CFL Changes The Rules... But Have They Actually Changed The Game?

Now that we’ve turned the page and are marching fearlessly into 2026, the spectre of

the first of the CFL’s new rule changes is now staring us in the face and is beginning to

feel all too real.

CFL fans, media, players and coaches have now had the better part of six months to

digest the new rules and much ink has been spilled in contemplating the changes

themselves as well as the consequences, real or imagined.

This coming CFL season, we will experience the first steps of this proposed brave new

world brought to reality by CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston, namely; teams no

longer positioned on the same side of the field, a modified rouge rule and a 35 second

play clock. On the surface these changes seem somewhat benign, especially

compared to what is coming in 2027, but concerns still linger, and many questions

remain unanswered.

Despite laudable efforts by James Duthie of TSN during an interview with Johnston on

Grey Cup Sunday to hold the Commissioner accountable for answering tough

questions, the whole exercise still feels rushed, confusing and lacking in clarity. A more

recent interview with the Commissioner on Luke Willson’s “Film Doesn’t Lie” podcast

provided very little in the way of confidence in the plan, and it wasn’t helped by Willson’s

unwillingness to push Johnston on some of the tougher questions.

While we can all agree on the logic of team benches being on opposite sides of the

field, and while the rouge rule will at the very least be a fascinating exercise in strategy

shifts for coaches to consider, we are still at this late date left with a cloud of uncertainty

surrounding the 35 second clock.

I opined in this space last fall that this proposed change would likely have a negative

impact on one of the hallmarks of the CFL game; specifically the potential for dramatic

comebacks and multiple possessions during the last 3 minutes of the game. When

asked about this potential consequence by Duthie, Johnston came across as shockingly

unprepared, suggesting that perhaps the league would consider reverting back to

“today’s clock rules” in the last 3 minutes! Pardon me??! You propose a significant

change to a key clock management rule without considering the impact and when asked

the obvious question that should have formed THE most important consideration when

contemplating the change, the only response is to “perhaps” use the old rules in the last

3 minutes? If you’re looking for one reason why this entire exercise should have been

delayed until at least early 2026, I believe you have it. Decisions have consequences,

and unless they are all thought out with clarity and foresight, they should not be

proposed at all.

There are still a number of other questions and consequences which in my mind still

remain unanswered and murky, including the mystifying rationale for shortening the

playing field by 10 yards. When trumpeting all of the elements that make our game

unique, Johnston rightly names 12 players per side, 3 downs, unlimited motion, the

defense a yard off the ball, a large end zone and the wide field, but somehow leaves out

our 110 yard field. Is this not also one of the hallmarks of our game? What value does

it bring to the game to shorten the playing field to 100 yards? My wish is that the

Commissioner would answer this question, along with what to me is still at the crux of all

of it – what are these rules meant to fix in the Canadian game?

I am all for progress and trying new things to improve and as Johnston says

“modernize” the game, but as a lifetime CFL fan and former player, I am still waiting for

him to answer baseline questions that would make me feel more confident in where we

are heading in 2026 and beyond.