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The 2024 Canadian Football League playoffs are on and the divisional semifinals are scheduled to begin on Saturday.

In the West, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will host the BC Lions and the winner will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 9, while the Ottawa Redblacks will visit the Toronto Argonauts in the East and the winner will face the Montreal Alouettes.

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The two division champions will next face each other in the 111th Gray Cup in Vancouver on November 17.

Before we get to that, let’s rank the best Gray Cup matchups we could potentially see in this game:

1. Saskatchewan vs. Montreal

This would be the obvious choice for Roughriders fans, but perhaps the best-case scenario for the entire CFL.

Since the Roughriders showed him the door after the 2022 season, Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo has not faced his former team as he has missed regular season matchups between the two teams over the past two years. . While there aren’t as many sparks with Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris against his former team, I’m sure current Alouettes head coach Jason Maas would find some motivation against the team that also let him go.

2. Saskatchewan vs. Toronto

If you’re outside of Saskatchewan, this may not be as high on your list, but after spending the last two seasons as defensive coordinator with the Argonauts, Corey Mace was hired as head coach of the Roughriders this offseason, so who better to face in the championship than his old team?

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3. British Columbia vs. Ottawa

Two third-place teams meet for the Gray Cup? It would take a few playoff upsets for us to get this game.

There’s also the story of Lions coach Rick Campbell taking on his former team in what would be a new game that would see these teams face off in the Gray Cup for the first time ever.

4. Saskatchewan vs. Ottawa

The last time Saskatchewan met Ottawa in a Gray Cup was in 1976, when the Roughriders took on the Rough Riders, with Tony Gabriel directing “The Catch” to help Ottawa earn a 23-20 victory in what is still considered one of the most exciting gray matches. All-time cup matches.

Without listing every player or coach who would face his former team, Harris helped the Redblacks win the Gray Cup in 2016, while Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce was on Saskatchewan’s staff during of the Riders’ last victory in 2013.

5. Winnipeg vs. Ottawa

The Rouge et Noir are making the playoffs for the first time since 2018, while the Bombers would be looking to win their third Gray Cup in their fifth consecutive championship appearance.

This has a classic David versus Goliath feel and could provide a bit of intrigue with Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown facing off against his former team.

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6. British Columbia vs. Montreal

Any match in which a team plays at home creates a great storyline. In addition, the Lions are aiming for their first appearance in the Gray Cup since 2011.

Although BC seemed like the team to beat to start the CFL season, they have stumbled in recent weeks and now have something of a controversy between quarterbacks Vernon Adams Jr. and Nathan Rourke.

7. Winnipeg vs. Montreal

In what would be a rematch of last year’s Gray Cup game that saw Montreal win 28-24, this is another matchup that would provide an excellent matchup.

Winnipeg could continue to prove that its dynasty isn’t over yet while the Alouettes still feel they don’t get the respect they deserve. A second consecutive title would crush all that.

8. Winnipeg vs. Toronto

It would be a rematch of the 2022 Gray Cup in Regina, which saw the Argonauts shock the Bombers and the league with a 24-23 victory at Mosaic Stadium, ending Winnipeg’s chances of winning a third championship consecutive.

Although it appears the window is closing on Winnipeg’s dynasty, if the Bombers return to the Gray Cup, they will be in for another season. If they lose in the title game, it will only add to the questions about the team’s future.

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However, this matchup seems stale if you’re outside of both fan bases.

9. British Columbia vs. Toronto

Copy and paste any answer above regarding a team playing at home in the Gray Cup. Or am I missing something?

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