Third Down Gamble

Special Guest Steve Daniel discusses the first half of the current 2026 CFL season, including the quality of play, offensive, touchdown, and kick efficiency (which are off-the-charts).  CFL on CBC theme music used with express permission; podcast recorded August 21, 2026).

Ottawa RedBlacks still searching for their first win, re-organise their front office; Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie wants his team to focus on the game ahead.   Can grass fields be brought back into CFL stadiums?  Buffalo's new stadium gets roughly 500 complaints from ticket holders over sight-lines. Renderings of the new 2027 CFL field configuration have some season-ticket holders concerned as well.  (CFLon CBC theme music used with express permission; podcast recorded August 18, 2026).

Winnipeg welcomes back Zach Collaros; Ottawa releases two more veteran defensive players; Chad Kelly throws four interceptions and Toronto wins... again.  Do 'points shown in the standings' matter anymore given there likely will be no more draws?  Commissioner Stewart Johnston has been barely visible as of late, but the CFL season moves forward with record scoring.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express permission; podcast recorded August 11, 2026).

Can Winnipeg's running back Brady Oliviera and Offensive Coordinator Tommy Condell get on the same page?  Will Winnipeg's defence get on track?  Ottawa fires Defensive Coordinator William Fields and release receiver Eugene Lewis, what is next for the RedBlacks?  Has quarterback Tre Ford played himself out of a starting role with Hamilton?  Think about it... if this were 2027, given the current standing, winless Ottawa would need just two wins to be tied for the final playoff spot.  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express permission; podcast recorded August 4, 2026).

One linebacker (Hamilton's Winton McManus) gets ejected from a CFL game, while another (BC's Darnell Sankey) is penalized but allowed to continue; what was the difference?  For the second time this year, Calgary scores over 50 points against an opponent.  With backup quarterbacks in charge, teams are struggling to score and, more importantly, win.  Can rookie quarterback Kaidon Salter defy this recent trend with his first start for the Lions?  Elks vs Roughriders round two goes Saturday, will it be another classic?  (CFL on CBC theme music used with express permission; podcast recorded July 28, 2026).