112th Grey Cup

Host City Selection and Game Details

The 112th Grey Cup was hosted by Winnipeg, Manitoba, at Princess Auto Stadium, home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The city's successful bid was officially announced on March 14, 2023, following reports in October 2022 that the Manitoba government had offered to contribute up to $5.5 million for the bid. The league confirmed the game date on August 16, 2024, scheduling it for the third Sunday in November, November 16, 2025, which tied it as the earliest Grey Cup played in a calendar year alongside the 85th and 91st editions. The game was announced as a sell-out on November 4, 2025, ensuring a full stadium for the championship contest. National broadcast coverage in Canada was provided by CTV, TSN, and RDS, with CBS Sports Network carrying the game in the United States and CFL+ streaming it internationally. The collective bargaining agreement had given the league the option to move the season start by up to 30 days, but the traditional late November date was maintained.

Pre-Game and Halftime Entertainment

The entertainment for the 112th Grey Cup featured a mix of Canadian and American musical acts. Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace performed the SiriusXM Kickoff show prior to the game. The halftime show was headlined by American singer MGK, who performed a seven-song set including "Starman", "Don't Wait Run Fast", "Bloody Valentine", "Lonely Road", "My Ex's Best Friend", "Vampire Diaries", and "Cliché". The Canadian national anthem was performed by local Métis country singer Catie St. Germain, who is the granddaughter of well-known entertainer Ray St. Germain. These performances added to the festival atmosphere surrounding the championship game in Winnipeg, continuing the tradition of major musical acts at the Grey Cup.

Montreal Alouettes' Season and Playoff Run

The Montreal Alouettes finished the 2025 CFL season in second place in the East Division with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. Prior to the season, the team moved on from 110th Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo and anointed Davis Alexander as the starting quarterback after his 4-0 record as a starter in 2024. Alexander led the team to a 3-0 start before suffering a hamstring injury that caused him to miss two games, both losses. He returned after the bye week but re-injured his hamstring on a touchdown run in a Week 7 victory. Backup quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson started three games before also suffering an injury, leading to starts by Caleb Evans and then fourth-stringer James Morgan during a five-game losing streak. With the team at a 5-7 record, Bethel-Thompson returned and led two victories, including one over Saskatchewan. Alexander then returned and won his three starts, finishing the regular season with a 7-0 record as a starter and setting a CFL record for most consecutive regular season wins to start a career with 11. Tyler Snead finished as the team's leading receiver with 1,129 yards and Darnell Sankey led the team in defensive tackles with 101. Placekicker José Carlos Maltos set a franchise record with 58 field goals in one season, tied for the third-most in CFL history.

In the East Semi-Final, the Alouettes faced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who had been West Division champions in the previous five seasons. Montreal had a 19-point lead at halftime, but the Blue Bombers scored 21 straight points. The Alouettes re-took the lead on a Stevie Scott touchdown, with Scott finishing the game with 18 carries for 133 yards, leading to a 42-33 win. Alexander completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 384 yards with one touchdown pass, one interception, and one touchdown run. In the East Final against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the game was a defensive contest tied 16-16 with under two minutes left. Alexander drove the team down the field, highlighted by a Charleston Rambo 19-yard catch on second down, to set up a Maltos 45-yard field goal on the last play for a 19-16 victory. Maltos was successful on all four of his field goal attempts and Sankey led the team with 10 defensive tackles.

• Regular Season Record: 10-8, second in East Division.
• Key Regular Season Stat: Kicker José Carlos Maltos set a franchise record with 58 field goals.
• Playoff Results: Defeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers 42-33 in East Semi-Final. Defeated Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-16 in East Final.
• Quarterback Carousel: Four different quarterbacks started games during the season due to injuries.

Saskatchewan Roughriders' Season and Playoff Run

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were a dominant force during the 2025 CFL season, starting 10-2 and finishing with a league-best 12-6 record. The team began with four straight wins before losing to the Calgary Stampeders after their bye week. After twelve games and just two losses, the team controlled the West Division. The Roughriders endured injuries to the receiving corps as former 1,000-yard receivers Samuel Emilus, Kian Schaffer-Baker, and Shawn Bane missed most of the season. Despite this, the team demonstrated depth with KeeSean Johnson and Dohnte Meyers both posting their first 1,000-yard seasons. Starting quarterback Trevor Harris had 4,549 passing yards in 16 starts and running back A. J. Ouellette rushed for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns. After a slow start, the team's defence was stalwart, allowing a league-low 409 points. The Roughriders had a league-high nine CFL All-Stars, the most in franchise history, besting the seven selections in 1967. In their 16th game, the Roughriders secured first place in the West Division for the ninth time in franchise history and clinched the top record in the league for the fifth time. The team lost the last two games of the year while resting starters.

After enjoying a bye during the semi-finals, the Roughriders faced the BC Lions and league Most Outstanding Player Nathan Rourke in the West Final. Saskatchewan struggled to score in the first half, trailing 7-4 at halftime. They took the lead on a touchdown reception by Schaffer-Baker in the third quarter and a Marcus Sayles interception helped secure a third-quarter shutout for a 14-7 lead. The Lions responded with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to lead 21-14. With under three minutes to play, head coach Corey Mace opted for a Brett Lauther field goal on third and goal from the five-yard line. The defence held, and Harris led a 76-yard scoring drive capped by a Tommy Nield three-yard touchdown catch with 11 seconds left for a 24-21 victory. This was the Roughriders' first West Final win since 2013. Historically, the Roughriders had won the Grey Cup after finishing first in their division just once before, in 1966.

• Regular Season Record: 12-6, first in West Division and best in CFL.
• Key Regular Season Stat: Defence allowed a league-low 409 points.
• Playoff Result: Defeated BC Lions 24-21 in West Final.
• Franchise Record: Nine CFL All-Stars, a team record.

Regular Season Matchups and Historical Context

The Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders split their two regular season meetings in 2025. The Roughriders won 34-6 on August 2 in Montreal, while the Alouettes returned the favour on September 13 with a 48-31 victory in Regina. In the first meeting, Trevor Harris completed 19 of 27 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, with Dohnte Meyers recording five catches for 136 yards. Saskatchewan's defence allowed just 169 yards of offence by Montreal and recorded three takeaways. The Alouettes started backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who completed 15 of 26 passes for 126 yards and an interception. In the second meeting, with the Alouettes on a five-game losing streak, their offence exploded as Bethel-Thompson completed 21 of 27 pass attempts for 369 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Tyson Philpot had 238 receiving yards, the second-most single-game receiving yards in Montreal history, along with two touchdowns. Saskatchewan's Harris was 23 of 32 for 252 yards with one touchdown and one interception before giving way to backup Jake Maier. This matchup also featured Harris playing against his former team, as he was the Alouettes' starter in 2021 and 2022, and facing his former teammate Davis Alexander. This was the third Grey Cup meeting between the two teams, with the previous contests occurring in 2009 and 2010, both wins for the Alouettes. The Alouettes also defeated the Roughriders in their lone playoff meeting in the 2005 East Semi-Final when Saskatchewan was the crossover team. Including the 1931 Grey Cup, where the Roughriders lost to the Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers, the Roughriders had never defeated a team from Montreal in the postseason prior to the 112th Grey Cup.

Game Summary and Key Plays

The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in a game defined by defensive stands and critical turnovers. After winning the coin toss and deferring, Saskatchewan saw Marcus Sayles intercept a deep Davis Alexander pass on Montreal's third play. The Roughriders opened the scoring with a single on a 69-yard Jesse Mirco punt. Montreal responded with a one-yard touchdown run by Shea Patterson for a 7-1 lead. In the second quarter, Saskatchewan scored two touchdowns. The first was a one-yard run by Tommy Stevens after a successful pass interference challenge, and the second was a four-yard run by A. J. Ouellette, giving Saskatchewan a 15-7 halftime lead. Alexander threw two first-half interceptions, the second a Hail Mary picked off by Rolan Milligan to end the half.

Saskatchewan extended their lead in the third quarter with another Stevens touchdown run and a 48-yard Brett Lauther field goal. Montreal's Stevie Scott scored an 11-yard rushing touchdown as time expired in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 25-14. The only scoring in the fourth quarter was a 23-yard field goal by Montreal's José Carlos Maltos. Montreal threatened to score again late, driving to the Saskatchewan three-yard line. On second and two, Shea Patterson fumbled after a hit by Tevaughn Campbell, and Marcus Sayles recovered on the goal line with 2:40 remaining. Saskatchewan's offence then ran out the clock after a key first-down catch by Dohnte Meyers. Saskatchewan's defence forced four turnovers, intercepting Alexander three times and recovering the critical fumble. Following the game, Harris was named Grey Cup Most Valuable Player, and Samuel Emilus received the Dick Suderman Trophy as Most Valuable Canadian.

Team Statistics, Depth Charts, and Officiating

The statistical summary of the 112th Grey Cup reflects Saskatchewan's balanced attack and Montreal's struggles with ball security. Receiver Samuel Emilus led all pass-catchers with 76 yards on five receptions. The turnover battle was decisive, as Saskatchewan won it 4-0. The Roughriders also held a slight edge in time of possession at 30:07.

The depth charts released before the game illustrated the lineup configurations. For Montreal, Davis Alexander started at quarterback behind an offensive line anchored by centre Justin Lawrence. The receiving corps featured Tyson Philpot, Cole Spieker, and Tyler Snead. On defence, linebackers Darnell Sankey and Tyrice Beverette led the front seven. Saskatchewan's offence started Trevor Harris, with A. J. Ouellette at running back and a receiver group including Samuel Emilus and Dohnte Meyers. The defensive secondary was highlighted by veterans Rolan Milligan and Marcus Sayles. The officiating crew was composed of the highest-rated officials at each position during the 2025 CFL season, as announced on November 14, 2025.

Uniform Protocol, Aftermath, and Legacy

A change in the league's Grey Cup uniform selection protocol was implemented for the 112th game. Traditionally, the home team designation and first uniform choice went to the divisional champion from the host's division. With West Division teams scheduled to host four consecutive Grey Cups from 2024 to 2027, the league altered the formula to alternate the home designation annually. For the 2025 game, the East Division champion Montreal Alouettes were given the home locker room and first uniform choice. The Alouettes elected to wear their standard navy blue jerseys with navy blue pants. The Saskatchewan Roughriders, as the road team, wore their standard white jerseys with green pants.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' victory ended a 12-year championship drought, dating back to their 2013 win. It was their fifth Grey Cup title overall and their first victory over a Montreal-based team in postseason history. The win validated a season in which the Roughriders led the league with nine CFL All-Stars and the best regular season record. For the Montreal Alouettes, the loss was a disappointment in their 20th Grey Cup appearance, preventing them from capturing a ninth franchise championship. The game's outcome immediately shifted the narrative for the 2026 CFL season, establishing the Roughriders as the defending champions. The Roughriders' parade was held on November 18 in Regina, celebrating the franchise's fifth title. The victory also broke a historical pattern, as the Roughriders had won the Grey Cup after finishing first in their division only once before, in 1966.

Questions about 112th Grey Cup

Who performed at the halftime show for the 112th Grey Cup?

The halftime show for the 112th Grey Cup was performed by American singer MGK. His setlist included seven songs: "Starman", "Don't Wait Run Fast", "Bloody Valentine", "Lonely Road", "My Ex's Best Friend", "Vampire Diaries", and "Cliché". The pre-game SiriusXM Kickoff show was performed by the Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace. The Canadian national anthem was performed by local Métis country singer Catie St. Germain, granddaughter of entertainer Ray St. Germain.

How did the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders reach the 112th Grey Cup?

The Montreal Alouettes finished second in the East Division with a 10-8 record. They defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 42-33 in the East Semi-Final and won the East Final 19-16 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on a last-second field goal by José Carlos Maltos. The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished with the CFL's best record at 12-6. After a first-round playoff bye, they won the West Final 24-21 over the BC Lions on a touchdown pass from Trevor Harris to Tommy Nield with 11 seconds remaining.

What was significant about the uniforms worn in the 112th Grey Cup?

The league altered its traditional uniform selection protocol for this game. Due to West Division teams hosting four straight Grey Cups from 2024 to 2027, the home team designation now alternates annually. For the 112th Grey Cup, the East Division champion Montreal Alouettes were designated the home team and chose to wear their standard navy blue jerseys and pants. The West Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, as the road team, wore their standard white jerseys with green pants.

Who won the 112th Grey Cup?

The Saskatchewan Roughriders won the 112th Grey Cup, defeating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17. This victory on November 16, 2025, at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg marked the Roughriders' fifth Grey Cup championship in franchise history and their first since 2013. Quarterback Trevor Harris was named the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player for his performance. The Roughriders' championship parade was subsequently held in Regina on November 18, 2025.

Where was the 112th Grey Cup played?

The 112th Grey Cup was played at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This location was officially announced as the host on March 14, 2023, following a successful bid by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers which included an offer of up to $5.5 million in support from the Manitoba government. The game marked the fifth time Winnipeg has hosted the Grey Cup, with the previous occasion being in 2015. The event was announced as a sell out on November 4, 2025.

Sources and further reading

• 112th Grey Cup (Wikipedia)
• cfl.ca, Official site of the Canadian Football League (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 2026-10-27.