Ottawa football is back — and the 2026 CFL season gets underway Thursday with every team, including the Ottawa RedBlacks, hungry to hoist the Grey Cup.
The Canadian Football League's new season opens with nine franchises in contention, but the big question is whether the Saskatchewan Roughriders can defend their championship or if one of the other clubs will dethrone them. For RedBlacks fans in the nation's capital, there's cautious optimism in the air.
A Fresh Start for the RedBlacks
Every season brings renewed hope, and 2026 is no exception for Ottawa's CFL squad. The RedBlacks have been building steadily, and this year's opening gives them a chance to prove they belong in the conversation with the league's elite. TD Place at Lansdowne Park will once again be the gathering spot for the city's passionate football community, with fans ready to pack the stands and cheer their team deep into the fall.
Ottawa has had its share of heartbreak and triumph in recent CFL history — the club's back-to-back Grey Cup appearances in the mid-2010s remain a touchstone for the franchise. Getting back to that level is the ambition that drives the organization every spring.
The Path to the Grey Cup
Saskatchewan's title defence will be no cakewalk. Across the East and West divisions, teams have spent the off-season retooling rosters, signing free agents, and refining playbooks. The RedBlacks will need to be sharp from the opening whistle if they want to emerge from a competitive East Division.
Key storylines to follow as the season unfolds:
- Quarterback play — field general performance separates contenders from pretenders in the CFL's wide-open game
- Offensive line depth — protection up front dictates whether Ottawa's offence can sustain drives against pressure-heavy defences
- Special teams execution — field position battles are often decided by punts and kick returns, and the RedBlacks know it
Why Ottawa Should Be Watching
For a city that loves its sports teams fiercely — from the Senators to the PWHL's Ottawa team and the 67s — the RedBlacks give the capital a summer-to-fall reason to gather, tailgate, and believe. CFL football has a rhythm that matches the Ottawa calendar perfectly: the season builds through the summer, reaches its peak as the leaves turn on the Rideau, and delivers championship drama right before hockey season hits full stride.
Thursday's league-wide opener is the starting pistol for what could be a memorable run. Whether it ends with a parade down Elgin Street or more motivation for next year, Ottawa fans will be watching every snap.
The Grey Cup is up for grabs. The RedBlacks want it. Let's play ball.
Source: Ottawa Citizen — Grey Cup up for grabs as 2026 CFL season begins Thursday
