Calgary Opens Monday Preseason Against Saskatchewan — Cfl Schedule
Calgary’s cfl schedule opens Monday afternoon against Saskatchewan, giving the Stampeders their first game action since November. It is the first step in a 2026 preseason that begins with Vernon Adams Jr. leading a group of returnees.
Dave Dickenson and November 15th
Dave Dickenson said the target is straightforward: “I know November 15th I want to be coming out of that locker room with the guys.” He added, “In order to look forward, you’ve got to kinda look where we’re at. For us, let’s make sure we handle today.”
That approach fits Calgary’s year. The Stampeders went 11-7 in 2025, then lost to the BC Lions in last-minute fashion in the Western Semi-Final. Their streak of consecutive playoff appearances was snapped at 19 after two straight sub-.500 seasons, so this preseason opener comes with a clearer edge than a routine tune-up.
Vernon Adams Jr. Leads Calgary
Adams heads a returning group that also includes Dedrick Mills, Clarence Hicks, Reggie Begelton, Marquel Lee and Derrick Moncrief. Calgary is also set to host the 113th Grey Cup, which gives the 2026 season an added layer beyond this first preseason look.
The opener matters because it gives Calgary a first live test after months away from game speed. The Stampeders will use Monday afternoon to start sorting out how the roster fits around Adams and the veterans back in camp, with the focus still on getting the details right now rather than looking too far ahead.
Saskatchewan, Ottawa, and the Opening Week
Saskatchewan is the opponent on Monday afternoon, while Ottawa opens its preseason Friday night in Montreal. Ryan Dinwiddie took over as Ottawa’s head coach and general manager in December after compiling a 51-35 record over five seasons in Toronto, where he won two Grey Cups and reached four Eastern Finals.
Ottawa finished 4-14 last year, and Dru Brown started nine of its 18 games after going 8-6-1 as a starter in 2024. Dinwiddie added C.J. Reavis, A.J. Allen and Ayden Eberhardt in free agency, giving Ottawa its own first look at a reshaped roster while Calgary’s preseason begins one day earlier.
