SASKATOON, Sask. — This Friday (Oct. 23) Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park will feature a matchup between the conference's top-ranked and last-place programs squaring off as the Canada West-leading and U SPORTS No. 3-ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies host the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
After the Huskies blew the doors of the Bears earlier this season, the home team will be looking for a similar result as they continue their bid for No. 1-seed and home field advantage in the Hardy Cup playoffs.
Kickoff between the Dogs and Bears is set for 7:00 PM. Tickets are available at HuskieTickets.com, with fans also having the option to watch live on SaskTel maxTV or CanadaWest.tv, or listen live at HuskieFAN.ca or the HuskieFAN app.
The last time these two teams met, it was as lopsided an affair as the Canada West season has featured. On the road in Edmonton, the Huskies laid a beat down on the Golden Bears the likes of which the program hasn't seen in years as they outscored their opponents 65-12. The contest marked the first time of the year Saskatchewan eclipsed 500 yards of offence and saw quarterback
Anton Amundrud throw for the second-most touchdowns in a game in program history with six majors.
Amundrud and the nation's top-ranked passing attack will look to once again take advantage of a less than stellar defence as the fifth-year pivot approaches a pair of program records. Trailing former Vanier Cup-winning Huskie pivot Brent Schneider, Amundrud has the opportunity to set new program marks in both career passing yards and touchdowns, needing just 123 yards and three touchdowns to do so. Averaging 377.3 yards per game through the air as a team and 341 individually, one would think that it well within reach for the veteran field general.
Also looking to take advantage of a struggling defence will be the Huskies three headed monster at running back.
Kayden Miller,
Javin Boynton, and
Aulain Penner are each hovering around the 200-yard mark on the season and have combined for 10 of a Canada West-high 11 rushing scores for Saskatchewan.
Defensively, the Huskies are continuing to be one of the most determined units in the nation. Led by a talented secondary featuring the likes of
Ethan Laing,
Aidan Low,
Sam Pratt,
Nathan Casimir, and
Taz Smith-Windsor, Saskatchewan has not allowed a 220+ yard passer in three weeks. Over than same stretch the unit has allowed a 62% completion percentage and held opponents to an average of just 10 passing first downs.
The Huskie front is also coming off one of its best games of the season. Last week against Manitoba, Saskatchewan held the Bisons to just 79 yards on the ground and 3.4 yards per carry.
Friday night's contest should prove to be another productive one for the Huskies, who take the field with the chance to, at a minimum, continue their bid for the No. 1-seed in the playoffs and, at best, secure home field advantage.
GAME NOTES
PATH TO NO. 1: The Huskies continue to control their own destiny when it comes to home field advantage and the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Hardy Cup playoffs as the team leads the conference with a 5-1 record. Saskatchewan can clinch the top spot in the postseason this week with a win and a UBC loss to Regina. If the T-Birds come out on top however, it will set up a Week 8 meeting in Vancouver for all the marbles.
HERDING THE BISONS: Saskatchewan earned their fifth-consecutive win last week in the form of a 39-20 defeat of the Manitoba Bisons. Despite just 19 points separating the two teams, the Huskies dominated the contest from a production standpoint, generating 604 yards of offence—including 491 through the air. Manitoba was held to just 255 yards whiel completing just 14 passes and rushing for 3.4 yards per carry.
BACK IN SASK: Week 7 will mark back-to-back trips to Saskatchewan for the Golden Bears, who are coming off a 43-17 loss to Regina in the Queen City last Thursday. The story of the game was a Rams rushing attack which produced 317 yards on the ground and a defence which held the Bears to just 120 second-half yards.
LAST TIME ON SSKvsALB: Week 3 of the season saw the Huskies roll to a 65-12 victory in Edmonton. The contest featured 512 yards of offence, eight touchdowns, two blocked kicks, and two interceptions from the Dogs in their most lopsided win of the 2026 season.
BEST OF THE BEST THROUGH THE AIR: Through six games this season, Saskatchewan is the gold standard among passing offences. The Huskies rank first in the nation averaging 377.3 yards per game, fourth in yards per attempt (10.2) and sixth with 16 passing touchdowns.
BASEMENT DWELLERS: The Golden Bears this ranked among the nation's worst teams defensively, surrendering 40.5 points per game (3rd-most) and 447.0 yards per game (8th-most), which includes 225.0 on the ground (2nd-most). Offensively Alberta has produced just 15.3 points and 360.3 yards per game, both among the bottom 10 in U SPORTS.
TRIPLE THREAT TIMES TWO: The Huskie offence is sporting a pair of triple-threats, both in the backfield and lined up out wide. The pass-catching trio of
Keaton Belsher,
Rhett Vavra, and
Dawson Lennea all rank among the top-5 in Canada West receiving yards averaging 101.7, 72.3, and 64.0 per game. Belsher and Lennea also rank among the best in the redzone with five and four touchdowns respectively. In the backfield, the triple headed monster of
Aulain Penner,
Kayden Miller, and
Javin Boynton are all around the 200-yard mark on the season and have combined for 12 total touchdowns (10 rush, 2 rec) on the season.
ON PACE FOR HISTORY: Fifth-year quarterback
Anton Amundrud enters Friday with the chance to break two 30-year-old program records, both currently held by former Huskie pivot Brent Schneider.
57 MAJORS: With 54 career passing touchdowns, Amundrud trails only Steve Bilan (55) and current record holder Brent Schneider (56). In week 3 against Alberta, Amundrud threw for six majors.
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 8,172 in his career to date, Amundrud needs just 123 to break the program record.
TIED AT NO. 4: Fifth-year receiver
Rhett Vavra also continues to improve his place in the record books. The pass catcher moved into a tie for fourth-place last Friday with his 17th career receiving touchdown.
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 341 yards per game, 15 touchdowns and a 67.7 completion percentage. 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, fourth in touchdowns, third in completion percentage, and fifth in passing efficiency (172.8).
AND FOR R.O.Y.: Similarly 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 (34), second in yards (610), first in yards per catch (17.9), and first in receiving touchdowns (5).
The last Huskie receiver to take home Rookie of the Year honours was slot back Scott McHenry in 2005.
APPROACHING SIXTY: Head Coach
Scott Flory captured his 59th win on the sideline last week against Manitoba. 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.
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.
