Fresh off their instant classic in Regina last week, the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders will meet again when they square off Saturday at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium (5 p.m. MST).
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Catch the action live on TSN, 880 CHED and CFL+
This rematch of the teams with the top two winning percentages in the CFL West Division comes only nine days after the Elks defeated the Roughriders 36-34 at Mosaic Stadium to take sole possession atop the standings. Edmonton is currently 6-1, while the defending Grey Cup champion Roughriders are 4-2.
ANOTHER CLASSIC IN THE MAKING
Edmonton’s victory at Mosaic Stadium on July 23 was one of the most memorable tilts between these two prairie rivals that have been battling each other for decades. Neither team trailed by more than seven points, Edmonton led four times, Saskatchewan led three times, and the score was tied four times. There was a “last possession wins” feel to the game all night long, and that’s exactly how things turned out, with Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard booting the go-ahead field goal as time expired.
While both teams possess both explosive offences and stout defences, it was the former that prevailed when last week’s contest turned into an all-out shootout. Now that the Elks and Roughriders have had several days to go back in the lab, it’s anyone guess what kind of a game will unfold on Play Alberta Field.
We’re rolling into Saturday with Purolator Tackle Hunger. 🍽️
Drop non‑perishables and cash at Gates 2, 6, 9, 13, or tailgate – and swing by Gate 2 for a Grey Cup photo flex!#GoElks | @PurolatorInc pic.twitter.com/i0b5yPKIYi
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) July 30, 2026
“Every game looks different every week,” Elks coach Mark Kilam said. “They’re a good football team. You have to play 60 minutes to beat a team like that. We knew that going in. We expect more of the same this week. We’ve got some wrinkles, we know they’ll have some wrinkles. We try to improve on the things we didn’t do well, and I’m sure they’re doing the same and we’ll see what it looks like on Saturday.”
ELKS’ EVOLVING OFFENCE
As the 2026 CFL season nears its midpoint, the Elks are rounding into an offensive juggernaut capable of producing points in any number of ways. Over its first three games, six of Edmonton’s nine touchdowns were scored via rush. In the four games since, the Green and Gold has scored 10 of its 12 majors via pass.
Edmonton began the season relying heavily on its ground game for offence, with Justin Rankin running amok, recording more than 100 rushing yards and at least one rushing touchdown in four of Edmonton’s first games. More recently, quarterback Cody Fajardo has led an aerial assault, throwing for at least 340 yards in three of the Elks’ last four contests.
Last week, Fajardo set a career high with 510 passing yards, after completing 25 of 32 passes including four for touchdowns, while Elks receiver Austin Mack had his best performance in Green and Gold, making four catches for 173 yards with a pair of touchdown receptions.
“That’s what’s great about our team, we have a lot of threats,” said Mack. “It started off this year with handing the ball off to our MOP candidate, (Rankin), and now you’re starting to see a lot of defences honing in on that. As a receiver now, that’s just going to give more for us, and (Fajardo) is playing the best he’s played in a long time; he’s playing lights out right now. We’ve just got to keep that confidence for him and if he keeps getting clean looks like he’s getting, I’m feeling great about where we’re at.”
DEFENCE READY FOR ‘RIDERS
Edmonton is allowing a league-low 24.6 points per game this season, thanks largely to the play of its defence, which deserves great credit for the team’s 6-1 start. The Elks currently rank first in the CFL in fewest yards allowed per play (6.57), lowest opponent passing efficiency (88.0), lowest opponent touchdown rate (17.8%), while leading the league in both interceptions made (11) and fumbles recovered (8).
With all that said, last week at Mosaic Stadium wasn’t one of the EE defence’s stronger outings, as Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris passed for 386 yards with four touchdowns. But after going toe-to-toe with the explosive Roughriders in Regina, the Elks’ defence can draw on that experience for the rematch.
“We’ve got fine details that we can correct and we will correct,” says Edmonton defensive lineman Malik Carney. “Obviously they’ve got a good group of guys over these offensively, and I know we got a great group of guys defensively, so it’s going to be another battle again come Saturday, but I’m more believing in my guys for sure that we’ll be able to correct those fine details and get a cleaner win.”
COMMONWEALTH WILL BE ROCKING
One of the biggest crowds for a Green and Gold home game in years is expected at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, as the Elks have opened the upper bowl to the general public for the first time since 2023.
Edmonton has a 3-0 home record in the 2026 CFL season, having defeated the BC Lions 19-17 in its most recent game at Commonwealth Stadium, on July 17.
“We want to honour the fans with the style of football that we play, and I think we’ve done that” Kilam said. “Looking up in the stands at our last home game, that was a pretty good crowd. Obviously we expect a little bit bigger this week, but it’s going to be a great night for football, it’s going to be two really good football teams going at it and hopefully we can put on a show.”
Going back to the 2025 CFL season, the Elks have won seven of their last eight games at Commonwealth Stadium, including a 27-25 victory over the Roughriders last September.