Ottawa is no stranger to tough football seasons, but the 2026 campaign has tested the Redblacks like never before. The team has now lost 15 consecutive games, a franchise record, and sits winless as the CFL regular season crosses its halfway point. Still, players speaking with CBC Ottawa's Emma Weller say the mood inside the locker room is far from defeated.
A Rough Road So Far
For a city that's rallied around the Redblacks since the team's 2014 expansion debut — including a Grey Cup run just two years later — this stretch has been a hard one to watch. Fifteen straight losses is the kind of number that would sink morale on most teams, but multiple players told CBC they're choosing to focus on effort and improvement rather than the standings.
That resilience matters for a fanbase that packs TD Place on game days and has stuck by the Redblacks through thin seasons before. Ottawa sports culture has long punched above its weight for a mid-sized market — the Senators, the 67's, and now the Redblacks all draw a loyal, vocal following that shows up regardless of the scoreboard.
Why the Locker Room Says It's Staying Positive
According to players interviewed for the CBC segment, the approach heading into the back half of the schedule is about controlling what they can: practice habits, in-game execution, and building chemistry that could pay off even if this season's win column stays empty. That's a common refrain in professional sports when a team is mathematically out of playoff contention early — shift the goalposts from wins to development.
For Ottawa, that development matters beyond this season. A young or retooling Redblacks roster that grows through adversity in 2026 could be the foundation for a turnaround next year. CFL history is full of teams that bottomed out before rebuilding into contenders, and Redblacks players seem intent on writing that kind of story rather than accepting a lost season as just a lost season.
What It Means for Ottawa Fans
For Ottawa football fans, the second half of the season is now less about playoff hopes — those are almost certainly gone — and more about watching for signs of progress: tighter special teams, a more consistent offensive line, or a defence that starts forcing turnovers instead of surrendering big plays. Home games at TD Place remain a fixture of the city's fall sports calendar regardless of the record, and diehards are expected to keep showing up in Redblacks red and black.
The team's next stretch of games will be watched closely by fans hoping to see any spark that suggests brighter days are ahead, even if a win doesn't come immediately. In a city that has weathered losing seasons across multiple pro franchises, patience remains part of the deal — but so does hope.
Source: CBC Ottawa
