CFL 2025 Season Thread

[Cecil Terwilliger]

President CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers doesn’t seem to think this will be an issue for USports whatsoever.

https://3downnation.com/2025/09/22/b...impact-bisons/

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I imagine the shared stadiums will have to leave the ability for goalposts to remain at the goal line in those shared stadiums if the other leagues don’t follow suit.

I know the CFL (or any pro league in their respective sport) doesn’t have to consult with amateur, university, or youth leagues to make changes. But the CFL does pride itself on being such a community focused league that some pretty big changes like this would’ve been nice for those community leagues to get a heads up on if no consultation. I’ve got some calls and texts out to people in those leagues in the city so I’m curious to see what they will say.

I can wrap my head around all the rules although I’m not sure they make it a more watchable product. Special teams impact is lessened in my opinion which is too bad as it is a third of the game. The rouge is misunderstood so I suppose changing it simplifies it. Taking away the 55 yard line is just dumb. Goal posts to the back is a positive, smaller end zones a negative. The other ones are all good and common sense

Edit: I’m willing to be proven wrong. Cecil and dash changed my mind on the goalposts already to the positive side of things. But give me the darn 110 yard field. Don’t take that away

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by browna

Really is odd timing. Mid season. Out of the seeming blue. Seems rushed, but for what purpose was there to have this made public now?

I know TSN controls the CFL communication so leaks aren’t likely but with coaches and other stakeholders like USports having no idea this was happening, there’s more to the story ($ - but in what form) behind the scenes to have this rammed through by the TV executive who was deemed commissioner by higher ups at TSN.

So the Dinos have to change FG posts overnight. Do they now have to change field markings? High school kids less likely to play at McMahon now, or do they change the rules if they play there.

The changes to the goalposts and field lengths aren't supposed to happen until 2027 so it does give some time to prepare for those.

[Frequitude]

Death of the missed field goal kick return is the worst part.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Imagine this scenario - You're at the opponents 40 yard line and it's 3rd and 4. With the way the CFL game currently is, you're lining up to kick a 47 yard FG. By moving the goalposts to the back of the endzone, it's now a 62 yard FG. You're not going to punt the ball because the field position you'll gain unless it's a perfectly placed punt is going to be negligible.

I think this will lead to coaches being more aggressive and going for it more on 3rd down which is a good thing in my book.

I’ve been thinking about some of this today.

So I think the big downside is that because our end zone is bigger than the NFL it makes kicking even harder. This is gonna really marginalize kickers in the CFL. It’s also gonna make comebacks more difficult in close games because you’re gonna have to get down to like the 25 at worst to be able to kick a 47 yard field goal.

Now the smaller field will offset that a bit because you won’t have as far to travel. But the 35 second play clock might work against you depending on how time stoppages work in the last three minutes.

Having no uprights in the end zone will make it a little bit easier if you need a touchdown because now the middle of the field is going to be open but in close games it’s gonna hurt.

The next thing specific to your point about teams going for it more often is that coaches so frequently coach not to lose. We see this constantly when teams punt when they shouldn’t. The Riders did it last week against Montreal and Edmonton did it this week against Hamilton. Both were third and short and both times they punted in opposition territory because the coaches are ####ing cowards.

When you think about the dynamics in a game a coach may still choose to punt even if he’s only up by three because now he knows that the other team needs to travel almost the entire length of the field to be able to kick a field goal.


Lastly I can’t help but wonder if they announced this so far in advance because they want time to be able to evaluate the reaction. I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility that they will only keep some of these changes.

I wish there was an easier way to test this during preseason or something. The field size might be harder to test but I can’t imagine it would be that hard to test the goal posts and the rouge stuff.

[Manhattanboy]

I hate the rouge/single point. Rewards failure.

I would have preferred 10 yard end zones buts it’s a good compromise. Hell at my age I could get open in a 25 yard end zone.

I really like the NFL rules re 2 feet in bounds for receivers (requires great athleticism) and the 2 minute warning and related time out rules. In close games the last 2 minutes of an NFL game are awesome.

[Erick Estrada]

I still think these changes are a precursor to the inevitability of 4 down CFL football. These changes simply make easier and less jarring when they do decide to make the change. The CFL fanbase is really old so the day will come when the league has to make the hard decision. Not sure when that will be but I think it's simply a matter of time.

[Manhattanboy]

I think they should narrow the field as well.

I misspoke as the rouge survives only on tackles or knees in the end zone which I think will satisfy the purists.

[getbak]

Rather than Americanizing the game, I wonder if changing the dimensions is more about making it easier to have shared stadiums with soccer teams?

It took so long for the Argos to move into BMO Field because a full-sized CFL field couldn't fit in the stadium's original configuration and they eventually had to reconfigure the stadium for it to work.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Whitecaps were looking at building a new stadium where the temporary stadium was built back when BC Place was being renovated.

I wonder if they might be looking at making it easier to get funding to build shared stadiums for the Lions/Whitecaps and Als/Impact, or even the Stamps/Cavalry, rather than every team going on their own.

The new dimensions are more compatible with an intimate soccer stadium with seating behind the goals than the current dimensions.

[Manhattanboy]

Would also have preferred all of the rule changes for next season.

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by getbak

Rather than Americanizing the game, I wonder if changing the dimensions is more about making it easier to have shared stadiums with soccer teams?

It took so long for the Argos to move into BMO Field because a full-sized CFL field couldn't fit in the stadium's original configuration and they eventually had to reconfigure the stadium for it to work.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Whitecaps were looking at building a new stadium where the temporary stadium was built back when BC Place was being renovated.

I wonder if they might be looking at making it easier to get funding to build shared stadiums for the Lions/Whitecaps and Als/Impact, or even the Stamps/Cavalry, rather than every team going on their own.

The new dimensions are more compatible with an intimate soccer stadium with seating behind the goals than the current dimensions.

That makes a lot of sense, with soccer's popularity rising in Canada. Why not kill two birds with one stone if you're trying to secure funding for new stadiums.

[dash_pinched]

At the end of the day, the main traits that make the CFL unique have remained which includes the following:

- 3 downs
- 12 men per side
- 1 yard off the ball
- the waggle
- unlimited players in motion prior to the snap
- no changes to the ratio
- the rouge survived although it has been modified
- width of the field remained the same, length shortened by 10 yards (I think the width is more important than the length)

Stewart Johnston was appointed by the CFL board of governors with the mandate that the status quo was not an option. I think he has made significant changes while at the same time keeping the key elements that made the Canadian game unique. We'll just have to wait and see if it attracts more eyeballs to the CFL, but it certainly managed to create a stir.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I still think these changes are a precursor to the inevitability of 4 down CFL football. These changes simply make easier and less jarring when they do decide to make the change. The CFL fanbase is really old so the day will come when the league has to make the hard decision. Not sure when that will be but I think it's simply a matter of time.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

I hate the rouge/single point. Rewards failure.

That’s the standard claim of NFL lovers but I disagree. If you’re able to match the ball to the opposition 45, a FG or single point are a reward for doing that. Plus, part if the CFL’s appeals is the we have more ways to score, and the rough late in a close game adds an interesting, unique element. I don’t like this.

[Frequitude]

The rouge rewards field position. Don't like losing that aspect, but I guess its a little bit muted with 10 yards shorter fields now.

Operating in the 30ish-50 of the opponent's end is sure going to be interesting. Too far to kick a field goal, but not a lot of field position to be gained by punting.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

The rouge rewards field position. Don't like losing that aspect, but I guess its a little bit muted with 10 yards shorter fields now.

Operating in the 30ish-50 of the opponent's end is sure going to be interesting. Too far to kick a field goal, but not a lot of field position to be gained by punting.

It should lead to more teams going for it on 3rd down around the 40 yard line which should add some excitement.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It should lead to more teams going for it on 3rd down around the 40 yard line which should add some excitement.

It will lead to more punts because football coaches are the most risk averse people on the planet...

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

It will lead to more punts because football coaches are the most risk averse people on the planet...

thats what it did in the NFL

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

In close games the last 2 minutes of an NFL game are awesome.

No it's not. If a team runs out of timeouts it's a 2 minute snoozefest. and even then it's down to one 1st down. you can't do that in the CFL.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by White Out 403

Never is a long time. I don’t blame him for saying he can’t guarantee it’ll never change.

A better question is whether they have plans to change it right now or in the near future. The answer is obviously no.