CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders didn’t know if they were done for the year after their regular-season finale in the CFL. They avoided elimination from playoff contention with a 32-13 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions on Saturday, but will spend a few days in football limbo during a season-ending bye week awaiting the outcome of next Friday’s game between the Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-9) to know their fate. Calgary (9-9) needs the team they just beat to defeat the Blue Bombers, which would vault the Stampeders into the post-season picture. It’s an awkward head space for Stampeder coaches and players to be in as they have zero influence over their playoff chances now, and must depend on a divisional rival to do them a favour. “It’s a little awkward,” concurred Calgary’s quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “We could have helped ourselves out earlier in the year. You can’t go back on it. It is what it is. We’re just going to sit back and see what happens.” The Edmonton Elks (13-4) secured first in the West Division with Friday’s win over the Blue Bombers, which also allowed the Lions (10-7) to clinch second. The Elks will host the division final Nov. 7 with the victor advancing to the Grey Cup game in Calgary on Nov. 15. The Lions host the division semifinal Oct. 31 with their opponent still to be determined. The defending Grey Cup champion Roughriders (9-8) can finish no worse than fourth in the West after beating the Montreal Alouettes 16-12 earlier Saturday. Saskatchewan’s win meant Calgary had to beat the Lions to avoid elimination. The fourth seed will cross over to meet the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division semifinal. The third seed heads to Vancouver to face the Lions in the West semifinal. Calgary could conceivably finish third, fourth, or out-of-the-playoffs fifth in the division, but the Lions prevailing Friday is the key to the Stampeders continuing to play this season. The Blue Bombers went 2-1 against the Stampeders this season, and would thus finish higher in the event of a tie. “We know the West, it’s always tight and it’s a really good division man, really good teams,” Adams said. “It just sucks that so many close games we lost early on in the season that could have gone a different way, a play here and play there. Just can’t do anything about the past. “Hopefully some things shake our way.” Nine wins was enough to make the CFL’s playoff cutline for almost three decades until 2025, when 10-8 was the cutoff. The Stampeders in 2023 were a playoff team at 6-12. Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson says the bye week will resemble most, with a few days off before reconvening. “We’re going to keep working,” Dickenson stated. “We’ll just do a lot of individual stuff, drill work, compete periods, situational football. “We know we’re going to play, I believe, B.C. or Toronto, so we know it. We’ll keep working and lock in those two opponents. If we get our opportunity, let’s take advantage of it.” As the Lions began resting more of their starters in Saturday’s game — quarterback Nathan Rourke played just the first half — Calgary took over the game with Adams throwing his first touchdown pass of the game in the fourth quarter. The game was interrupted for a couple minutes early in the fourth quarter when a pair of rabbits ran amok on the McMahon Stadium turf. Kicker Rene Paredes intends to retire after a 15-year career, all with the Stampeders, and didn’t know if he’d played his last game in the red and white in a new scenario for the veteran. “I don’t think I’ve seen it in 15 years,” Paredes said. “We took care of our job. We got to nine and nine and all we can do is just wait until next week. Hopefully we have a shot at playoffs. This team could make a push. If it is my last game, I’m good with it.” The 41-year-old kicked field goals from 24, 22, 29 and 32 yards, but missed a 57-yard attempt Saturday. Quincy Vaughn scored a pair of short-yardage touchdowns and Ajou Ajou caught a touchdown pass for Calgary. Adams threw for 324 yards and was intercepted once. Rourke went 8-for-11 in passing for 149 yards and one touchdown pass in the first half. His backup Kaidon Salter went 6-for-14 in passing for 113 yards and one interception in the second half Justin McInnis caught a touchdown pass for B.C. Sean Whyte kicked field goals from 48 and 26, but missed from 46. Saturday’s kickoff was held under sun and a temperature of 16 C, but winds gusted to 53 kilometres per hour out of the west before diminishing during the game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026. Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
