110th Grey Cup

Host City and Festival

The 110th Grey Cup was the 12th time Hamilton, Ontario, had hosted the championship game. The city was originally scheduled to host the full Grey Cup Festival for the 108th game in 2021, but those in-person festivities were cancelled due to provincial public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the CFL awarded the 110th Grey Cup to Hamilton on October 14, 2021, to allow the city to host the complete event as originally envisioned. The Hamilton Sports Group organized a multi-day festival in downtown Hamilton from November 16 to 18, 2023. Key events and venues for the festival included the following.

• A 35-yard football field constructed inside the John Weir Foote Armoury for a flag football tournament.
• Team parties held at the Hamilton Convention Centre, FirstOntario Centre, and Bridgeworks.
• The annual CFL Alumni Association Legends Luncheon at LIUNA Station on November 17, 2023.
• Festival activities concentrated in the downtown core over the three days leading to the game.

The Hamilton Sports Group announced that the Grey Cup Festival would be held in downtown Hamilton from November 16 to 18, 2023. A 35-yard football field was constructed at the John Weir Foote Armoury for a multi-day flag football tournament. The Hamilton Convention Centre, FirstOntario Centre, and Bridgeworks hosted parties for all CFL teams. The annual CFL Alumni Association Legends Luncheon was also held on November 17, 2023, at LIUNA Station. This successful execution marked a return to the large-scale, community-focused celebrations that define Grey Cup week. It fulfilled the original plan after the 108th Grey Cup festivities in Hamilton were cancelled due to public health orders.

Season Context and Playoff Paths

The 2023 CFL season operated under the scheduling formula confirmed by the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which gave the league the option to start the season earlier but was not utilized. The league confirmed the Grey Cup would be played on the third Sunday of November, which fell on November 19. The Montreal Alouettes finished second in the East Division with an 11-7 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Their season was characterized by pronounced streaks, beginning with two wins, then three losses, then four wins, then four losses, and finally a five-game winning streak to close the regular season. They clinched a playoff spot following a week 17 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. In the East Semi-Final, Montreal's defence held the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to four field goals and no touchdowns in a 27-12 victory. The East Final pitted them against the 16-2 Toronto Argonauts, a team that had beaten them three times in the regular season. The Alouettes forced nine Toronto turnovers, including four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, to win decisively 38-17 in front of a record crowd at BMO Field.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers dominated the West Division, finishing with a 14-4 record and securing a playoff spot for the seventh straight season in their 13th game. Their path to first place was challenged by the BC Lions, as both teams held identical 11-4 records heading into a week 16 showdown. Winnipeg won that game in overtime, and after a Lions loss the following week, the Blue Bombers secured their third consecutive division title. Winnipeg ended the regular season by winning two meaningless games while resting some starters. After a playoff bye week, they faced the BC Lions in the West Division Final, where their defence tied a league playoff record with nine sacks and held the Lions to one touchdown in a 24-13 victory. This set up a Grey Cup matchup where Winnipeg was heavily favoured, having defeated Montreal 17-3 on Canada Day and 47-17 on August 24 during the regular season.

Game Summary and Key Plays

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers started strong, building a 17-7 lead by halftime. Sergio Castillo opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal at 8:32 of the first quarter. After a Montreal two-and-out, Winnipeg drove 66 yards in eight plays, capped by a five-yard touchdown run from Brady Oliveira. Montreal responded with a seven-play, 77-yard drive, highlighted by a 31-yard catch by Austin Mack, ending with William Stanback's 32-yard rushing touchdown as the first quarter ended. In the second quarter, Montreal rookie defensive back Kabion Ento stripped Oliveira of the ball but the Alouettes could not capitalize. Later, Winnipeg's special teams forced a fumble from returner James Letcher Jr., and after a challenged no-yards penalty was upheld, the Blue Bombers took over on Montreal's 29-yard line. Five plays later, Dakota Prukop scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to extend the lead to 17-7. Montreal drove to Winnipeg's one-yard line just before halftime but was stopped on consecutive plays, resulting in a turnover on downs.

The third quarter saw Montreal close the gap as quarterback Cody Fajardo completed a 33-yard pass to Mack and then a 23-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker. Winnipeg then drove to Montreal's nine-yard line, but Zach Collaros was intercepted in the end zone by Kabion Ento. The score remained 17-14 entering the fourth quarter. On the second play of the final quarter, Fajardo was intercepted by Evan Holm, but Winnipeg was forced to punt. Returner Tyson Philpot's 30-yard return set up Montreal at the Winnipeg 28-yard line, leading to a quick three-play drive and a 13-yard touchdown reception by Mack, giving Montreal its first lead at 21-17. Winnipeg responded with a nine-play drive, culminating in Prukop's second touchdown, a four-yard run, to reclaim a 24-21 lead with 5:28 remaining. After exchanged punts, Montreal got the ball back at its own 27-yard line with 1:55 left. Faced with a third-and-five, Fajardo found Spieker for a 31-yard completion to the Winnipeg 19. On the next play, he connected with Philpot for a 19-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left. Winnipeg's final desperation play, which included a 14-yard pass to punter Jamieson Sheahan and a subsequent 35-yard kick, was recovered by Marc-Antoine Dequoy to end the game.

Statistical Breakdown and Individual Performances

The game was a closely contested battle with several outstanding individual performances that decided the outcome. Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player for leading the game-winning drive, finishing the game with three touchdown passes. His primary targets were Austin Mack, who made a spectacular one-handed 33-yard catch, and Cole Spieker, whose 31-yard reception on the final drive was crucial. Rookie defensive back Kabion Ento made a critical interception in the end zone to halt a Winnipeg scoring threat and also forced a fumble. Tyson Philpot, who caught the winning touchdown, received the Dick Suderman Trophy as the Most Valuable Canadian Player. For Winnipeg, running back Brady Oliveira was a consistent force on the ground, scoring one touchdown. Quarterback Zach Collaros managed the game but threw one costly interception. The Winnipeg defence, which had recorded nine sacks in the West Final, was led by Willie Jefferson and Cameron Lawson but could not contain Montreal's late surge. The scoring summary shows the back-and-forth nature of the contest, with the lead changing hands twice in the final quarter.

Entertainment and Ceremonies

The 110th Grey Cup featured a slate of entertainment designed for a national television audience. The pre-game kickoff show was performed by pop singer and Ontario native Jamie Fine. The Canadian national anthem was sung by Simone Soman, a semifinalist from Canada's Got Talent, who made history as the first blind singer to perform the anthem at a Grey Cup. The halftime show was headlined by the American rock band Green Day. The band performed a four-song set that included their then-new single "The American Dream is Killing Me" as well as classic hits "Basket Case", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", and "Holiday". The inclusion of a major international act like Green Day was part of the league's effort to broaden the appeal of the championship event and provide a spectacle for the tens of thousands in attendance and the national broadcast audience.

Game Administration and Logistics

The officiating crew for the 110th Grey Cup was composed of the highest-rated officials at each position from the 2023 CFL season. The league announced the assignments on November 15, 2023, four days before the game. Tim Kroeker, wearing uniform number 74, served as the referee, the lead official responsible for the final ruling on penalties and game administration. The full crew included umpire Troy Semenchuk, down judge Andrew Wakefield, line judge Rob Hill, side judge Pierre Laporte, back judge Larry Butler, and field judge Jason Maggio. The league also designated several backup officials for the game, including Tom Vallesi as the backup referee and Chris Shapka, Kevin Riopel, and Brian Chrupalo as additional backup officials. As the East Division representative in a Grey Cup hosted by an East Division city, the Montreal Alouettes were designated the home team. This meant they wore their blue jerseys and blue pants, used the home dressing room at Tim Hortons Field, and had first choice on logistical matters. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as the visiting team, wore white jerseys with gold pants and used the visitors' locker room.

Historical Context and Aftermath

The victory gave the Montreal Alouettes their eighth Grey Cup championship in franchise history. It ended the longest active Grey Cup appearance drought in the CFL, as the team had not played for the title since 2010. The game's dramatic finish, decided in the final 13 seconds, cemented its place as one of the more memorable Grey Cup contests in recent history. The success of the full festival in Hamilton helped re-establish the event's traditional celebratory atmosphere after the scaled-back 2021 hosting. In the years following the 110th Grey Cup, the CFL championship continued its annual tradition. The Montreal Alouettes returned to the Grey Cup in 2025, losing the 112th Grey Cup 25-17 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Winnipeg. The league subsequently scheduled the 113th Grey Cup for McMahon Stadium in Calgary on November 15, 2026, which would be that city's sixth time hosting the event.

Franchise Records and Milestones

The 110th Grey Cup appearance was significant for both participating franchises in the context of their long histories. For the Montreal Alouettes, it was their 19th appearance in the championship game. Their victory secured their eighth Grey Cup title, placing them in a tie for third-most championships among active CFL franchises at the time. The win ended a 13-year drought since their last appearance, which was the longest such drought in the league. For the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the game represented their league-leading 28th Grey Cup appearance. They were attempting to win their 13th championship, which would have extended their record for the most titles by a community-owned franchise. The head-to-head playoff record between the two teams moved to 2-1 in favour of Winnipeg, though Montreal claimed the most important meeting. The game also featured several notable firsts and achievements for individuals involved.

• Simone Soman became the first blind singer to perform the national anthem at a Grey Cup.
• Montreal's victory ended the CFL's longest Grey Cup appearance drought, which had lasted 13 years since 2010.
• Winnipeg's Zach Collaros was playing in his fourth consecutive Grey Cup as a starting quarterback.
• The game was the first Grey Cup championship meeting between the Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers franchises.
• Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo won the Grey Cup MVP in his first championship game appearance.

Regular Season Head-to-Head and Key Players

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had dominated the Montreal Alouettes in their two regular season meetings in 2023, which set the stage for the Grey Cup matchup. In the first meeting on Canada Day, Winnipeg's defence was particularly stifling, holding Montreal to just three points. The performance of key players in those games highlighted the strengths each team would bring to the championship. The following players had standout performances in the regular season contests that foreshadowed their roles in the Grey Cup.

• Brady Oliveira (WPG RB): Rushed for 120 yards on Canada Day and 119 yards with a touchdown on August 24.
• Zach Collaros (WPG QB): Threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the first game and four touchdowns in the second.
• Willie Jefferson (WPG DE): Recorded two sacks and a fumble recovery in the Canada Day victory.
• Cameron Lawson (WPG DL): Had two sacks and a forced fumble in the first meeting.
• Cody Fajardo (MTL QB): Was held to 137 passing yards and one interception in the second meeting.
• Marc-Antoine Dequoy (MTL DB): Scored a defensive touchdown on an interception in the August 24 game.
• Tyrell Richards (MTL LB): Also returned an interception for a touchdown in the second meeting.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Montreal Alouettes in both regular season meetings in 2023, winning 17-3 on Canada Day and then 47-17 on August 24. In the first meeting, the Winnipeg defence held Montreal to just three points. In the second meeting, the Blue Bombers' defence again held the Alouettes' offence to only three points. Despite these lopsided regular season results, the Grey Cup proved to be a much tighter and ultimately different contest. The championship game was decided by only four points, with several of the key players from the regular season meetings having a reduced impact in the final.

Questions about 110th Grey Cup

Who won the 110th Grey Cup?

The Montreal Alouettes won the 110th Grey Cup, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 28-24. The game was played on November 19, 2023, at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. The victory gave the Alouettes their eighth championship in franchise history. It ended a 13-year drought since their last Grey Cup appearance in 2010.

Where was the 110th Grey Cup held?

The 110th Grey Cup was held at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. This marked the 12th time that Hamilton had hosted the CFL's championship game. The city was awarded the game in 2021 to make up for the cancelled in-person festivities during its previous hosting in 2021. A full Grey Cup Festival took place in downtown Hamilton from November 16 to 18, 2023.

Who performed at the halftime show?

The American rock band Green Day performed the halftime show at the 110th Grey Cup. Their setlist included four songs: "The American Dream is Killing Me", "Basket Case", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", and "Holiday". The pre-game kickoff show featured Ontario pop singer Jamie Fine. The national anthem was performed by Canada's Got Talent semifinalist Simone Soman.

What was the significance of Montreal's win?

Montreal's win was significant as it ended the longest Grey Cup appearance drought in the CFL, which had lasted since 2010. It was the Alouettes' eighth championship overall. The victory came against a Winnipeg team that was playing in its fourth consecutive Grey Cup and seeking a third title in four years. The dramatic last-minute win was considered a major upset given Winnipeg's dominance during the regular season.

Who was named the Grey Cup MVP?

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player. He earned this honour by leading his team to a 28-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Fajardo engineered the game-winning drive in the final minutes, throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tyson Philpot with only 13 seconds left on the clock. Philpot, who caught that decisive touchdown, received the Dick Suderman Trophy as the Most Valuable Canadian Player of the game. This recognition highlighted the key performances that secured the Alouettes' championship win.

How did the teams qualify for the 110th Grey Cup?

The Montreal Alouettes qualified by finishing second in the East Division with an 11-7 regular season record. In the playoffs, they first defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 27-12 in the East Semi-Final. They then secured their Grey Cup berth by upsetting the heavily favoured 16-2 Toronto Argonauts 38-17 in the East Final, forcing nine turnovers. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers qualified by winning the West Division with a 14-4 record, securing their third consecutive division title. After a playoff bye week, they defeated the BC Lions 24-13 in the West Division Final. Notably, Winnipeg had defeated Montreal twice during the regular season, winning 17-3 on Canada Day and 47-17 on August 24.

Sources and further reading

• 110th Grey Cup (Wikipedia)
• 2026 Grey Cup Playoffs schedule announced (cfl.ca)
• 2026 CFL Season Guide: Schedule, Rules And Grey Cup ... (rg.org)
• Grey Cup 2026, Date, Host City, History & Past Winners (cflnewshub.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.