The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping to celebrate first place with a third jersey.

The Saskatchewan CFL team will wear their Obsidian Green uniforms in Saturday’s regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).

The Rider Nation alternate jerseys were unveiled in game conditions on July 19, when Shea Patterson — starting at quarterback in place of the injured Trevor Harris — helped the Roughriders defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 19-9.

Harris was among the original models when the dark, dark, dark green and dark green jerseys were introduced at a May 30 event at the Riders’ Mosaic Stadium store.

Now he will finally be resplendent in obsidian gear for the first time while wearing shoulder pads.

“I’m excited about it,” said Harris, who has excelled in eight games since returning from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for six weeks.

“I saw the guys wearing them this year when we played in Winnipeg and it was really cool, so wearing the jersey this week will be pretty cool.”

Better yet, it would be a first place in the West division.

For the Roughriders to win the pennant, two results must go in their favor on Saturday.

To start, the Montreal Alouettes are expected to defeat the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1 p.m., CTV). Winnipeg (10-7-0) can clinch first place with a win.

If Montreal goes strong for Saskatchewan, next on the agenda would be for the (Obsidian) Green and White to beat a 4-12-1 Calgary team that is winless on the road and without any prospects to qualify for the playoffs.

Regardless, the Roughriders will come out of Saturday’s action with a home playoff game (tickets are available HERE).

Saskatchewan will host the Western semi-final (November 2) or the division championship game (November 9).

GAME TIME DECISIONS

The outcome of the Montreal-Winnipeg game could very well determine the Roughriders’ final decisions for the next game against Calgary.

For example, will Harris start at quarterback if it turns out the Saskatchewan vs. Calgary game won’t impact the West standings?

Without further details, Roughriders head coach Corey Mace said with a smile that the “smart” decision would be made.

Harris was asked during his pre-game press briefing if he had been briefed on the plans that were in place in the event of a Winnipeg victory for first place.

The Roughriders quarterback responded respectfully by deferring all comments to the head coach.

“I would probably let it be, but I think you can probably read between the lines,” Harris said. “We are all adults here. We can understand it.

SINGLE DIGIT SCHEDULE

Including this weekend’s games, plus the playoffs, there are only nine games remaining in the 2024 CFL season.

“It goes by quickly,” Mace marveled. “Trevor Harris and I were talking about this yesterday. He mentioned, “Man, Coach, this is our last real practice of the regular season.” It goes by very quickly, so don’t take anything for granted.

“We know our season will continue into the second season, but we are really trying to push to win every day. That’s the goal.

“The fact that there are a limited number of matches, I think it’s obvious. For us, we just hope to do enough to play in the last one.

FLASHBACK FROM FIRST PLACE

This is actually the 10th year in the Roughriders’ modern history (i.e. post-WWII) that they have been in contention for first place in the final week of the regular season.

The toughest final week to date was in 1951, when Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Winnipeg were all 8-6-0.

The deadlock was broken in favor of Saskatchewan thanks to the following formula, as described by The Canadian Press: “Playoff positions are based on an average of points for and against. (Saskatchewan) with 277 for and 219 against has an average of 1.26 obtained by diving the number of points for into the number of points against. Edmonton with a record of 306-262 has an average of 1.16 and Winnipeg with a record of 303-311 has an average of 0.97.

Heading into the final week, the Roughriders also participated in speculation about first place in 1954, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1988, 2009, 2019 and, yes, 2024.

Saskatchewan celebrated concrete results in 1951, 1976, 2009 and 2019.

The Roughriders had secured first place heading into the 1966, 1968, 1969 and 1970 regular season finales.

TALE OF TURNOVERS

With one regular season game remaining, the 2024 Roughriders boast the best turnover differential in the CFL at plus-25. Montreal, at plus-10, is far behind.

Saskatchewan created 47 turnovers while giving the ball away just 22 times in the first 17 games.

Ideally, the Roughriders would eclipse the franchise record of plus-27 in a single season, set in 1994.

So far, this was the most recent year in which the Roughriders led the league in turnover differential. The other notable season: 1969 (plus-24).

The Roughriders improved to plus-25 on October 12 while posting a plus-6 rating en route to defeating the visiting BC Lions 39-8.

In the modern era, there have been 18 games from which the Roughriders emerged with a turnover differential of plus-6 or greater.

A team record plus-9 was recorded when the Roughriders won 31-12 in Calgary on September 20, 1969.

There were five plus-8s, two plus-7s and 10 plus-6s.

In those 18 games, there were only four in which Saskatchewan didn’t give up on the football:

October 13, 1947: Winnipeg 6 against Saskatchewan 27 (plus-8). The Roughriders recorded five interceptions and recovered three fumbles.

November 5, 1999: Saskatchewan 18 against BC 19 (plus-6). Unlikely, the winning team was minus-6. The Lions lost five of their seven fumbles and were also intercepted once. Saskatchewan scored on a 47-yard punt return from Curtis Mayfield and a seven-yard pass from Steve Sarkisian to Jeremy O’Day.

August 26, 2006: Saskatchewan 51 to Hamilton 8 (plus-8). Four fumbles recovered (including two by Eddie Davis and a 15-yard scoop-and-score by Fred Perry), three interceptions and a turnover on downs. A 38-yard interception return in the fourth quarter by Donald Ruiz allowed Darian Durant to make his first CFL completion (a 14-yarder to Shermar Bracey) and carry the ball (for 20 yards).

October 12, 2024: British Columbia 8 against Saskatchewan 39 (plus-6). The Roughriders’ most recent win completes a hat trick for O’Day, who has appeared in the last three games that fit that niche category. He was a reserve offensive lineman (and short-yardage receiving target) on 11/5/1999, starting center on 8/26/2006, and vice president of football operations/general manager on 10/12/2024 .

ADDITIONAL POINTS

• A request to fans from wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker: “We’re just asking you to bring the most energy you’ve ever brought into this stadium for this game (Saturday) and then for the next home game when we’re return. for the playoffs.

• Saskatchewan leads all West playoff teams in points scored (466), total touchdowns (44), offensive touchdowns (40), touchdown passes (26), passer efficiency (99.7), net offense (364.2 yards/game), fewest sacks allowed (32) and net punting average (36.8).

• The 32 sacks allowed in 17 games represent an improvement of 20 over last year at this point. Notably, there is a reduction of 39 games compared to the 2022 total of 17 games.