Roughriders vs Lions West Semi-Final 2026: Preview, Time, TV & How to Watch
The Saskatchewan Roughriders visit the BC Lions in the 2026 West Semi-Final on Saturday, October 31 at BC Place in Vancouver, with kickoff at 4:30 PM ET (1:30 PM PT, 2:30 PM in Regina). The game is on TSN and RDS in Canada and streams free on CFL+ in the United States and around the world. The winner travels to Edmonton for the West Final on November 7, one game from the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary.
Both teams finished 10-8 with 20 points. BC hosts because it won the season series 2-1, the tiebreaker that decided second place. Saskatchewan is the defending Grey Cup champion and has knocked BC out of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
West Semi-Final at a Glance
| Matchup | Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-8) at BC Lions (10-8) |
| Date | Saturday, October 31, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 4:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM MT / 1:30 PM PT |
| Venue | BC Place, Vancouver |
| TV in Canada | TSN1, TSN4 and RDS |
| US and international | CFL+ (free) |
| Winner plays | West Final at Edmonton, Saturday, November 7 |
Playoff game cards appear here as soon as the league confirms kickoff times.
How the Lions Got Here
BC spent most of the season in the top two of the West and clinched a playoff spot on Thanksgiving weekend. A three-game winning run in late September and early October, including a 31-24 home win over Saskatchewan on September 25, looked like it would carry the Lions in. Instead they finished with two straight defeats: 32-13 in Calgary on October 17 and a 34-10 home loss to Winnipeg in the regular season finale. Second place survived only on the tiebreaker.
The Lions scored 516 points and allowed 484. They went 6-3 in their home games, two of which were played at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, and 4-5 on the road.
How the Roughriders Got Here
Saskatchewan’s season split cleanly in two. The Riders started 6-2, then lost their way through September and early October, including a 37-31 home loss to Calgary that would have clinched a spot and a 44-24 defeat in Montreal on Thanksgiving Monday. With the playoff race down to three teams for two places, they won their last two at Mosaic Stadium, 16-12 over Montreal and 16-9 over first-place Edmonton, to finish third.
The Riders were 7-3 at home but only 3-5 on the road this season, and that road record is the number to watch on Saturday. They scored 486 points and allowed 473.
2026 Season Series: BC Won 2-1
| Date | Game | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jun 13 | Lions at Roughriders | Mosaic Stadium | Roughriders 31-27 |
| Sun, Aug 23 | Roughriders at Lions | BC Place | Lions 30-16 |
| Fri, Sep 25 | Roughriders at Lions | BC Place | Lions 31-24 |
Both of BC’s wins came at BC Place, by an average of 10.5 points. Saskatchewan’s only win was in Regina in June.
Playoff History: Saskatchewan Has the Recent Edge
This is the third straight postseason in which these two teams meet. Saskatchewan won the 2024 West Semi-Final and the 2025 West Final, the second of those on the way to its fifth Grey Cup, a 25-17 win over Montreal in Winnipeg. BC has not reached a Grey Cup since winning it in 2011.
By the Numbers
| Roughriders | Lions | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 10-8 | 10-8 |
| Home / Away | 7-3 / 3-5 | 6-3 / 4-5 |
| Points for per game | 27.0 | 28.7 |
| Points against per game | 26.3 | 26.9 |
| Point differential | +13 | +32 |
| Last five games | L L L W W | W W W L L |
What Is at Stake
Lose and the season is over. Win and the next stop is Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, November 7 against the 13-5 Edmonton Elks, who had the West’s best record and the bye. Edmonton split its two games with BC this season and lost the season series 2-1 to Saskatchewan, including 16-9 in Regina in the final week. The West champion goes to the 113th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, November 15.
How to Watch Roughriders vs Lions
- Canada: TSN1, TSN4 and RDS, streaming on TSN.ca, the TSN app and TSN+, or with no cable through TSN Direct.
- United States: free on CFL+ in a browser, no subscription needed.
- Rest of the world: free on CFL+, with a 48-hour replay. CFL+ is geoblocked inside Canada.
The East Semi-Final, Winnipeg at Toronto, kicks off earlier the same day at 1:00 PM ET: Blue Bombers vs Argonauts preview. Full bracket and schedule: CFL Playoffs 2026.
Roughriders vs Lions West Semi-Final FAQ
What time is the Roughriders vs Lions West Semi-Final?
Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 4:30 PM ET, which is 2:30 PM in Regina and 1:30 PM PT in Vancouver.
What channel is the West Semi-Final on?
TSN1, TSN4 and RDS in Canada. In the United States and the rest of the world it streams free on CFL+.
Why is the game in Vancouver if both teams finished 10-8?
BC won the season series 2-1, which is the tiebreaker after points and wins, so the Lions finished second and host the Semi-Final.
Who won the regular season meetings?
Saskatchewan won 31-27 in Regina on June 13; BC won 30-16 on August 23 and 31-24 on September 25, both at BC Place.
Have these teams met in the playoffs recently?
Yes, in each of the last two seasons. Saskatchewan won the 2024 West Semi-Final and the 2025 West Final before winning the Grey Cup.
Who does the winner play next?
The Edmonton Elks in the West Final at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, November 7. The winner of that game plays in the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary on November 15.