1. Laurier Golden Hawks (2)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 8-0, 1st, OUA
WEEK NINE: 60-13 win at Western
Laurier’s dominance of Western makes them the clear favourite to win the Vanier Cup this year. Their offence was relentless and their defence was suffocating. I have a hard time seeing anyone beating them after Saturday's performance. - Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
Laurier looks like a team on a mission. The Hawks claimed first in the OUA for the second year in a row with a huge road win in London. Now we sit back and see if they can defend their Yates Cup crown. - Scott Hutter, National Writer
What a statement. Laurier dominated every phase. Cal Wither went 25-for-35 with five TDs, while the Golden Hawks’ defence held Hillock to just 88 passing yards and Dolby to 84 on the ground. Wow. There's a clear No. 1 in the country right now. - Bryden O'Flaherty, CEO
2. Laval Rouge et Or (4)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup win
THIS YEAR: 6-1, 1st, RSEQ
WEEK NINE: 16-6 win vs. Montreal
The clear-cut best teams in each division have now been established: it's Laurier, Laval, SMU, and Saskatchewan versus the field. - Jeffrey Kennett, CanWest Writer
3. Montreal Carabins (-)
LAST YEAR: 11-1, Vanier Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 6-2, 2nd, RSEQ
WEEK NINE: 16-6 loss at Laval
4. Saskatchewan Huskies (5)
LAST YEAR: 6-4, Hardy Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 6-1, T-1st, CW
WEEK NINE: 24-10 win at UBC
The Huskies' performance against the Thunderbirds without one of their best players in Amandrud shows they can win in multiple different ways, and honestly, I might take my chances on them against Laurier, Laval, or Montreal. Daniel Wiebe is my frontrunner for Canada West Player of the Year. - Jeffrey Kennett, CanWest Writer
Saskatchewan hangs on to the top spot in Canada West for me again this week. Although Amundrud appears to be dealing with an injury, the Huskies managed to look like a championship contender. As long as Amundrud returns for the playoffs this team should be the one lifting the Hardy Cup in November. - Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
5. Western Mustangs (1)
LAST YEAR: 9-2, Yates Cup loss
THIS YEAR: 7-1, 2nd, OUA
WEEK NINE: 60-13 loss vs. Laurier
Western drops to No. 5 on my ballot. Laurier looked like they were in a different league against the Mustangs on Saturday afternoon. It’ll be a historic story if this defeat can fuel a championship run. - Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
6. Regina Rams (-)
LAST YEAR: 5-6, Mitchell Bowl loss to Laval
THIS YEAR: 6-1, T-1st, CW
WEEK NINE: 22-20 win at Alberta
Regina has me slightly concerned with them being without a clear #1 QB ahead of the playoffs. Mark McConkey said post-game after the win in Edmonton that he went with Sieben over Pelletier due to performance, not because of an injury. Sieben played well, but I have concerns about how he might hold up against a defence like Saskatchewan's. — Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
The Rams hurt themselves with 98 penalty yards, making their game on Saturday against the Golden Bears closer than it should’ve been. Still, their composure on the final drive and game-winning field goal gives me confidence in their ability to close tight games heading into playoffs. - Bryden O'Flaherty, CEO
7. Manitoba Bisons (9)
LAST YEAR: 7-2, Hardy Cup semifinal loss
THIS YEAR: 4-3, 3rd, CW
WEEK NINE: 33-31 win vs. Calgary
8. Windsor Lancers (12)
LAST YEAR: 5-4. Yates Cup semifinal loss to Queen's
THIS YEAR: 5-3, 4th, OUA
WEEK NINE: 31-28 win at Queen's
Windsor going into Kingston and beating Queen's and claiming third place in the OUA is a big win. Look for the Lancers to be a dark horse through the OUA playoffs. - Scott Hutter, National Writer
Windsor might just be the hottest team in the country right now. I don't think anyone wants to matchup against the Lancers going into the playoffs. This team is peaking at the right time and could do some damage in the postseason. - Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
9. McGill Redbirds (8)
LAST YEAR: 3-6, Dunsmore Cup semifinal loss to Montreal
THIS YEAR: 2-5, T-3rd, RSEQ
WEEK NINE: BYE
10. Queen's Gaels (7)
LAST YEAR: 6-4, Yates Cup semifinal loss to Laurier
THIS YEAR: 5-3, 3rd, OUA
WEEK NINE: 31-28 loss vs. Windsor
Queen’s drops to No. 9 on my ballot after a tough loss to Windsor. They finish the regular season 5-3, good for fourth place in the OUA. A quarterfinal matchup against McMaster awaits. Their last matchup earlier this season had the Gaels win 38-4. - Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
11. Calgary Dinos (12)
LAST YEAR: 2-6, missed playoffs
THIS YEAR: 2-5, T-4th, CW
WEEK NINE: 33-31 loss at Manitoba
12. SMU Huskies (10)
LAST YEAR: 5-5, Loney Bowl loss to Bishop's
THIS YEAR: 6-1, 1st, AUS
WEEK NINE: BYE
13. Ottawa Gee-Gees (14)
LAST YEAR: 4-5, Yates Cup quarterfinal loss to Guelph
THIS YEAR: 4-4, T-5th, OUA
WEEK NINE: 23-16 win vs. Toronto
Ottawa might make their way off some ballots this week — and it's easy to see why with a disastrous past few weeks. But I still believe the Gee-Gees are a top 15 team in the country. They are not what most of us thought they were prior to the Panda Game, but it is wrong to completely write this team off when you consider how hot they were early in the year. - Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
14. Concordia Stingers (NR)
LAST YEAR: 2-7, Dunsmore Cup semifinal loss to Laval
THIS YEAR: 2-5, T-3rd, RSEQ
WEEK NINE: 27-23 win vs. Sherbrooke
15. Sherbrooke Vert et Or (-)
LAST YEAR: 1-7, missed playoffs
THIS YEAR: 2-5, T-3rd, RSEQ
WEEK NINE: 27-23 loss at Concordia
On The Cusp
StFX smothered Bishop’s and is now 5-2 on the season. They got their revenge on the Gaiters and will look to battle SMU for first place in the AUS on Oct. 24. - Ryan O'Connor, OUA Writer
Alberta comes up just short yet again. They still do have a small path into the playoffs if they win against Calgary and if Regina defeats UBC. Eli Hetlinger stepped up and was great in keeping the GBears in it against the Rams, but some missed opportunities to keep Regina in check on defence hands Alberta another loss. - Geono Aloisio, CanWest Writer
UBC falls out of my top 15 for the first time this season. This is an experienced coaching staff and an extremely hardworking group of players, but they just haven't been able to yield the results this season. - Jeffrey Kennett, CanWest Writer