SASKATOON, Sask. — The University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Calgary Dinos are set to add a 120th chapter to their Canada West rivalry this Friday when the two programs take the field at Griffiths Stadium for a Week 2 matchup. In addition to be a critical game between two teams with conference championship aspirations, Friday's contest will serve as the flagship home game for the Huskies in the 2026 edition of USask Homecoming.
Kick off is set for 7:00 PM at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park, however the Homecoming festivities start long before that at 5:00 PM with Co-op Rally Alley set to make its return for the 2026 season. Limited tickets remain, but fans can secure their seats at HuskieTickets.com. Those unable to make the game can catch it live on CanadaWest.tv and SaskTel max TV (channels 49/349) or listen at HuskieFAN.ca or on the HuskieFAN app.
Entering week 2, the Huskies are coming off a season-opening road loss to the Manitoba Bisons which saw turnovers and stalled drives plague the Dogs. Despite the loss, the Huskies still showed plenty of potential offensively, generating 490 yards of offence—the most of any Canada West team in Week 1. Saskatchewan also has the benefit of making their home debut in front of what is expected to be a near-capacity Griffiths Stadium crowd. As of late the Huskies seem to play their best when their home crowd is at its best, winning the previous five editions of USask Homecoming.
While just two seasons ago the Huskies outlasted the Dinos in a 44-40 double overtime thriller at homecoming, the visitors were also the last program to spoil the party, doing so in 2018.
Calgary also enters the weekend on a high, coming off a statement 32-7 home win over the UBC Thunderbirds. Ranked below the T-Birds at No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll, the Dinos cruised to a lopsided win thanks to strong performances from quarterback David Jordan, receiver Matt Sibley, and running back Mathieu Clarke. The Huskie defence will now be tasked with limiting that trio.
Also in the Huskies favour is that head coach
Scott Flory's group has made a habit of bouncing back from losses. Since 2018 the Dogs are 12-3 following a loss. They also more often than not, bounced back in a big way, earning an average margin of victory of 17 points following a loss. Huskie faithful in attendance Friday would gladly see that trend continue to play out.
GAME NOTES
THERES NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Huskies make their official return to Griffiths for their home debut and the 2026 edition of USask Homecoming. Saskatchewan has taken the win in front of their home crowd in each of the previous five editions of the flagship home game and has failed to drop a season opener since 2018.
VS THE DINOS: Since 2021 the Huskies are 7-2 against the Dinos, which includes a win in each of the previous three head-to-head meetings. Last season, Saskatchewan went on the road to hand the Dinos a 45-22 defeat in a game which saw the Dogs excel at all three phases of the contest. All-time, Calgary owns the advantage however with a 47-71-1 record and are also the last visiting team to win at USask homecoming, earning a 37-28 win in 2018.
BEEN HERE BEFORE: After falling 40-22 last week on the road in Manitoba, the Huskies find themselves with an 0-1 record for just the third time during head coach
Scott Flory's tenure. Each of those seasons saw the Huskies go on to to finish the campaign with a winning record.
DINOS OFF A W: Calgary opened the season with a statement 32-7 home victory of UBC last weekend. The win saw Dinos quarterback David Jordan throw for 221 yards and three touchdowns with 106 of those yards going to receiver Matt Sibley.
FINISHING THE KEY FOR SASK: Despite falling in their season opener, the Huskies gained the most yards of any team in the conference with 490 yards of total offence. It also marked the fifth-most of any team in the country through the opening two weeks of U SPORTS football.
TIME TO BOUNCE BACK: Since 2018, Saskatchewan is a remarkable 12-3 following a loss in the regular season. The program has also more often than not bounced back in a big way, earning an average margin of victory of 17 points over those 12 wins.
AMUNDRUD POISED FOR A BIG GAME?: Fifth-year pivot
Anton Amundrud has seen some his best career performances come when the crowd is at its best at Griffiths. In his first ever homecoming start against Regina in 2023, he threw for 391 yards and four touchdowns. Then, just last season, he torched UBC for 413 yards and connected with pass catchers for another four-touchdown performance.
AMUNDRUD APPROACHES A CAREER MILESTONE: The quarterback needs just 10 completions Friday night to reach 500 career complete passes in his green & white career. The milestone would see Amundrud become just the fifth USask quarterback to reach 500 as he continues to chase down the likes of Brent Schneider, Laurence Nixon, Doug Siemens, and Dre Burko in the program record book.
