Riders host Bombers in crucial Labour Day matchup

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers meet Sunday in a Labour Day Classic that carries unusual weight because the CFL’s West Division is so tightly packed.

All five teams are separated by six points. Saskatchewan sits second and Winnipeg third, behind Edmonton, leaving little room for either rival to ease off. The familiar idea that the CFL season only becomes serious on Labour Day has arrived early in the West.

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Every game is crucial, whether it’s a Western opponent or not, we’re going to go toe to toe, and on Labour Day, this is setting up to be a great game.

Riders head coach Corey Mace acknowledged the pressure but said his team’s approach would not change. “Regardless of the records or the standings, we’re just always trying to be our best anyway,” Mace said. “Every game is crucial, whether it’s a Western opponent or not, we’re going to go toe to toe, and on Labour Day, this is setting up to be a great game.”

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It’s our job to win this game, this is the most important game of the year.

Saskatchewan has repeated the message “Let’s go 1-0 this week” throughout the season. Quarterback Trevor Harris said the urgency remained high after two games in which the Riders did not play their best football. “It’s our job to win this game, this is the most important game of the year,” Harris said. “So for us, the urgency is up.” He said the team must bring energy, execute and stay in attack mode during practice.

Harris offered a simple formula for facing Winnipeg: “By being ourselves, not anything new.” He called the Bombers a good team and said they had been “the class of the league for quite a while.” The game also opens a home-and-home series. Winnipeg swept the Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl in 2024, while Saskatchewan swept both meetings in 2025. Each of those four games was decided by one score.

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By being ourselves, not anything new.