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Two struggling CFL teams meet Saturday at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, each desperate for a win but for very different reasons. The Calgary Stampeders (5-8) are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, while the visiting Ottawa Redblacks (0-12) are simply chasing their first victory of the 2026 season. Both sides enter the game under significant pressure, making this matchup far more meaningful than a mid-season contest between losing teams might suggest.
“They’re coming in desperate. We’re desperate,” Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. said Friday. “They’re trying to find a win and we are too.”
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Bethel-Thompson Gets First Start for Ottawa
Ottawa makes a notable change at quarterback for Saturday’s game. McLeod Bethel-Thompson, 38, earns his first start of the season after replacing Jake Maier during last week’s 26-23 loss to Toronto. The Argonauts ended that game with a 29-yard walk-off field goal.
Bethel-Thompson performed well in relief. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Redblacks head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie liked what he saw.
“He played well and gave us a spark,” Dinwiddie said. “That was what I was looking to do when I put him in the game. At this stage, Jake’s had a lot of opportunity. Let’s see what Mac’s got.”
Dinwiddie also outlined what Ottawa needs to do to finally break through. “We’ve got to get the football ran, we’ve got to stop the run,” he said. “We’ve got to be a little bit better than we were last week, create a few turnovers and offensively we’ve got to finish in the red zone. We’ve been right on the edge of scoring 30 about each game, but we’ve got to get in the 30 range to win this football game.”
The Redblacks have now lost 18 consecutive games, a streak that stretches back into last season. Despite that, Bethel-Thompson says the locker room remains focused.
“We’re not happy with how the season’s gone and we very much want to win,” he said. “I’m proud of how this group continues to go to work and focuses on the process. Once that dam breaks, I think you’ll see a lot of good players come out of it and play in the CFL for a long time.”
Stampeders Reeling After Blowout Loss
Calgary also enters Saturday in poor form. Last week, the Stampeders suffered a 53-16 blowout loss to the Edmonton Elks. They turned the ball over four times, allowed a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in their own end zone, and Adams gave way to Josh Love at quarterback in the second half.
Adams acknowledged he needs to play with more confidence. “I just want to be better, myself,” he said. “Play with more swagger, play more free, and whatever happens, just on to the next play. I’ve been playing a little tight these last few weeks.”
The offensive decline has been sharp. Calgary led the entire CFL in average points per game during the first half of the season, scoring 39 points per game. However, that average dropped below 30 over their last four games. The Stampeders have lost four of their last five overall.
“As an offence, we’ve got to stay on the field, give our defence a break and score some points,” Adams said.
Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson stressed the urgency of the situation. “No way can our team look past anybody,” he said. “We’re not playing our best football. Let’s make sure we play better. We understand that at a critical time of the year that we need wins and it has to start this week.”
Key Injuries Force Calgary to Shuffle Roster
Calgary faces Saturday’s game without several key contributors. Leading rusher Dedrick Mills is out with a hip injury. Receiver Dejon Brissett misses the game with an elbow injury. Interceptions leader Ben Labrosse also sits out due to a knee injury.
Cornerback Adrian Greene steps into the starting role in place of Labrosse. Greene earned division all-star honours in 2025 with six interceptions.
In the backfield, Deonta McMahon joins the active roster from the practice squad. McMahon, a Grey Cup winner with the Argonauts in 2024, will share rushing duties with Ludovick Choquette and returner Tyreik McAllister.
“It’s going to be running back by committee,” Dickenson said. “We’ll have all three guys play running back, and if someone has a hot hand or looks like they’re seeing it better than the other guys, certainly you lean on that guy.”
McMahon, whose last name is pronounced MACK-muh-HAWN rather than like the stadium, says he is used to the confusion. “I’ve been called it my entire life, so I don’t have a problem with it, honestly,” he said Friday.
Meanwhile, veteran receiver Reggie Begelton, who returned to action last Saturday after more than a year away, is listed as a game-time decision. Saturday’s contest is also the first of a home-and-home series between the two clubs, with Calgary travelling to Ottawa the following week.
