SASKATOON, Sask. - The stage is officially set for the University of Saskatchewan Huskie Football team to defend their Hardy Cup title, with Canada West announcing the 2026 regular season and playoff schedule Wednesday morning (May 13).
The Huskies will begin the 102nd season of gridiron action in program history on Saturday, September 5 when they travel east to once again kick off the conference campaign against the Manitoba Bisons. The season-opener will mark te 15th Week 1 meeting between the two programs and third in the past four years. The 2025 campaign saw the two teams meet twice, with the Bisons handing the Dogs' their lone loss to a conference opponent in Week 3 before Saskatchewan avenged the loss on home turf in Week 8.
Friday, September 11 will then see the Huskies make their home debut at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park against the Calgary Dinos in the 120th regular season meeting between the two storied programs. With the contest also set to serve as the 2026 edition USask Homecoming, the Dogs will look to put on another show for fans after
torching the UBC Thunderbirds in a 51-14 win in 2025.
A week later, the Huskies will head back on the road and travel to Edmonton to take on the Alberta Golden Bears at Foote Field (Sept. 19). With a pair of wins over the Golden Bears a year ago, Saskatchewan pulled ahead in the all-time series, now owning an 88-86-2 record dating back to 1922.
Week 4 features what is arguably the most highly anticipated rematch of the season, with Saskatchewan and the Regina Rams set to add another chapter to their provincial rivalry. The two rivals have met five times over the past two seasons with each contest being decided by no more than five points. Among those five meetings is two Hardy Cup title games which has seen each program claim a conference championship.
The Green & White will then return home for Week 5, with the UBC Thunderbirds beginning a stretch of three consecutive home games for the Huskies. Saturday, October 3 will see the T-Birds take part in the grand finale of the second annual Football Day in Saskatoon, a marquee celebration of the sport, bringing together fans from across the region for a day of games, activities, and community. The contest will mark another milestone between rivals, with USask and UBC set to clash in the 130th head-to-head meeting.
Returning from the bye week, the Dogs will then host the Manitoba Bisons (Oct. 16) and Alberta Golden Bears (Oct. 23) as the conference hits the home stretch of the regular season.
Saturday, October 31 will then mark the final regular season action for Saskatchewan, who will make the trip to British Columbia for a rematch with the Thunderbirds.
For the top four teams in the conference, the playoffs will begin on November 7, leading the way to the 89th BioSteel Hardy Cup set for Saturday, November 14. This year's conference champion will take on the Dussault Cup winner and the champion of the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) conference in the 2026 Uteck Bowl (Nov. 21). The U SPORTS Football season then culminates in Quebec City and Telus Stadium with the 61st Vanier Cup (Nov. 28).
Prior to the regular season on Friday, August 27, the Saskatchewan Huskies will once again host exhibition action when the Alberta Golden Bears visit Saskatoon for both program's first taste of competition.
Be there for every moment of the 2026 season with Huskie Football season tickets, available now at
HuskieTickets.com.
2026 HUSKIE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
EXHIBITION
- Friday, August 27 vs Alberta Golden Bears - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park
WEEK 1
- Saturday, September 4 at Manitoba Bisons - 2:00 PM CDT - Princess Auto Stadium - Winnipeg, Man.
WEEK 2
- Friday, September 11 vs Calgary Dinos - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park *HOMECOMING*
WEEK 3
- Saturday, September 19 at Alberta Golden Bears - 6:30 MDT - Foote Field - Edmonton, Alta.
WEEK 4
- Saturday, September 26 at Regina Rams - 2:00 PM CST - Mosaic Stadium - Regina, Sask. *U-PRAIRIE CHALLENGE*
WEEK 5
- Saturday, October 3 vs UBC Thunderbirds - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park *FOOTBALL DAY IN SASKATOON*
WEEK 6 - BYE WEEK
WEEK 7
- Friday, October 16 vs Manitoba Bisons - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park *TRUTH & RECONCILIATION GAME*
WEEK 8
- Friday, October 23 vs Alberta Golden Bears - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park *LIGHT OUT / SENIOR NIGHT*
WEEK 9
- Friday, October 30 at UBC Thunderbirds - 6:00 PM PDT - Thunderbird Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.
2026 CANADA WEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
*dates & times subject to change, all times local
WEEK 1
- Friday, September 4 - UBC Thunderbirds at Calgary Dinos - 5:30 PM MDT - McMahon Stadium
- Friday, September 4 - Regina Rams at Alberta Golden Bears - 6:30 PM MDT - Foote Field
- Saturday, September 5 - Saskatchewan Huskies at Manitoba Bisons - 2:00 PM CDT - Princess Auto Stadium
WEEK 2
- Friday, September 11 - Alberta Golden Bears at UBC Thunderbirds - 6:00 PM PDT - Thunderbird Stadium
- Friday, September 11 - Manitoba Bisons at Regina Rams - 7:00 PM CST - Mosaic Stadium
- Friday, September 11 - Calgary Dinos at Saskatchewan Huskies - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium
WEEK 3
- Friday, September 18 - Regina Rams at UBC Thunderbirds - 6:00 PM PDT - Thunderbird Stadium
- Friday, September 18 - Saskatchewan Huskies at Alberta Golden Bears - 6:30 PM MDT - Foote Field
- Saturday, September 19 - Calgary Dinos at Manitoba Bisons - 2:00 PM CDT - Princess Auto Stadium
WEEK 4
- Friday, September 25 - Alberta Golden Bears at Calgary Dinos - 7:00 PM MDT - McMahon Stadium
- Saturday, September 26 - Saskatchewan Huskies at Regina Rams - 2:00 PM CST - Mosaic Stadium
- Saturday, September 26 - UBC Thunderbirds at Manitoba Bisons - 5:00 PM CDT - Princess Auto Stadium
WEEK 5
- Friday, October 2 - Manitoba Bisons at Alberta Golden Bears - 6:30 PM MDT - Foote Field
- Saturday, October 3 - Regina Rams at Calgary Dinos - 1:00 PM MDT - McMahon Stadium
- Saturday, October 3 - UBC Thunderbirds at Saskatchewan Huskies - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium
WEEK 6 - BYE WEEK
WEEK 7
- Thursday, October 15 - Alberta Golden Bears at Regina Rams - 7:00 PM CST - Mosaic Stadium
- Friday, October 16 - Calgary Dinos at UBC Thunderbirds - 6:00 PM PDT - Thunderbird Stadium
- Friday, October 16 - Manitoba Bisons at Saskatchewan Huskies - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium
WEEK 8
- Friday, October 23 - UBC Thunderbirds at Regina Rams - 7:00 PM CST - Mosaic Stadium
- Friday, October 23 - Alberta Golden Bears at Saskatchewan Huskies - 7:00 PM CST - Griffiths Stadium
- Saturday, October 24 - Manitoba Bisons at Calgary Dinos - 1:00 PM MDT - McMahon Stadium
WEEK 9
- Friday, October 30 - Saskatchewan Huskies at UBC Thunderbirds - 6:00 PM PDT - Thunderbird Stadium
- Saturday, October 31 - Regina Rams at Manitoba Bisons - 2:00 PM CDT - Princess Auto Stadium
- Saturday, October 31 - Calgary Dinos at Alberta Golden Bears - 2:00 PM MDT - Foote Field
WEEK 10 - HARDY CUP SEMIFINALS
- Saturday, November 7 - No. 4 at No. 1 & No. 3 at No. 2
WEEK 11 - 89th BIOSTEEL HARDY CUP
- Saturday, November 14 - Semifinal Winners
WEEK 12 - UTECK BOWL
- Saturday, November 21 - Canada West Champion at RSEQ Champion
WEEK 13 - 61st VANIER CUP
- Saturday, November 28 - Mitchell Bowl Champion vs Uteck Bowl Champion - Telus Stadium - Quebec City, Que.
