Ottawa Football Fans, Your Season Has Begun
Ottawa RedBlacks fans have reason to get excited this weekend — the CFL preseason has officially arrived, and the league's first exhibition action is already delivering highlights worth watching.
The Toronto Argonauts opened exhibition play on Saturday with a 20–10 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in what was the first CFL preseason game for both clubs. Wide receiver Sam Hicks was the story of the night, hauling in two touchdown catches to give the defending Argos an early look at what they'll bring into the regular season.
Why Ottawa Fans Should Be Paying Attention
Preseason games around the league aren't just for Toronto and Hamilton fans — they're a signal that the full CFL schedule is almost here, and that means RedBlacks football is right around the corner.
For Ottawa supporters, exhibition time is always interesting to watch across the league. Rosters are still being finalized, young players are fighting for spots, and coaching staffs are installing their systems. The performances you see in Week 1 of the preseason can ripple all the way to the Grey Cup.
Hicks' two-touchdown night for Toronto is a reminder of how quickly the CFL can produce breakout performances — and Ottawa fans know better than most how one big game can change a player's trajectory.
Sam Hicks and the Argonauts Early Momentum
Hicks' showing was the highlight in a game where neither offence was particularly dominant. The final score of 20–10 reflects the typical preseason rhythm — conservative play-calling, heavy rotation, and a focus on player evaluation over wins.
But a two-touchdown performance in any setting turns heads, and Hicks gave the Argonauts something to build on heading into the regular season.
The CFL Regular Season Is Almost Here
For Ottawa-area fans making travel plans or looking to catch games on the road this summer, the Argonauts and Tiger-Cats are two of the RedBlacks' division rivals — so how these teams perform in the preseason offers useful context for what Ottawa will face when the standings start to matter.
The RedBlacks faithful have had plenty of reasons for optimism heading into this year, and with exhibition play now underway league-wide, the wait for meaningful CFL football is almost over.
Keep an eye on the schedule — Ottawa's preseason slate is coming up fast, and if this weekend's action is any indication, the 2025 CFL season is going to be worth watching from kickoff to the Grey Cup.
Source: Global News Ottawa
