Ottawa Redblacks' Keelan White, left, makes a touchdown catch as Montreal Alouettes' Faion Hicks (31) defends during second half CFL football action in Montreal, on Sunday, June 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) throws a pass during first half CFL football action against the Toronto Argonauts, in Regina on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis
Ottawa Redblacks' Keelan White, left, makes a touchdown catch as Montreal Alouettes' Faion Hicks (31) defends during second half CFL football action in Montreal, on Sunday, June 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
GAC
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) throws a pass during first half CFL football action against the Toronto Argonauts, in Regina on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis
OTTAWA - When the Ottawa Redblacks host the Saskatchewan Roughriders Friday night, there will be plenty of familiar faces on the opposing sideline.
But a reunion is not the focus as Ottawa looks to turn around its slow start with a win over the defending Grey Cup champions. The 0-3 Redblacks will be taking on a Saskatchewan squad looking to bounce back from a disappointing 40-34 loss to Toronto last week.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a must-win, it鈥檚 a great turning point for our season,鈥 said Ottawa defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado, who spent the past three seasons in Saskatchewan. "The first three games didn鈥檛 go how we wanted them to go, but I think we showed a lot of great things. We showed that we鈥檙e improving, and we鈥檙e going to get there fast.鈥
The Redblacks showed signs of progress in last week's 37-35 loss to the Montreal Alouettes, breaking out for 29 second-half points in a comeback that ultimately fell short.
Coach Ryan Dinwiddie liked a lot of what his team did, but the self-inflicted wounds that have been far too frequent since the start of the season need to stop.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been preached every day since the start of training camp,鈥 said Dinwiddie. 鈥淎t some stage those guys have to take ownership on it. I can鈥檛 go out there and do it for them, right. I try to emphasize it, but you know I鈥檓 trying to help them by shrinking the package, but you know they鈥檝e got to have some ownership as well.鈥
Jake Maier, who spent last season in Saskatchewan backing up Trevor Harris, will make his fourth straight start.聽
Maier said he learned a great deal from the 40-year-old Harris.
鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the best preparers I鈥檝e ever been around,鈥 Maier said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a great leader, he鈥檚 somebody that doesn鈥檛 cheat the game, ever. You factor all those things in, and that鈥檚 what you get.聽
"You get a true professional that can play any system, play for a bunch of different teams, bond with all different types of players, different types of teammates, and yeah, he鈥檚 one of the best in the business for a reason, but to me it鈥檚 the preparation, the leadership and he doesn鈥檛 cheat the game.鈥
Maier will have a new backup with McLeod Bethel-Thompson dressing for his first game as a Redblack.
Dinwiddie said he believes Bethel-Thompson likely needs one more week to prepare, but wouldn鈥檛 hesitate to put him in the lineup if necessary.
Defensive back C.J. Reavis, who spent four seasons in Saskatchewan, says he sees similarities between the Redblacks and the Roughriders, who also had their share of struggles at the start of last season.
鈥淚 know guys are frustrated with the outcome, but not the process,鈥 said Reavis. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 the big thing. I鈥檓 telling guys to be process driven and not results driven.鈥
Ottawa will get some reinforcements with the return of veteran receiver Eugene Lewis, and defensive backs Alonzo Addae and Adrian Frye. The Roughriders will be without wide receivers Samuel Emilus and Jaylen Johnson, as well as defensive lineman Ali Saad.
ROUGHRIDERS (2-1) VS. REDBLACKS (0-3)
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT: The Roughriders鈥 offence is in mid-season form, averaging 472.7 yards per game to lead the CFL.
KALIL THE THRILL: Ottawa鈥檚 Kalil Pimpleton leads the CFL in kickoff return yards, 466, and is averaging 33.3 yards per return after scoring a 94-yard kickoff return TD vs. Montreal on Sunday.聽
RARE PICK: Trevor Harris threw his first interception of the season vs. Toronto, ending a streak of 195 consecutive attempts without a pick.
This report by 好色tvwas first published July 2, 2026.