With just two weeks left to play in the U SPORTS regular season, things have gotten spicy.
McGill took Montreal to the brink on Saturday, Waterloo edged York in a game that could turn out to have major playoff implications, Queen's survived a scare from Guelph, and Saskatchewan one from Alberta, in a duel between backup quarterbacks.
Of course, Western and Laurier still remain undefeated, and seem destined for a Week 9 meeting still undefeated. But Western couldn't manage a touchdown on Windsor in their 15-6 win, and Laurier survived a similar scare against the Gee-Gees just two weeks ago.
Those same Gee-Gees lost their first Panda Game since 2017 to the Carleton Ravens, who are now 3-3 and seem a much different team than in Week 1, when they were dominated by Toronto.
Out east, Acadia actually took an early lead over St. FX on Friday night, in what may have been their most complete performance of the season.
Week 7 was a total reversal of Week 6, which saw blowout-after-blowout. With the playoff races in each conference heating up, expect to see more of the same in these final two weeks.
1. Western Mustangs (-)
LAST YEAR: 9-2, Yates Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 6-0, T-1st, OUA
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 15-6 win at Windsor
Western didn't manage a touchdown in their tight win over Windsor, making it the second week in a row that Ethan Dolby (22 rushes for 98 yards) was held from a touchdown. However, Evan Hillock was finding Seth Robertson with room to run all day long — he caught nine passes for 180 yards. Western and Laurier were deadlocked at the top of the poll.
2. Laurier Golden Hawks (-)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 6-0, T-1st, OUA
WEEK SEVEN: BYE
Western drops to No. 2 on my ballot this week, meaning the defending Yates Cup champions climb to the top spot. Laurier soundly defeated Windsor earlier this season, 30–9, while Western narrowly escaped the Lancers, with a 15–6 victory this week. It’s only one opponent and doesn't tell the whole story, but it’s enough for me to swap their spots on the ballot. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
3. Montreal Carabins (-)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 4-1, T-1st, RSEQ
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 32-28 win vs. McGill
Pepe Gonzalez finished with 385 passing yards, three touchdowns, and in interception, but the Carabins' run game just couldn't establish themselves, combining for 111 yards on 21 attempts. However, the Carabins defence came up big, sacking Eloa Reginald-Latendresse three times and adding three more tackles for loss, two from Harold Miessan to narrowly defeat the Redbirds.
4. Laval Rouge et Or (-)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup win
THIS YEAR: 4-1, T-1st, RSEQ
WEEK SEVEN: Sunday, 19-8 win vs. Concordia
It took until there were less than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but Concordia finally got a lick in on Laval in the form of a one-yard rushing touchdown by Gianni Casati. However, both Laval and Montreal have shown more cracks than anytime in recent memory.
5. Saskatchewan Huskies (-)
LAST YEAR: 6-4, Hardy Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 5-1, T-1st, CW
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 31-24 win vs. Alberta
In a battle of backup quarterbacks, the Huskies outlasted the Golden Bears to stay atop the conference. Ryker Frank went for 128 all-purpose yards, while Daniel Wiebe turned in another 100-yard performance, finishing right on the mark. The Huskies need Anton Amundrud at full health to win in the playoffs, but this defence (three sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception) comes to play week after week.
6. Regina Rams (-)
LAST YEAR: 5-6, Mitchell Bowl loss to Laval
THIS YEAR: 5-1, T-1st, CW
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 18-12 win vs. Calgary
Regina held Calgary to just 11 first downs on Saturday, and out of the endzone completely. Ty Gorniak (14-of-16 FGM, 20-of-21 XPM) has come up clutch again and again for the Rams and although he missed that one extra point against the Dinos, two fourth-quarter field goals stood as game winners.
7. Queen's Gaels (-)
LAST YEAR: 6-4, Yates Cup semifinal loss to Laurier
THIS YEAR: 4-2, T-3rd, OUA
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 27-17 win at Guelph
Though linebacker Justin Pace is suspended "indefinitely," per the OUA, this defence remains as stacked as any in the conference. Alex Vreeken (2o-of-28, 273 yards, two touchdowns, one interception), Jared Chisari (13 rushes, 110 yards, one touchdown), and Nathan Falconi (four catches, 115 yards, one touchdown) have combined to make a three-headed monster on offence. The real question, is what does this all mean come the playoffs.
Queen’s stays at #7 on my ballot this week. After a narrow victory over Guelph, the tricolour improve to 5-2 and will look to lock up third place against Windsor in Week 9. I’ve been saying it since the start of the season — look out, Western and Laurier. A semifinal matchup with the Gaels has serious upset potential. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
8. McGill Redbirds (10)
LAST YEAR: 3-6, Dunsmore Cup semifinal loss to Montreal
THIS YEAR: 2-4, 4th, RSEQ
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 32-28 loss at Montreal
Another week in the RSEQ, another chance for McGill to knock off one of the big dogs. And the Redbirds almost did just that for the second time this season. Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald (135 yards) and Jerry Momo (110) powered this rush-first offence to put up another great fight against the Carabins.
I'm moving McGill to the 8 on my ballot. I understand the record might raise suspicion. However, this team seems to thrive on being the under dog — especially against Montreal. With some teams above them losing, I feel confident putting McGill in the top 10. — Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
McGill is my dark horse. Although they've lost their past couple games, they came within a touchdown to Montreal this week. And have already beaten the Carabins this year in a historic upset. Can the Redbirds make some noise come playoff time? — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
9. Manitoba Bisons (9)
LAST YEAR: 7-2, Hardy Cup semifinal loss
THIS YEAR: 3-3, 3rd, CW
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 35-31 win vs. UBC
Manitoba outlasted UBC in a shootout, with Jackson Tachinski completing 16-of-21 passes for 241 yards. Despite allowing an alarming amount of offence to Drew Viotto and the Thunderbirds, they did sack him twice and pick him off once. Tachinski's late score on the ground proved a winner, one of his three rushing touchdowns on the day.
10. Ottawa Gee-Gees (8)
LAST YEAR: 4-5, Yates Cup quarterfinal loss to Guelph
THIS YEAR: 3-3, T-4th, OUA
WEEK SEVEN: Sunday, 20-12 loss at Carleton
The Gee-Gees move down in the Top 15 for the first time all season after losing their first Panda Game since 2017. Josh Janssen starting getting on the same page as his receivers in the second half, but it was too little, too late, as the run game also had trouble and the Ravens blocked both a Gee-Gees' kick and punt. A home playoff game is still the goal, but Windsor is stacking up to be a tough opponent next weekend. Win out against the Lancers and Varsity Blues, and — assuming a Carleton loss to Laurier — the playoffs will come to Gee-Gees Field. Lose either game, and Queen's on the road in the playoffs could await.
Everything seemed too good to be true heading in to the 56th Panda Game — the Gee-Gees were having their best start in years, the defence was shaping up to be one of the best in the nation, and Carleton had a quarterback controversy and a streak of poor defensive play heading into Sunday. But after almost a decade of retaining Pedro, it was the Ravens who improved to 3-3 and now hold a potential playoff tiebreaker over the Gees. — Andrew Wilimek, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief
11. SMU Huskies (12)
LAST YEAR: 5-5, Loney Bowl loss to Bishop's
THIS YEAR: 5-1, 1st, AUS
WEEK SEVEN: Friday, 41-3 win loss vs. Mount Allison
SMU took care of business against Mount Allison — though backup Allan Young threw three picks alongside his 276 yards and three touchdowns, it is good news that the team can dominate without Justin Shibley. Ryan Butler added two interceptions on defence.
12. Calgary Dinos (11)
LAST YEAR: 2-6, missed playoffs
THIS YEAR: 2-4, T-4th, CW
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 18-12 loss at Regina
The Dinos kept it close on Saturday in a defensive battle against one of the top teams in Canada West. Their inability to convert drives into touchdowns hurt them this week, but the defence shone against an explosive Rams offence.
13. UBC Thunderbirds (-)
LAST YEAR: 5-4, Hardy Cup semifinal loss to Saskatchewan
THIS YEAR: 2-4, T-4th, CW
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 35-31 loss at Manitoba
Despite Drew Viotto's best game of the season (26-of-42, 473 yards, three touchdowns, one interception), the UBC Thunderbirds once again couldn't garner a run game, managing just 54 yards on nine attempts from their backs. Throw in 16 penalties for 153 yards, and it doesn't matter that you outgained the Bisons by almost 100 yards, or that Manitoba was missing Breydon Stubbs. UBC has unquestionable skill, but tons of question marks.
14. Sherbrooke Vert et Or (-)
LAST YEAR: 1-7, missed playoffs
THIS YEAR: 2-3, 3rd, RSEQ
WEEK SEVEN: BYE
15. Windsor Lancers (NR)
LAST YEAR: 5-4. Yates Cup semifinal loss to Queen's
THIS YEAR: 3-3, T-4th, OUA
WEEK SEVEN: Saturday, 15-6 loss vs. Western
A team that many had on the bubble of OUA contention heading into 2025 has finally strung together a few good performances in a row, and hasn't allowed a touchdown in two weeks. Windsor started last year 5-0, and with a win at Ottawa next week could lock down a playoff spot — and make some noise in the OUA.
I'm adding Windsor to my top 15. Their defence seems to give other teams a lot of trouble and I think the Lancers could upset a team in the playoffs this year. — Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
On the Cusp
We've begun to seperate the contenders from the pretenders. There is a consensus among the top 7, but from 8-15 there is a lot of parity. You could make an argument for any team in that range to be in the top 10. Last few weeks of the season should provide a clearer picture. — Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
McMaster is really making a surprising playoff push. With Waterloo and Carleton left on their schedule, there are winnable games to get to 4-4. York, meanwhile, gets Western and Guelph. The last two playoff spots will come down to the wire.
Alberta had a golden opportunity to win against Saskatchewan, but came up short. Trey Reider has been great so far and has given the offence chances to win games. It's been the defence that has let the Golden Bears down in big moments. Very difficult to imagine how Alberta makes the playoffs now. — Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
I moved both St. Francis Xavier and Bishop's into my top 15. Both teams are 4-1 and its about time we started to pay attention. 2007 was the last time an AUS team advanced to the Vanier Cup, and who knows, maybe this is the year that streak gets broken. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
Great football this week. Queen’s and Western both outlasted tough defensive efforts from Guelph and Windsor, while the Panda Game once again delivered, with the Ravens ending an 8 year drought and reclaiming bragging rights in the nations capital. — Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
Carleton needs to pick a quarterback and stick with them — Elijah Barnes and Tristan Lefebvre have both had incredible games and poor ones — but with just two weeks to play, and the Ravens fighting for their playoff lives, continuity is imperative. — Andrew Wilimek, Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief