almost everyone makes the playoffs...
may long regular season starts - direct competition with nhl playoffs
i like the new playoff format
TORONTO — The Canadian Football League (CFL) has finalized updates to the season schedule and reached an agreement with the CFL Players' Association (CFLPA) on a refreshed playoff format beginning in 2027.
The season will shift to begin Victoria Day Weekend, anchoring the start of each new CFL campaign with an iconic Canadian holiday and the unofficial start of summer. From May to Thanksgiving, long weekends will serve as defining moments in the regular season, creating new tentpole CFL traditions in addition to the league's legendary Labour Day Weekend games. The new start to the season also means the postseason will conclude earlier in the fall, taking full advantage of warmer weather for fans in attendance and providing prime playing conditions for CFL stars to showcase their skills.
"All summer long, the CFL will be front and centre – exactly where it belongs. We're establishing CFL Long Weekends, from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, to create can't-miss events for fans in the stadium and those watching at home," said Commissioner Stewart Johnston.
The roar of the season reaches a crescendo with a major update to the postseason. Four additional playoff games amp up late-season intrigue as teams battle for all-important playoff positioning. Finishing Top-2 in the divisions guarantees at least two playoff games. Postseason re-seeding – regardless of division – and two victories being required to advance to the championship introduces the possibility of postseason rematches, and new playoff and Grey Cup clashes.
"More games. More drama. More entertainment. That was the mission and that's exactly what this format will deliver," added the Commissioner. "We're raising the stakes so every game carries real consequences – more teams in the hunt, right to the end."
The league worked closely with the CFLPA to integrate the new structure into the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"This proposal sparked important and productive discussions, with a clear focus on ensuring our members benefit from any changes," said CFLPA Executive Director David Mackie. "It represents a meaningful step forward that supports both player compensation and the continued growth and excitement of the league, while reinforcing a framework where players share in that growth."
2027 KEY DATES
CFL Invitational Combine | February 26
CFL Combine presented by Anytime Fitness | Week of March 15
CFL Canadian Draft | April 13
CFL Global Draft | April 14
Rookie Camp Opens | April 21
Training Camp Opens | April 24
Week 1 | Victoria Day Weekend
Week 6 | Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day/Fête nationale du Québec (Que.)
Week 7 | Canada Day Weekend
Week 11 | August Long Weekend (Civic Holiday)
Week 16 | Labour Day Weekend
Week 21 | Thanksgiving Weekend
Playoffs
Round One – Division Showdowns and Play-In Games | October 15-16
Round Two – Elimination Games | October 23
Round Three – Grey Cup Semi-Finals | October 30
114th Grey Cup – November 7
NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT
ROUND ONE – TWO DIVISION SHOWDOWNS AND TWO PLAY-IN GAMES
Division Showdown: The first- and second-place teams in each division face off. Winners earn a bye to Round Three (Grey Cup Semi-Finals) with home-field advantage; losers move on to Round Two (Elimination Games).
Play-In Games: Teams finishing outside the Top-2 in each division are seeded Nos. 5-8, with No. 9 eliminated from playoff contention. The Play-In Games will see No. 5 host No. 8, and No. 6 host No. 7. Winnersadvance to Round Two, while losers are eliminated.
ROUND TWO – ELIMINATION GAMES
Division Showdown losers host Play-In Game winners with matchups based on regular-season records. Winners advance to Round Three (Grey Cup Semi-Finals) and losers are eliminated.
ROUND THREE – GREY CUP SEMI-FINALS
Division Showdown winners host Elimination Game winners with matchups based on regular-season record. Victors advance to the Grey Cup.
wow.
wow.
Some initial thoughts (not exhaustive since this will take some time to digest):
- While it's a little comical that 8/9 teams make the playoffs, it was already viewed as that way anyway so nbd.
- The new format has some elements that make a lot of sense. But wow is it ever gimmicky. Some will view that as a feature, others as a bug
- Strikes a compromise of maintaining divisional rivalries but also seeding fairly so a weak east doesn't get any help
- I'm ok with May Long being the season kick-off but it'll take some getting used to.
- At the same time, the main reason moving the season up was popular was the get the season done before November. We add a playoff week so we're still finishing after Halloween every year.
- Playing the GC in November is great with me as that's a core tradition to me, but the CFL season is now 25 weeks. I wish they could eliminate 1-2 byes (I've always found it insane that we have 3 byes - understanding the issue of having an odd # of teams)
I guess that's all for now but I'm going to think about this more.
Not sure I like the changes. I'd rather have the semi and finals be 2 game series. Oh well, we'll see how it goes.
My initial reactions are mostly positive. I can accept the compromise between keeping the divisional structure and trying to make the play-off matches more fair. The new format means you have to win more than one game to reach the Grey Cup, which was always a little lame - but with only 6 teams, it was all you could do. The trade off to making the path more challenging was to add more teams.
That said, the East vs West Grey Cup is not necessarily in the cards anymore. The regular season becomes almost meaningless for half the league. Another massive change before even seeing the first wave of massive changes (or even seeing the exact language of new rules announced months ago) is setting themselves up for more criticism. The move up in schedule will be well received by many, but creates some challenges (the draft coming prior to the NFL's for one).
They might want to slow their roll on some things. Such massive changes are probably going to require trouble-shooting as new issues arise and they're not going to have the capacity to handle so many different things at once.
some really bad teams will be making the playoffs. some will say that is happening now though.
Can't say they aren't trying new things to generate interest ...and while not everything will be a home run they are swinging that is for sure.
can always tweak things if they become a disaster
Might be hard for teams to sell playoff tickets if they only know a week in advance if they're hosting or on the road.
Wait and see how this plays out, I don't think East vs. West format is necessary any longer, I'd rather see the 2 best teams compete for the Grey Cup.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 28, 2026, 07:19:07 PMMight be hard for teams to sell playoff tickets if they only know a week in advance if they're hosting or on the road.
Wait and see how this plays out, I don't think East vs. West format is necessary any longer, I'd rather see the 2 best teams compete for the Grey Cup.
So will the Bombers include 2 playoff games as part of their season ticket package?
I do like the possibility of going to 2 home playoff games.
What's the point of even playing 18 games in the regular season, if playoffs are pretty much guaranteed?
Moving the schedule up to May Long, and ruining the November playoff/Grey Cup tradition is yet another bad move.
What's the incentive to play well during the season? Last year all the western teams would have made the grade, Ottawa would have been the odd team out.
Definitely hear ya on the regular season result's importance being severely diminished. And it's not like the NHL where you can have y/z v WC2 and have 7 games to sort out who's best statistically - in football it's any given Sunday and to give the worse teams a chance to knock out much better teams in a single game on a regular basis is problematic.
Real mixed bag here.
Quote from: Blue In BC on April 28, 2026, 07:33:41 PMWhat's the incentive to play well during the season? Last year all the western teams would have made the grade, Ottawa would have been the odd team out.
Well, you certainly want to be in the top 2 in your division. Generally, that will keep things competitive for most of the season until the possibility is mathematically eliminated. After that, it's a scramble to not be last for the bottom teams, which is a nice incentive not to tank.
(https://y.yarn.co/ada2b678-9a24-41b1-9a5c-4f68828eb05a_text.gif)
That's basically my reaction.
May Long Weekend kicking off the 2027 season will be interesting considering how finnicky the weather can be that time of year.
The new playoff format seems to make the season redundant, but I'll reserve judgement until we see how it actually plays out.
It could make for a very different looking CFL come next year.
And here's the official link for anyone interested: Coming in '27 (https://www.cfl.ca/2026/04/28/coming-in-27-a-cfl-season-built-for-summer-long-weekends-cfl-and-cflpa-champion-a-new-era-of-playoff-football/)
I like the changes generally but this IS way to much to fast.
But mistakes will be made and it will be interesting to see which teams pay the biggest prices?
I fear the league will basically alienate near everyone except the real die hards while the normies will care less.
Quote from: Jesse on April 28, 2026, 08:28:09 PMWell, you certainly want to be in the top 2 in your division. Generally, that will keep things competitive for most of the season until the possibility is mathematically eliminated. After that, it's a scramble to not be last for the bottom teams, which is a nice incentive not to tank.
this make sense. I like this angle.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on April 28, 2026, 08:29:27 PM(https://y.yarn.co/ada2b678-9a24-41b1-9a5c-4f68828eb05a_text.gif)
That's basically my reaction.
May Long Weekend kicking off the 2027 season will be interesting considering how finnicky the weather can be that time of year.
The new playoff format seems to make the season redundant, but I'll reserve judgement until we see how it actually plays out.
It could make for a very different looking CFL come next year.
And here's the official link for anyone interested: Coming in '27 (https://www.cfl.ca/2026/04/28/coming-in-27-a-cfl-season-built-for-summer-long-weekends-cfl-and-cflpa-champion-a-new-era-of-playoff-football/)
May long weather in recent years is a disaster in Southern Manitoba. We pity our neighbours who start camping that weekend each year. :D
Wow is right. Wow as in incredibly dumb. Still, never underestimate the stupidity of the BOG who saw dollar signs when this suggestion was floated out there. What's obviously a play to gain more gate revenue and a larger tv contract with 4 more games during the season may not result in significantly more revenue as some might believe as the regular season will soon be irrelevant.
Teams hosting 2 home playoff games will face an increasing likelihood of one or both of those games selling rather poorly and this may result in minimal or zero profits for that specific game. Remember there are costs with operating the stadium on game days and additional costs for the players for those additional games.
Overall, league attendance may increase slightly for the league thanks to the additional 4 playoff games, but overall league profits (or rather losses since most teams lose a few million to several million per year) will likely see minimal, if any improvements, since per game average attendance will likely remain the same or even decline...you know...because the regular season games will be mostly meaningless.
To my knowledge, never in the history of pro sports has a league had 90% of its respective teams qualify for the playoffs. I think this is bush league and just shows how desperate the BOG is at this point. Throwing stuff at the wall and see what sticks - see also the rule changes.
I'm surprised there isn't more push back on the playoff format. It's really that 8 of the 9 teams makes the playoffs. If there were 12 teams in the league, I'd be okay with it.
Season starting earlier is great.
Next step one division. Let's go. Keep them coming.
Quote from: peg_city on April 28, 2026, 09:08:17 PMI'm surprised there isn't more push back on the playoff format.
Season starting earlier is great.
At this point, they should just change the name of the CFL, to the TFL (Toronto Football League), since all the decisions involving the CFL are made with executives in a boardroom in Toronto, all the rabid fans in CFL strongholds like Winnipeg and Regina be damned.
9 team league and only 8 teams make the playoffs.
Quote from: Pigskin on April 28, 2026, 09:19:01 PM9 team league and only 8 teams make the playoffs.
Never go full Ottawa.
I would be okay with one division.
Not that I want to stir the pot, okay kinda, but can someone point the differences between this format and the NFLs for me...
... ;D
I think they borrowed the play in idea from the NBA, the idea being that more teams are playing relevant games late in the season and are not eliminated from the playoffs. The problem is that with 8 teams makings it, if you have one terrible team (which we usually do), the other 8 teams will be guaranteed a playoff spot pretty early in the season. Games are still meaningful in a way though, since you are trying for a top 2 spot and also for home field advantage. A lot to digest... I think the word to describe how I feel is discombobulated.
Is it April 1st again? Making it ok to not win... Just lose baby. until November, then turn it on.
Edit: make that Oct 15. Duane Ford will still be finishing the turkey.
The CFL will be unrecognizable by next year.
Quote from: Pigskin on April 28, 2026, 09:19:01 PM9 team league and only 8 teams make the playoffs.
I think they dropped the ball on messaging here. With the "play/in" round, I think the idea was that 4 teams make the playoffs and that 4 additional teams have an opportunity to earn their way in.
But the 8 out of 9 teams making it in has taken on a life if its own on socials.
Quote from: Jesse on April 28, 2026, 10:34:23 PMI think they dropped the ball on messaging here. With the "play/in" round, I think the idea was that 4 teams make the playoffs and that 4 additional teams have an opportunity to earn their way in.
But the 8 out of 9 teams making it in has taken on a life if its own on socials.
It seems to be a bit different than I understood it listening to tsn now.
I'll reserve my judgment once I see it played out. Moving up the season is good for me as I travel in Nov often. May will be a crap shoot, weather can be all four seasons that time of year lol.
Initial thoughts:
Have training camp in Texas. Below zero too many mornings in April here.
Don't start Collaros until Oct. That is when the meaningful games start. Silly to risk injury in the exhibition portion of the season.
Chris Jones would excel in the new format. Always took him months to pick his team and then they would actually be good by late fall.
Quote from: jets4life on April 28, 2026, 09:16:55 PMAt this point, they should just change the name of the CFL, to the TFL (Toronto Football League), since all the decisions involving the CFL are made with executives in a boardroom in Toronto, all the rabid fans in CFL strongholds like Winnipeg and Regina be damned.
Good point, I wonder if they ran any of these changes past the GM's? At least it mentions they consulted with the CFLPA.
I don't see how letting another bottom feeding team into the playoffs makes the games more exciting, meaningful or competitive. Teams are going to be doing more injury prevention management than anything down the stretch once they can't get #1 or #2 spots in the division, then rest player until the playoffs. Good luck trying to get fans to the last games of the season when games are meaningless.
I really don't like anything i've heard since Stu came in as Commissioner.
Pretty much hate it. We've had so many "let's revamp the playoffs" discussions here over the last decade. Yet not one person ever suggested anything as nutso as these '27 ideas. Not sure this helps anything or solves anything that was actually deemed a "problem".
Seems like more of Johnston's "change for change's sake". If I didn't know better, I'd suspect he's a manchurian candidate installed to destroy the league.
I'll analyze more after I'm done watching the draft show (just started!), or at least the 1st 2 rounds.
Oh ya, why announce this on draft day? Why split the spotlight? He kinda did this with the clock/post/110 changes last year... announce controversial stuff when everyone is busy with other stuff. Pretty sure this isn't by accident. Might help deflect the blowback.
Quote from: Tecno on Today at 01:22:34 AMOh ya, why announce this on draft day? Why split the spotlight? He kinda did this with the clock/post/110 changes last year... announce controversial stuff when everyone is busy with other stuff. Pretty sure this isn't by accident. Might help deflect the blowback.
Definitely not an accident.
Best case: get eyes back on the league on the day of the draft.
Conspiracy case: hiding the news to be quickly buried under the optimism of drat day.
Quote from: Tecno on Today at 01:20:53 AMPretty much hate it. We've had so many "let's revamp the playoffs" discussions here over the last decade. Yet not one person ever suggested anything as nutso as these '27 ideas. Not sure this helps anything or solves anything that was actually deemed a "problem".
Seems like more of Johnston's "change for change's sake". If I didn't know better, I'd suspect he's a manchurian candidate installed to destroy the league.
I'll analyze more after I'm done watching the draft show (just started!), or at least the 1st 2 rounds.
Well if nothing else it keeps every team in the playoff race which could help attendance for bottom dwellers. Thinking about the Elks who started so poorly last season and were out of the playoffs early, not much reason for fans to attend games.
more playoff money for players..pro for them
more wear and tear on bodies
sell more winter wear with games in May
if the raptors or leafs make noise in their playoffs - good luck selling tickets in toronto.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on Today at 01:37:48 AMWell if nothing else it keeps every team in the playoff race which could help attendance for bottom dwellers. Thinking about the Elks who started so poorly last season and were out of the playoffs early, not much reason for fans to attend games.
And not just at the bottom, teams in the middle will be chasing the top 2 spots all season long. I think every team is going to have something to play for for the entire season in most cases.
The good:
Moving the season up.
The bad & the ugly:
Everything else.
Quote from: Jesse on Today at 01:43:18 AMAnd not just at the bottom, teams in the middle will be chasing the top 2 spots all season long.
Doubt it. Usually 1 or 2 teams pull way ahead in divisional rankings by Sept. Once it's clear you're not 1 or 2, I think teams will totally put the brakes on and just try to not be #9. I'm talking resting starters, easing wear & tear on everyone, reps for rookies/backups, getting as fresh as possible for the "play-ins".
This will be doubly so if there's a clear crap team, like OTT last year or EDM the year before. If the 9th can be identified early it takes all the pressure off the middle 4 teams.
I see this making teams try LESS, and having more "garbage season" games -- maybe an entire month (or 2!) of them! The only way it would work is if almost every team was pretty equal, which basically never happens.
Quote from: The Zipp on April 28, 2026, 06:55:54 PMsome really bad teams will be making the playoffs. some will say that is happening now though.
Ya, so to put it in perspective that would mean that in '25 EDM and TOR would have made the playoffs. You could literally suck as bad as TOR did all season and get a shot at the cup. Maybe TOR finally gets Kelly back for the 1st play-in game -- then what...
Quote from: The Zipp on April 28, 2026, 06:55:54 PMcan always tweak things if they become a disaster
That would be admitting mistakes and failure, and I see no indication Johnston is even capable of that. Pretty sure the only way we'll ever get any of the New Insanity backtracked is if they fire Johnston.
Quote from: Jesse on April 28, 2026, 06:46:35 PMMy initial reactions are mostly positive. I can accept the compromise between keeping the divisional structure
How are we "keeping the divisional structure". Now it's only team 1 & 2 in each division that get in and 3rd place teams (who used to stay in-division -- mostly) go to any random division? That's how I read it.
Quote from: Jesse on April 28, 2026, 06:46:35 PMThey might want to slow their roll on some things. Such massive changes are probably going to require trouble-shooting as new issues arise and they're not going to have the capacity to handle so many different things at once.
Totally agree. That's the worst aspect. They are steamrolling everyone all the time, and it's questionable the way they time & group "CFL happenings" to split our attention spans.
So how is the venue chosen with all of these new rules? Higher seed always gets the home game?
Could this not result in the East losing a playoff game venue? Even with the crossover, the old system always balanced the venues between E and W.
Might this result in teams trying to finagle their final 2-4 games to maybe get lower in the overall standings? Let's say you're a weak but "best of the rest" #2 in the W... might you throw your last couple of games to become "5th seed"? You get a home playoff game (Prez will like that) PLUS to don't have to play the #1 in your div who whooped your butt all season -- until maybe the GC!
Quote from: blue_or_die on April 28, 2026, 06:42:52 PM- While it's a little comical that 8/9 teams make the playoffs, it was already viewed as that way anyway so nbd.
"They laughed at us already because 6/9 made the playoffs."
"So they won't laugh at us
much more because 8/9 make the the playoffs!"
Winning!
Sweet Jeezus, I'm going to agree with Tecno. Another reason to dislike Stewjo.....
This is such a stupid GTA centric idea. Of the options available, this was the worst choice. 5-13 record will get into the playoffs. Embarrassing. One division, top 6 teams make it, 1 and 2 get buys. Way better.
Quote from: Tecno on Today at 03:16:19 AMHow are we "keeping the divisional structure". Now it's only team 1 & 2 in each division that get in and 3rd place teams (who used to stay in-division -- mostly) go to any random division? That's how I read it.
Totally agree. That's the worst aspect. They are steamrolling everyone all the time, and it's questionable the way they time & group "CFL happenings" to split our attention spans.
If they maintain the divisional rivalries it's not quite fair, for example the Bombers could play the Riders 3 times and the Ti-Cats could face the RedBlacks 4 times and come out ahead in the end ranking.
Quote from: dd on Today at 12:11:11 AMI don't see how letting another bottom feeding team into the playoffs makes the games more exciting, meaningful or competitive. Teams are going to be doing more injury prevention management than anything down the stretch once they can't get #1 or #2 spots in the division, then rest player until the playoffs. Good luck trying to get fans to the last games of the season when games are meaningless.
I really don't like anything i've heard since Stu came in as Commissioner.
Just wait until we hear the next "improvement" Johnston makes to the game.
The Grey Cup may be renamed the "Stewart Johnston Trophy for Athletic Excellence."
Quote from: The Zipp on Today at 01:42:16 AMif the raptors or leafs make noise in their playoffs - good luck selling tickets in toronto.
I have a feeling that it would not make any difference, whether the Leafs or Raptors make a post season run. Toronto has over 7 million people in their metro area. Its at the point where it should not matter how other teams do. I don't think the Raptors run in 2019 hindered the Blue Jays at all.
People in Toronto just don't care about the CFL. If that idiot Johnston thinks the new changes are going to win over fans in Southern Ontario, he may want to get in touch with reality.