Routs, blowouts, and thrashings. Shellackings, poundings, and steamrolls; pastings, hammerings, and demolitions.
However you want to describe them — Week 6 of U SPORTS football had lots of them. Not a single game ended within a one-touchdown margin.
Out West on Friday night, Alberta earned their first win of the Stevenson Bone era — against Bone's former colleague Blake Nill.
Saskatchewan exploded for 45 points in Calgary, moving the ball 636 yards. Anton Amundrud accounted for 429 of those through the air, adding five touchdowns — with three from Daniel Wiebe.
Montreal responded to a Week 6 loss at McGill by dismantling Concordia to the tune of 52-2 thanks to five interceptions from their defence.
Guelph racked up 55 points at Carleton; Queen's 57 vs. York, Bishop's 54 against Mount Allison, Laurier 59 against Toronto, and Western 52 against McMaster.
Windsor blanked Waterloo 35-0 despite finding the endzone just twice, Regina forced two fumbles and two interceptions to beat Manitoba 30-8, and SMU put up the same score at Acadia.
Really, the only game with intrigue was McGill's loss to Sherbrooke, who makes their first appearance in an OB Top 15 after shutting down Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald and winning 34-21.
This means that the Top 15 stays largely the same as last week, with just one change in the Top 10 (a swap of Montreal and Laval).
1. Western Mustangs (-)
LAST YEAR: 9-2, Yates Cup loss
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 52-22 win vs. McMaster
Surprisingly, the Marauders actually put up a fight in London, even grabbing one more first down than the Mustangs. But Western was unstoppable on the ground, racking up 329 yards.
Receiver Brayden Misseri added two touchdowns through the air, including a highlight-reel grab, while short-yardage QB Jerome Rancourt continued his scoring spree with three rushing touchdowns, including a long of 70. Larry Haylor candidate Ethan Dolby piled up 199 yards rushing.
The Mustangs have now topped 50 points in four of five outings, but know they’ll need to clean up their inconsistencies on defence with undefeated Laurier looming Oct. 18 in a clash that could decide OUA supremacy.
Western once again puts up 50+ points in a game. Their offence has multiple weapons that can explode for yards on any given play. It will be their defence and special teams that decide how far this Mustang squad can go this year. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
2. Laurier Golden Hawks (-)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup loss
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 59-21 win vs. Toronto
Laurier gave its Homecoming crowd a show, rolling Toronto 59-21 to stay unbeaten at 6-0. Hec Creighton candidate Ethan Jordan stole the spotlight, breaking three program records and setting a new OUA mark with his 220th career catch. He now sits atop Laurier’s all-time lists for receiving yards (3,279) and touchdowns (29), passing the legendary Stefan Ptaszek.
Quarterback Cal Wither spread the wealth, and the defence forced multiple turnovers as the Golden Hawks built a 40-7 halftime lead en route to a commanding win.
A homecoming blowout win over Toronto is excellent fuel for this Laurier team as we near the playoffs. Cal Wither surpassed 300 yards passing in the first half, and Ethan Jordan became the Golden Hawks’ all-time touchdown reception leader with 29. This juggernaut is not slowing down anytime soon. — Nicolas Tazzeo, OUA Writer
3. Montreal Carabins (4)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup loss
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 52-2 win at Concordia
The Carabins bounced back in emphatic fashion, hammering Concordia 52-2 to move past last week’s setback loss to McGill.
Montreal’s defence was dominant, piling up five interceptions, multiple sacks, and two forced fumbles, including a pick-six from veteran Harold Miessan. Charles-Elliot Bouliane added an interception, sack, and fumble recovery to headline the unit. Pepe Gonzalez was efficient, throwing for 186 yards and long touchdowns to Enrique Jaimes Leclair (75 yards) and Hassane Dosso (44).
4. Laval Rouge et Or (3)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup win
WEEK SIX: BYE
Laval sits tight, with tune-ups against Concordia at home and McGill on the road on the docket before welcoming the Carabins to Quebec City on Oct. 19.
5. Saskatchewan Huskies (-)
LAST YEAR: 6-4, Hardy Cup loss
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 45-22 win at Calgary
Quarterback Anton Amundrud set career highs with 452 yards and five touchdown passes as Saskatchewan rolled Calgary 45-22. Hec Creighton candidate Daniel Wiebe hauled in three touchdowns and 151 yards, while rookie Thomas Jule scored his first career touchdown on a 58-yard strike.
Ryker Frank added 213 all-purpose yards, including a 56-yard dash that set up Kayden Miller’s late score. The Huskies’ defence limited Calgary to just 37 first-quarter yards as Saskatchewan improved to 4-1 and stayed atop Canada West heading into Football Day in Saskatoon against Alberta.
Saskatchewan is a powerhouse. Their only blemish on the season so far is a one point loss to Bisons, and with a favourable schedule the remainder of the way, the Huskies could easily run the table. — Jeffrey Kennett, CanWest Writer
Saskatchewan is slowly making a strong argument for them being the best in CanWest despite the volatility of the conference. With a commanding win over the Dinos despite Calgary trying to keep them on their toes, they've shown their maturity and experience as a program in keeping their composure. — Maggie Hsu, CanWest Writer
6. Regina Rams (-)
LAST YEAR: 5-6, Mitchell Bowl loss to Laval
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 30-8 win vs. Manitoba
Marshall Erichsen powered the Rams past Manitoba, racking up 165 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in a 30-8 victory at Mosaic Stadium. The Canada West rushing leader carried Regina to 4-1, matching the best five-game start in program history and keeping pace with first-place Saskatchewan.
The Rams’ defence stifled a banged-up Bisons squad missing star quarterback Jackson Tachinski, setting up a playoff-clinching opportunity next week at home against Calgary.
Regina’s defence just keeps showing up. Manitoba went from 521 yards and 30 points last week to 278 and eight. In a conference that’s chaos every week, that kind of steady defence stands out. — Bryden O'Flaherty, CEO & Co-Founder
7. Queen's Gaels (-)
LAST YEAR: 6-4, Yates Cup semifinal loss to Laurier
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 57-5 win vs. York
For the second straight season, talk swirled that it might finally be York’s year. For the second straight season, Queen’s made sure it wasn’t, racking up 50+ points on the Lions for the second year in a row. This year, the Gaels limited York to just five points at Richardson Stadium for their third straight win.
Alex Vreeken threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns, three of them to Nathan Falconi, who torched York for 258 yards. Jared Chisari added 139 rushing yards and two scores, while Oliver Jackson sacked Keagan Hall four times, highlighting a suffocating defence as Queen’s improved to 4-2 and solidified their hold as the third best team in the OUA.
Queen's stays at seven on my ballot. Another commanding victory against a rebuilding program isn't enough to move them up on the list. The final two games on their schedule are Guelph and Windsor. Win both and lock up third place along with home field advantage for the opening round of the playoffs. Lose a game and the playoff race could get interesting. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
8. Ottawa Gee-Gees (-)
LAST YEAR: 4-5, Yates Cup quarterfinal loss to Guelph
WEEK SIX: BYE
The Gee-Gees have emerged as a dark horse in the OUA. Sitting at 3–2, their record includes a narrow loss to the defending Yates Cup champions, proving they can hang with the very best. Next week brings one of the most anticipated events on the Canadian university football calendar, the Panda Game. With cross-town rivals Carleton on the other sideline the atmosphere is sure to be electric at TD Place. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
9. Manitoba Bisons (-)
LAST YEAR: 7-2, Hardy Cup semifinal loss
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 30-8 loss at Regina
Any preseason optimism around the Bisons is fading fast. With star QB Jackson Tachinski banged up and unable to play more than a few snaps Saturday, Manitoba mustered little in a 30-8 loss at Regina, dropping to 2-3.
The Bisons’ offence sputtered without its leader, managing just a single touchdown, while the defence couldn’t contain conference rushing leader Marshall Erichsen, who scored three times. Manitoba has scored the least points in the conference (86) — though they've also given up the least (93).
For me, Manitoba fell a handful of spots as it's shown that they struggled to adapt to Regina's virtually impenetrable defense. A similar story unfolded for Calgary as they also faced off against one of the best defensive lines in the West but the Dinos, at least, managed to make some changes to figure out ways to poke holes in the Huskies' D-Line. — Maggie Hsu, CanWest Writer
10. McGill Redbirds (-)
LAST YEAR: 3-6, Dunsmore Cup semifinal loss to Montreal
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 34-21 loss at Sherbrooke
It was history with a sour taste for McGill quarterback Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald. The senior pivot became the school’s all-time rushing leader Saturday, but his milestone was overshadowed by a late Sherbrooke surge as the Redbirds fell 34-21 on the road.
Latendresse-Regimbald piled up 141 rushing yards, 138 passing yards and two total touchdowns, but also suffered through drops, penalties, and a costly interception.
The Redbirds had upset No. 2 Montreal just a week earlier, but couldn’t string together consistency against the Vert & Or, who broke open a tight game with 17 points in the fourth quarter. The loss drops McGill to 2-3, though they still hold the point-differential tiebreaker over Sherbrooke after winning the earlier matchup by 16.
After the Carabins loss to McGill a week, the RSEQ’s newest upset also involves the Redbirds; however, now they are on the losing side to a pesky Sherbrooke team. This result has been typical, oddly, as the Vert et Or now boasts a 22-14 all-time record against McGill. — Nicolas Tazzeo, OUA Writer
11. Calgary Dinos (12)
LAST YEAR: 2-6, missed playoffs
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 45-22 loss vs. Saskatchewan
The Dinos led early but couldn’t contain No. 5 Saskatchewan, falling 45-22 at McMahon Stadium. Calgary opened with a rouge and a Jet Zakrzewski touchdown to take an 8-0 lead, and Vincent Paquette posted a career-best 100 receiving yards. David Jordan added 209 passing yards, while the defence forced turnovers and recorded sacks from Darius Redhead and Ben Haden.
The Huskies, led by Anton Amundrud’s 429 passing yards and five touchdowns, pulled away with three fourth-quarter scores. Calgary drops to 2-3 and hits the road next, visiting Regina on Oct. 4.
12. SMU Huskies (14)
LAST YEAR: 5-5, Loney Bowl loss to Bishop's
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 30-8 win at Acadia
Saint Mary’s Huskies’ defence dominated in a 30-8 win over Acadia Saturday at Raymond Field. The secondary snagged three interceptions, including a 34-yard pick-six by Onochie Amuta, while Romareo Reid added a sack.
Offensively, Malik Williams and Liam Legge combined for 214 rushing yards and a touchdown, and QB Justin Shibley found Cherokee Robinson for a 13-yard score. Joshua Jack also contributed a 50-yard gain en route to a major. The victory improves SMU to 4-1, setting the stage for Homecoming weekend and a Friday, Oct. 3 clash with Mount Allison.
SMU jumps to 12 on my ballot after dominating victory against Acadia, moving to 4-1 on the season. They will meet the X-Men once again in the final AUS regular season matchup of 2025. A huge game that will certainly have major playoff implications. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
13. UBC Thunderbirds (11)
LAST YEAR: 5-4, Hardy Cup semifinal loss to Saskatchewan
WEEK SIX: Friday, 38-18 loss at Alberta
The UBC Thunderbirds fell 38-18 to the Alberta Golden Bears Friday at Foote Field, struggling to move the ball.
Toluwalope Ayedegbe opened scoring early with a six-yard rush, and Drew Viotto threw an 18-yard touchdown late, finishing 16-of-27 for 196 yards. Trey Montour led receivers with 80 yards, while UBC totaled just 259 yards of offence.
Alberta pulled away behind Trey Reider’s 281 yards and two touchdowns, including a trick-play TD pass from Carter Kettyle. UBC holds the fourth playoff spot and faces Manitoba next Saturday in a pivotal Canada West matchup.
UBC continues to struggle starting games, and even with all the question marks this team's offence has, getting trounced by the Golden Bears wasn't exactly on my bingo card. Their remaining games against Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Regina could get ugly fast. — Jeffrey Kennett, CanWest Writer
14. Sherbrooke Vert et Or (NR)
LAST YEAR: 1-7, missed playoffs
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 34-21 win vs. McGill
The Green & Gold pulled off the weekend’s biggest upset, defeating the McGill Redbirds 34-21 at UdeS Stadium. Sherbrooke quarterback Jérémy Fyfe fully took the reins and threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, while Jonathan Martel-Joseph capped the win with a 71-yard scoring run.
Sherbrooke outgained McGill 517-423 and forced key turnovers, delivering a stunning result in the RSEQ and shaking up the standings.
Concordia has fallen out of my top 15 but Sherbrooke has climbed up to 9 on my list after defeating McGill who had just knocked off Montreal. Next week's matchup with the Carabins should determine whether the Vert et Or are contenders or pretenders. — Jeffrey Kennett, CanWest Writer
Sherbrooke’s the most underrated team in U SPORTS. McGill was driving late, down six, when Charles-Antoine Ledoux came through with a huge interception. One play later, Martel-Joseph broke free to seal it. It was a big win, and with the RSEQ wide open, I wouldn’t count out the Vert et Or. — Bryden O'Flaherty, CEO & Co-Founder
15. Concordia Stingers (-)
LAST YEAR: 2-7, Dunsmore Cup semifinal loss to Laval
WEEK SIX: Saturday, 52-2 loss vs. Montreal
Concordia drops to 1-4 with the blowout loss to Montreal, and with Sherbrooke's improvement to 2-3, the search for a playoff berth will continue vs. Sherbrooke on Oct. 17 and at McGill on Oct. 25, after a trip to Laval next weekend.
On the Cusp
McGill losing to Sherbrooke was probably the biggest shock of the weekend. Between the RSEQ and Canada West, I don't know how to rank most of the teams past the top two. Prepare for the playoffs to surprise us with at least one major upset. — Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
We're what? Seven weeks in and we're finally getting some "expected" scores? We're in the final stretch of the season and I think it's going to come down to stamina for all teams — who can maintain the pressure and composure going into the last few games and who will fold? Outside of OUA, all of the conferences are open for the taking such that even the top teams can fall if they sit back. — Maggie Hsu, CanWest Writer
To be honest, kind of a lame week. — Bryden O'Flaherty, CEO
Week 7 had the most disparity of any weekend in recent memory. Not a single game was even close, outside of McGill-Sherbrooke. Inter-conference play and tiering is needed badly. — Andrew Wilimek, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief