Stampeders Face Early Test Against Defending Champion Roughriders

CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders return to action Saturday looking for their first win of the 2026 CFL season, but a difficult challenge awaits as the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders visit McMahon Stadium.



Calgary enters Week 3 with an 0-1 record after dropping a 30-28 heartbreaker to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the final play of its season opener on June 5. Dedrick Mills powered the ground game with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Jalen Philpot hauled in five receptions for 96 yards, including a 51-yard gain. The Stampeders then had a Week 2 bye.



Saskatchewan, meanwhile, opened its season in Week 2 following a bye and defeated the BC Lions 31-27. Veteran quarterback Trevor Harris completed 30 of 36 passes and connected with Samuel Emilus for three touchdowns in the victory.



Despite the challenge posed by the defending champions, Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson made it clear his focus remains on Calgary's own performance.



"They've been winning a lot of football games and they have a very veteran explosive team, a tough team, well coached," Dickenson said after Thursday's practice. "We're at home. We want to play better than we did last time we were on this field. That's the main thing. Play better and hopefully the win takes care of itself."



The Stampeders also received encouraging signs on the injury front during the week's final full practice.



Defensive linemen Jaylon Hutchings and Folarin Orimolade were among several players pushing toward a return, with Dickenson noting that Thursday represented an important checkpoint.



"This was the final test, so certainly trending positively," he said. "Actually, the whole team. We had lots of guys that were close that I think were trending positively."



Receiver Clark Barnes, who missed Calgary's season opener, also continued to make progress.



"He had his best practice today," Dickenson said.



Saturday's matchup features two teams coming off very different openings to their seasons. Saskatchewan arrives with momentum after its win over BC, while Calgary is looking to build on the positives from a narrow loss that saw the Stampeders nearly erase a late deficit against Winnipeg.



Dickenson believes special teams could prove decisive.



"Special teams, I think, could be the difference here," he said. "I need our guys to play well."



While Saskatchewan enters the game as the league's reigning champion, recent history between the clubs has belonged to Calgary. The Stampeders swept the season series in 2025 by a combined score of 56-25 and have won 11 of the past 14 matchups dating back to 2019.



Saturday's contest will provide an early measuring stick for a Calgary team eager to turn a competitive opener into its first victory of the season.



Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT at McMahon Stadium.