn a critical win entering the home stretch of the regular seson.
Kick off between the Huskies and Bisons 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.
With just three games remaining in the 2026 Canada West regular season, Week 6 offers Saskatchewan the opportunity to officially punch their ticket to the postseason. Leading the conference with a 4-1 record, the Huskies can clinch a Hardy Cup playoff berth win a win, marking another successful step in their conference title defence. The Huskies also control their own destiny with regards to the No. 1 overall seed and home field advantage thanks to their four-game winning streak and already owning tiebreakers over Calgary and Regina.
Friday night will mark the second meeting between Saskatchewan and Manitoba this season, with the two programs having met in the 2026 season opener in Winnipeg. In what was a dysfunctional performance from the Huskies, the Bisons earned a 40-22 victory. This week however, Manitoba will see a very different Huskies squad than the one which took the field at Princess Auto six weeks ago. Since that Week 1 loss, the Huskies have won four straight games, including two against top-10 ranked teams, and outscored opponents by an average of 22.5. Over that stretch they have also gained 1,798 yards, scored 181 points, and have a +3 turnover margin. Much of that has to do with the continued success of the Huskie passing attack and
Anton Amundrud, who ranks first in the conference in yards per game (311) and second in completion percentage (63.5%).
The Saskatchewan defence has also been one of the best units in the conference as of late. Led by linebacker
Porter Hanson and defnsive backs
Ethan Laing and
Aidan Low, each of who rank among the top tacklers in Canada West, the Huskies have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (116.6) and are tied for the most takeaways (10) and sacks (9.0) in Canada West. This week, they will face off with an equally opportunistic Bisons unit who they are tied with in turnovers and sacks. The Manitoba defence is led by linebacker Dario Macchia who is putting together an early bid for Defensive Player of the Year with 32 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, two turnovers, and two forced fumbles.
Saskatchewan has been the dominant team head-to-head as of late despite the loss earlier this season, taking seven of the past ten meetings. Additionally, the Huskies currently have a 10-game home win streak going back three season and Manitoba has not won in Saskatoon since 2018.
GAME NOTES
WIN & IN: This weekend mark a milestone opportunity for the 2026 Huskies—win and secure a spot in the Hardy Cup playoffs. Thanks to a four-game win streak, which features key wins over Regina, Calgary, and UBC, Saskatchewan finds themselves as the first team in the conference with opportunity to punch their ticket to the postseason.
RESTED & REFRESHED: Canada West Football returns to action this weekend following the conference-wide bye week. In their most recent outting, the Huskies defeated the UBC Thunderbirds 34-24 at home in a game that featured momentum swings through all three phases of the game. The Bisons meanwhile earned an 18-3 win on the road against Alberta.
GET BACK GAME: For the Huskies, this Friday's contest offers the chance at redemption following a season-opening 22-40 loss in Winnipeg to the Bisons. The game saw a dysfunctional Saskatchewan team fall behind from the get-go, fumble three times, turn the ball over twice, and give up 311 yards o just 46 plays.
AIR RAID OFFENCE: Saskatchewan has produced one of the best passing offences in the nation this season. The Huskies rank third in yards per game with and trail only the Queen's Gaels and Montreal Carabins. The unit also ranks fifth in yards per attempt (10.0) and sixth in yards per completion (15.7).
BALL HAWKING BISONS: The Huskies will be going up against one of the best defensive units in the country at forcing opposing quarterbacks into interceptions. Manitoba ranks seventh in U SPORTS with seven picks this season, including one from the Week 1 meeting with the Huskies.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Anton Amundrud and Keaton Belsher each rank among the most productive in the nation at their respective positions through five games. Among U SPORTS quarterbacks, Amundrud ranks second in yards per game (311.0) and fifth in touchdowns (12) while Belsher ranks fifth in both yards per game (105.2) and yards per reception (19.2) in the nation.
APPROACHING SIXTY: Head Coach Scott Flory captured his 58th win on the sideline two weeks ago against UBC. Now in his 8th season, Flory is already the second-winningest head coach in program history trailing only Brian Towriss who retired with 196 victories. At the time it was the most by a Canadian University Football coach.
ON PACE FOR HISTORY: Fifth-year quarterback Anton Amundrud continues to near a pair of program records, with either able to fall any game between now and the end of the regular season.
57 MAJORS: With 52 career passing touchdowns, Amundrud sits tied with Mason Nyhus for third in program history. He needs just five to set a new program mark, as he trails Steve Bilan (55) and current record holder Brent Schneider (56).
8,295: Is how many yards would set a new program record for career passing yards, with the mark currently held by Brent Schneider. With 7,603 in his career to date, Amundrud needs just 692 to break the program record which has stood for 30 years.
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.
A BID FOR POY... AND HEC?: Through five games this season, Anton Amundrud has established himself as a clear contender for Canada West Player of the Year. He leads the conference with 311 yards per game, 12 touchdowns and is second with a 63.5 completion perentage. If he does take home the conference recognition, he would have a strong case for becoming the first Saskatchewan Hec Crighton winner since Dave Pickett in 1973. Nationally, he ranks second in yards per game, fifth in touchdowns, seventh in efficiency, and 12th in completion percentage with three games remaining.
AND FOR R.O.Y.: Similarily to his quarterback, freshman receiver Keaton Belsher is putting together a strong case together for Rookie of the Year. The Moose Jaw native ranks third in receptions (27), second in yards (526), first in yards per catch (19.5), and is tied for first in receiving touchdowns (4).
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.
