The University of Calgary Dinos open defence of their Canada West title on Saturday night at McMahon Stadium when they take on the University of Saskatchewan.
Virtually nothing separated the two squads in their two meetings last season, both at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. In the season-opener, the Huskies took a 34-33 win when a Calgary two-point convert attempt in overtime was unsuccessful. Then, in the conference final, Saskatchewan missed the game-winning field goal to give the Dinos their second straight Canada West title.
Kickoff goes at 7 p.m., live on Shaw TV and AM 770 CHQR.
It’s the third straight year that the Dinos and Huskies have met to begin the regular season, but this time it finally comes to McMahon Stadium and it’s the front end of a home-and-home series that will end in Saskatoon on Oct. 15. Saskatchewan last visited Calgary in 2007.
While the Dinos were unsuccessful in the previous two season-openers against the Huskies, this time they’re at home and Calgary hasn’t lost at McMahon since Sept. 29, 2007, a span of 10 conference games, 13 if post-season contests are included.
Adding to the drama, both teams are ranked in the top three in the nation, according to the Football Reporters of Canada. The Dinos find themselves at No. 1 for the first time since 1993, with the Huskies nipping at their heels in third spot and Laval sandwiched in between the Canada West rivals. A Calgary win would cement the Dinos’ spot atop the rankings, while a win by the Huskies would give them a claim to the No. 1 spot.