Across the CFL, May brings more than just warmer weather, it delivers a fresh slate of optimism.
The off-season headlines have been dominated by the impending rule changes, which haven’t necessarily been universally accepted across the board.
Now teams will turn their attention to what happens on the field as veterans make their way to camp, with rookies getting a head start this week.
There is certainly a lot of intrigue around the league with established contenders attempting to extend their championship windows and teams hoping to climb back into playoff contention.
Here’s one major question facing each CFL team heading into 2026 training camp.
B.C. Lions: Can they take their game to another level?
The Lions looked like they were prepared to make a run for a Grey Cup, but ultimately weren’t able to close out Saskatchewan in the West final.
It was a tough start to the 2025 season for the Lions, who hit their stride to finish 11-7 and second place in the division under rookie head coach Buck Pierce. While the team was unable to reach its ultimate goal of appearing in the Grey Cup, it remains optimistic about its direction.
To help the team on defence, general manager Ryan Rigmaiden added linebacker Darnell Sankey and defensive tackle Casey Sayles, who bring a wealth of experience and championship pedigree.
On offence, the team is hoping that Nathan Rourke can build off a great season that made him the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2025.
Speaking to reporters heading into camp in Kamloops, B.C., Rourke said the main focus for him is protecting the football after throwing 16 interceptions last season.
“I had double-digit interceptions. I’m looking on that and keeping that number in single digits,” Rourke said. “I think training camp’s a good opportunity to be able to try some things, you don’t necessarily need to be perfect.”
B.C. should still feel confident in its ability to compete for a Grey Cup, but getting off to a good start to the season will be an important first step.
Calgary Stampeders: Will they maintain upward trajectory?
After returning to the playoffs and re-establishing themselves as contenders in 2025, the Stampeders enter this season facing a different challenge. They need to prove that last year’s turnaround is something that can not only continue, but be improved upon.
There were notable off-season losses that could test the team’s depth. Defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings, linebacker Jacob Roberts and receiver Damien Alford all earned NFL opportunities, while veteran receiver Dominique Rhymes retired.
Adding receiver Dejon Brissett will be a big boost to their Canadian talent, and Deonta McMahon provides them with some speed and versatility in the backfield.
Of course, the main reason for the Stampeders’ success in 2025 was the addition of Vernon Adams Jr., and the team certainly thought so, signing the veteran to a two-year contract extension.
So while the Stampeders feel confident in the direction they are going, the West Division remains loaded in 2026.
Edmonton Elks: Are the playoffs finally a realistic goal?
The Elks may have missed the playoffs again in 2025, but last season showed that the team is moving in the right direction.
However, a 7-11 slow start threatened to derail the season. The Elks showed noticeable progress in the second half, particularly on defence, and now enter 2026 believing they finally have a foundation capable of competing in the West.
The biggest question is whether that progress can translate into meaningful results.
Having a dynamic running back like Justin Rankin was a big positive, but much of the team’s stability revolves around veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo. Edmonton’s turnaround last season largely coincided with Fajardo taking over for Tre Ford.
Part of what will help Fajardo and the offence take a step forward is getting better production from the offensive line after allowing 52 sacks last year, the second-most in the CFL.
Defensively, the Elks showed great improvement in the second half, allowing fewer than 30 points in seven straight games and eventually finished fifth in the league in points allowed.
The overall feeling in Edmonton is that the rebuild phase may finally be ending. The roster is younger, deeper and more balanced than it has been in recent years, and the second-half improvements from 2025 gave the organization confidence that it is moving in the right direction.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Can McManis help end championship drought?
The Tiger-Cats came within one win of reaching the Grey Cup last season, but suffered another heartbreaking result in the playoffs in the East final.
Hamilton decided to bring in a player who knows a thing or two about winning a title after signing veteran linebacker Wynton McManis.
The Tiger-Cats needed to address the position after Devin Veresuk departed for an NFL opportunity. McManis arrives with a championship pedigree with three Grey Cups under his belt.
Beyond his leadership, McManis can provide the Tiger-Cats defence with stability after they allowed the most yards per game among playoff teams last season. Health has been a concern for the 32-year-old as he played 13 games in 2025 and 12 the year before.
Another key for Hamilton is Bo Levi Mitchell continuing his resurgence with head coach and offensive co-ordinator Scott Milanovich.
In 2024, Mitchell set a career-high with 5,451 passing yards before following it up in 2025 with a personal-best 36 touchdown passes.
Adding Kenny Lawler to the offence last year was a big boost to their offence as the duo combined for 14 touchdowns.
As always, the challenge for the Tiger-Cats is turning potential into a title and finally bringing the Grey Cup back to Hamilton for the first time in more than a quarter-century.
Montreal Alouettes: How will they manage Alexander’s health?
After falling just short in the Grey Cup last season, the Montreal Alouettes enter 2026 believing they have everything needed to make another championship run — especially if quarterback Davis Alexander can stay healthy.
His 2025 season was interrupted by a lingering hamstring injury, but there was little debate about how effective Montreal’s offence looked whenever he was on the field. Alexander completed 73 per cent of his passes for 2,024 yards with 10 touchdowns and only three interceptions, finishing with the second-highest quarterback rating.
The Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan only reinforced that reality. Still dealing with the effects of injury, Alexander struggled against Corey Mace’s defence and threw three interceptions in what remains the only loss of his CFL career as a starter.
That is why the Alouettes’ biggest priority entering 2026 may simply be protecting their quarterback and keeping him available for a full season.
“Obviously, we’re going to manage his load, but he’ll get the work he needs to get,” Maciocia said. “He needs to be sharp coming out of training camp. There will be a healthy exchange of thoughts and dialogue for Davis Alexander and other players. They’ll get their share of work to be physically and mentally ready, but also have them ready to compete in Week 1.”
Ottawa Redblacks: Can Dinwiddie turn another struggling team around?
The Redblacks are hoping that Ryan Dinwiddie can help reset the culture.
After several inconsistent seasons and another disappointing campaign, Ottawa was able to snatch Dinwiddie away from the Argonauts by providing him with the GM and head coach titles.
Whether he can replicate the success he brought to Toronto will depend on many internal improvements.
The organization believes there are already pieces in place to compete, but that those pieces lacked consistency and structure last season.
One of the biggest areas to watch will be the development of Ottawa’s offence under Dinwiddie’s system. His track record with quarterbacks and offensive structure was a major reason the Redblacks targeted him, and there is optimism that a more organized offensive identity can help stabilize the team week-to-week.
It all starts with how Dinwiddie helps Dru Brown take the next step as a starter. Brown has shown flashes since arriving from Winnipeg, completing nearly 69 per cent of his passes for 6,348 yards and 32 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
But injuries and inconsistent offensive line play have led to Brown missing time with injuries and spending too much time trying to stay upright.
The 29-year-old missed 12 games over the past two years, including several absences in 2025 due to hip, neck and knee injuries. The Redblacks have allowed a league-high 87 sacks over the last two seasons, so protecting the quarterback will be a top priority for Dinwiddie and was a big part of Toronto’s success during their Grey Cup runs.
Saskatchewan Roughriders: Will there be a Grey Cup hangover?
The Saskatchewan Roughriders enter 2026 facing a very different challenge than they did a year ago.
Last season, the Roughriders were trying to prove they were legitimate contenders under head coach Corey Mace. Now, after winning the 112th Grey Cup, they are the team everyone else is chasing.
The biggest question is whether Saskatchewan can avoid a Grey Cup hangover.
The organization believes continuity gives it a strong chance to do exactly that.
Rather than overhauling the roster after the championship, general manager Jeremy O’Day focused on keeping the core intact. Saskatchewan re-signed 22 players from its Grey Cup-winning team, including quarterback Trevor Harris and running back AJ Ouellette.
That stability means the Roughriders are not spending training camp trying to rebuild chemistry or redefine their identity.
Last season, Saskatchewan allowed the fewest points per game in the league while also ranking among the CFL leaders in sacks, turnovers and rushing defence. The defence’s aggressive identity was on display in the Grey Cup, where the Roughriders intercepted three passes and sealed the win with a late forced fumble.
Even after losing some contributors in the off-season, there is confidence that the system itself will continue producing results.
Toronto Argonauts: Can Miller, Kelly get team back on track?
After missing the playoffs in 2025, the Argonauts enter this season looking to keep the distractions to a minimum.
A year removed from winning two Grey Cups in three seasons, Toronto was certainly disappointed, finding itself at the bottom of the standings. Part of that had to do with Chad Kelly’s leg injury, which became an ongoing question about his status.
Now healthy, Kelly returns as the undisputed starter and arguably the biggest reason for optimism within the organization.
Toronto promoted quarterbacks coach Mike Miller to head coach rather than dramatically changing the offensive system. Miller has already helped oversee elite quarterback play in Toronto, and the team is hoping that he will help Kelly quickly regain form.
Along with Kelly’s uneven year, the team saw a lot of turnover in 2025, especially on defence, which led to a drop in standard.
In the off-season, the Argos brought back several former Grey Cup contributors, including DaShaun Amos, Ralph Holley, Robert Priester and Adarius Pickett.
While the team has done what it could to address its roster concerns, it’ll be up to Miller to set the tone early in camp and get his team back to its championship form.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Is their window closing?
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers enter 2026 dealing with disappointment once again, but in a different way.
For the first time since 2018, Winnipeg failed to reach the Grey Cup, ending an era of dominance that included five straight appearances in the championship game. Now the question facing the Blue Bombers is whether their veteran core still has one more Grey Cup run left.
An inconsistent season saw Winnipeg finish fourth in the West Division and needed the crossover to reach the playoffs.
That resilience is why Winnipeg still believes it remains a legitimate contender, and it’s tough to count out a team that has reached the playoffs in nine straight years.
The Blue Bombers are expected to open the season with 11 starters over the age of 30, including veteran leaders Zach Collaros, Stanley Bryant and Willie Jefferson. Together, that veteran group has accumulated 13 Grey Cup championships.
It will also be interesting to see what the team plans to do with quarterback Taylor Elgersma. Obviously, Zach Collaros is being paid as the starter, but he is coming off a subpar season by his standards, and, at 37 years old, there will be chatter about when it will be time to turn the page.