CFL Notebook: 2026 Schedule Released, Fajardo Re-Signs

The Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats will kick off the 2026 CFL season on June 4.

The league unveiled its schedule Tuesday, with the Als visiting the Ticats at Tim Hortons Field in the opener.

The first week will feature three games. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will visit the Calgary Stampeders on June 5, with the Ottawa Redblacks hosting the Edmonton Elks the following night.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a Week 1 bye, and will begin their Grey Cup title defence on June 13, hosting the B.C. Lions in a rematch of last year’s West Division final. Before the game, the Riders will raise their fifth championship banner in franchise history.

This year, three pre-season games will be played outside of traditional CFL markets.

The Riders will face Winnipeg in Saskatoon on May 23, while B.C. will also take on Calgary in Langford, B.C. Then on May 29, Toronto will host Hamilton in Guelph, Ont.

The Argos will play three home games in opposing stadiums during the first half of the season due to the FIFA World Cup. Toronto will face the Roughriders in Regina on June 26, play Winnipeg at Princess Auto Stadium on July 10, then take on the Ticats at Hamilton Stadium on July 18.

The second half of Toronto’s season will feature more home games.

B.C. will also stage games in Kelowna, B.C., on June 27 versus Calgary and July 4 against Edmonton, again due to the World Cup.

The Stampeders will host the Argos in the second annual Stampede Bowl on July 2.

(CP)

ELKS RE-SIGN FAJARDO

The most accurate quarterback in CFL history is back in Green and Gold.

The Edmonton Elks have extended American quarterback Cody Fajardo through the 2026 season, the club announced Tuesday.

“Cody Fajardo’s contract extension underscores our commitment to stability and progress, positioning the team for an exciting and promising 2026 season,” VP of Football Operations and General Manger Ed Hervey said.

Fajardo (6’1, 215) returns to Edmonton after dressing in all 18 games for the club last season. The 33-year-old pivot assumed the reigns as the Elks starting quarterback in a Week 8 contest against the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season, where he threw for a season high 346 yards against the eventual Grey Cup Champions.

As the Elks starting QB, Fajardo helped the Green and Gold overcome a 1-4 start and led them back into playoff contention up until the final week of the season. Fajardo completed 73.2 per cent of his passes — second in the CFL to Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris — for 3,408 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Brea, California native also added 319 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, with his 21 total touchdowns (in just 13 starts) the most by Fajardo since the 2022 season.

(GoElks.com)

ALOUETTES EXTEND ALEXANDER

Davis Alexander was years away from his contract expiring, but he still wanted to extend his stay in Montreal.

The Alouettes signed their starting quarterback to a one-year extension Tuesday, keeping with the team through the 2028 season.

“We both wanted to get something done. I know I want to be here for a really, really, really long time,” Alexander told reporters. “I love this city, love this organization.”

“It just made sense. Still kind of kept a team-friendly deal and we were able to still keep a lot of the guys that make us successful,” he added. “It also proves that, if there was any doubt, there’s no other place I’d rather be.”

Alexander is coming off a historic CFL season, his first as a full-time starter.

The 27-year-old from Gig Harbor, Wash., went a perfect 7-0 in the regular season, extending his league-record undefeated start to a career to 11-0. He then led Montreal past the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the playoffs to reach the Grey Cup.

Montreal lost 25-17 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the title game as Alexander, hampered by a recurring hamstring injury, threw three interceptions.

RIDERS RE-SIGN HARDRICK

Reigning CFL outstanding offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick has signed a one-year contract extension with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the CFL club announced Tuesday.

Hardrick led an offensive line that did not allow a sack in Saskatchewan’s 25-17 Grey Cup win over Montreal last month in Winnipeg.

The protection allowed Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris to complete 23-of-27 passes for 302 yards and win Grey Cup MVP honours. 

Hardrick started 17 regular-season games and anchored a dominant run game that allowed feature back A.J. Ouellette to rush for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns.

Before joining Saskatchewan, Hardrick was a member of the Blue Bombers from 2016 to 2023. He helped Winnipeg win Grey Cup titles in 2019 and 2021.

Along with three Grey Cup rings, Hardrick has earned three All-CFL and four divisional All-CFL selections.

(CP)