As a voter on the CIS top 10 football poll I’m tasked with ranking Canada’s elite university programs on a weekly basis. My personal criteria is deciding who would win a neutral-site game based on the teams’ current body of work alone. Here’s the ballot I submitted this week.
1. Calgary (LW: 1)
After an early upset scare the Dinos put up 39 second-half points to easily beat Saskatchewan. Andrew Buckley had another big day with 468 yards passing, but the surprising performance came from Bryce Harper (no, not that Bryce Harper), who rushed for 102 yards in relief of Mercer Timmis.
2. Western (LW: 2)
The Mustangs were idle this week but improved in the standings even when on a bye. With Guelph’s loss, Western is in sole possession of first place as the last remaining undefeated OUA team. The schedule breaks in their favour as they have 12 days of rest before their Thursday Thanksgiving week contest at Toronto and then another long week with nine days of rest before they host Ottawa. Considering it was at this time last year that health was the Mustangs’ greatest concern, the added rest is a big reason they are the favourites to come out of Ontario.
3. Laval (LW: 3)
Some are concerned that even in a win Laval gave up 400 yards passing and 15 passing first downs to Trenton Miller and Concordia. No reason to be alarmed, though, as 20 of the Stingers’ 27 points came in the fourth quarter when the game was in hand. The Rouge et Or are still an elite defence with Glen Consantin at the helm.
4. Sherbrooke (LW: 9)
No longer is the RSEQ just a two-horse race. The Vert et Or joined the party with their upset win of Vanier cup champions Montreal. Although not nearly as deep as Laval or Montreal, Sherbrooke has a fifth-year QB in Jeremi Roch-Dyon. Recently the LaSalle, Que., native moved up to first on the all-time CIS list for completions and is poised to do the same for yards, but those records will mean more if he can help wrestle home-field advantage away from Montreal.
5. Montreal (LW: 4)
It is harder to stay on top of the mountain than it is to get there. The Carabins are finding that out the hard way as they already have more losses than they had all year last year. Being upset by Sherbrooke is made worse by the fact that Laval is coming to town next, and dropping to 3-3 would put a playoff spot in jeopardy.
6. Guelph (LW: 5)
Stu Lang’s alma mater has interrupted his dream season, as the Gryphons were upset in Kingston by the Gaels. Now gone is the possibility of two undefeated teams facing off in the Yates Cup, but more importantly it calls into question if Guelph has the ball security to hang with the elite teams in the country.
7. McMaster (LW: 10)
Asher Hastings already has 21 TD passes as he added four more against the Windsor Lancers. With three games remaining Hastings has already tied the McMaster single-season record and is just four away from the conference record. More importantly the Marauders have only one loss to their names, and they’ll be hosting at least one playoff game.
8. Manitoba (LW: 6)
The Can West Thanksgiving bye couldn’t come at a better time for the Manitoba Bisons. After their homecoming win over Regina in front of almost 3,000 fans at Investors Group Field, the Bisons get a week to get healthy and then face the winless Rams again. Tied with UBC for second place at 3-2 their schedule doesn’t see them play conference power Calgary again and should allow them to manage the many players they have on the trainers’ table down the stretch.
9. UBC (LW: 8)
Of the teams that were stuck in a four-way tie at 2-2 in the Can West last week UBC is the one that has the most upside. Their win against Alberta puts them in the driver’s seat for the last playoff spot with the return contest between the two teams being in B.C. With Manitoba and Saskatchewan still on the schedule it isn’t out of the realm of possibility the T-Birds could secure home field in Blake Nill’s first year at UBC.
10. Saskatchewan (LW: 7)
The Huskies used to be the class of the conference along with Calgary. Now they’ve lost seven straight to the Dinos and don’t seem to have the depth to challenge them for the Can West title.
Honourable mention: Alberta (LW: honourable mention), Carleton (LW: not ranked)
Dropped out: Ottawa (LW: honourable mention)