B.C. Lions fall 28–16 to Edmonton Elks in West Final, extending Grey Cup drought to 15 years

The B.C. Lions lost 28–16 to the Edmonton Elks in the CFL West Final on Saturday, November 7, their fourth West Final defeat in five years and their 15th straight season without a Grey Cup appearance since winning the title in 2011.

Rourke's rushing TD tied it; Edmonton scored the final 12 points

The game at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton drew 40,182 fans, the CFL's biggest crowd of the year. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke scored on a rushing touchdown to tie the game 16–16, but Edmonton scored the final 12 points to seal it: quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Austin Mack, Vincent Blanchard kicked a field goal, and a fumble by Lions receiver Justin McInnis, recovered by Elks defensive back J.J. Ross and returned to the red zone, set up the clinching kick.

Fajardo 25-of-30; Rourke threw for 324 yards in a losing cause

Fajardo completed 25 of 30 passes for 274 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, and added a rushing touchdown as he chases a third Grey Cup title. Rourke threw for 324 yards and rushed for a touchdown, but completed only about 59% of his passes; it was his third West Final as a starting quarterback (2022, 2025 and 2026), and his third loss.

Elks face Alouettes in the Grey Cup on November 15

Edmonton finished the regular season 13–5, first in the West for the first time since 2015. The Elks missed the playoffs for six straight seasons and at one point lost 22 straight home games; they now return to the Grey Cup for the first time in 11 years. The 113th Grey Cup will be played on November 15 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary against the Montreal Alouettes, who beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32–23 in the East Final.