When Blue and Green should be seen Expect intense back-to-back clash from Bombers, Riders By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 6:14 PM CDT Friday, Sep. 4, 2026

REGINA — You know that longstanding notion that the CFL season truly starts around Labour Day?

Well, you won’t have to wait very long to see if it rings true for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as they’re set to engage in a two-game series with the Saskatchewan Roughriders that could have serious ramifications in the West Division standings, beginning with Sunday’s battle at Mosaic Stadium.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea isn’t a proponent of the adage, believing it would diminish the importance of the effort and preparation required for the 11 games before the calendar flipped to September.

He doesn’t even want to look ahead to next weekend, when the home-and-home series returns to Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl.

“There’s no point in trying to take care of the second one until you try and take care of the first one,” O’Shea told reporters on Friday.

“There’s a bit of a logjam in the West, which is awesome. These games are big in terms of the standings and how that shapes up, but we try not to put a bigger emphasis on one game than the next.”

Going into the weekend, the Roughriders (7-4) hold a slight edge over the Bombers (6-5), with both coming off victories that should have them feeling good about themselves going into this often heated Prairie rivalry.

This is the 61st edition of the Labour Day Classic, with the Roughriders holding a 39-22 edge, including a 34-30 victory in 2025.

This is also the first meeting between the two since the Riders captured the Grey Cup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg in November. There will be no shortage of intensity from teams with high hopes for the remainder of this season.

Let’s take a look at five storylines that could determine the outcome on Sunday night in Saskatchewan.

What will Collaros do for an encore?

Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros was outstanding last week, completing 26 of 32 passes for 324 yards, with two touchdowns (both to Ontaria Wilson) and no interceptions.

Ball security was important, as was spreading the ball around, targeting eight different receivers and connecting with seven.

“What really made us able to accomplish what we wanted to accomplish was the physicality, starting up front and obviously with the guys on the outside, too,” said Collaros.

Setting the tone on both sides of the line of scrimmage figures to be something both teams will be looking to accomplish early.

“Every game, we need to come in with the mindset of being more physical than the other team,” said Bombers offensive tackle Jarell Broxton.

Being quick to praise those around him is normal for Collaros, but hitting his vintage form will be critical for Winnipeg to enjoy success down the stretch.

Collaros has been on both sides of this rivalry and you can be sure he’s going to be prepared for the raucous atmosphere that awaits.

 

Can the Bombers contain Harris?

After doing its best to contain Alouettes pivot Davis Alexander last week, the Bombers defence faces a different challenge in trying to minimize the damage inflicted by Roughriders QB Trevor Harris.

The cagey veteran goes into the weekend alone in third spot in passing yards (3,531) and passing touchdowns (24) to go against 11 interceptions.

“He’s extremely smart, sees the game really well and understands the nuances of probably every defender he’s going to face,” said O’Shea.

Harris is known for his ability to make smart decisions and get the ball out quickly, which means the defence must be sharp.

“We know Trevor likes to get the ball out fast, so we’ve got to be sure to be ready to run, react and retrace to whoever he’s throwing to,” said Bombers linebacker Kyrie Wilson. “He’s a great quarterback, so we’ve got to still have that pressure and make him as uncomfortable as possible back there, so he doesn’t feel like he has time.”

Harris’s favourite target this season has been receiver KeeSean Johnson, who has 77 receptions (second in the CFL behind Tyson Philpot) for 990 yards (third) to go along with a team-leading seven touchdowns (tied for third).

Johnson, who suited up for 18 gameswith the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, had 10 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown last week as the Riders overcame a 15-point deficit to defeat the Toronto Argonauts.

The Bombers secondary will surely be paying close attention to Johnson, even though Harris likes to spread the ball around.

“As coaches, we’ve got to cook up something similar to what we did (against the Alouettes) to try and confuse Trevor Harris and that Saskatchewan offence,” said Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger.

 

Can Touchdown Tommy find paydirt?

Bombers receiver Tommy Nield is set to return to a stadium he’s enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in as he continues to search for his first touchdown of the season.

Nield, who played with the Riders last season, hauled in a 69-yard touchdown reception from Harris in the 2025 Labour Day Classic and also helped the Toronto Argonauts win the 2022 Grey Cup against the Bombers at Mosaic Stadium.

The player who earned the moniker Touchdown Tommy was oh-so-close to securing his first major with Winnipeg late in the second quarter last Friday, hauling in a 13-yard reception, but the ball was knocked out of his hands just shy of the goal line.

“Honestly, I feel like this season has been a little up and down for me,” said Nield. “It’s frustrating (to get that close). Credit to him (Alouettes defensive back Nate Beauchemin), that’s just one of those ones (where you) bounce back from it and don’t let it affect the rest of the game.”

Nield, who is up to 32 catches for 402 yards after five receptions for 62 yards last week, is looking forward to his next trip to the end zone and he’d love for it to come this weekend.

“Oh man, it’s going to mean a lot,” he said. “We’re 11 games in now, so just roll with the punches. I know it will come.”

 

Can Oliveira make history?

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira is coming off a fifth game of racking up more than 100 rushing yards and is also on the verge of a significant milestone.

Should he run for 44 yards, Oliveira would reach 1,000 for a fifth consecutive season.

Oliveira and Normie Kwong, who starred for Edmonton and Calgary between 1948 and 1960, are the only Canadian running backs to hit that mark in four consecutive seasons, so barring significant injury, Oliveira will soon be standing alone.

The only thing Oliveira is worried about right now is having another strong game out of the backfield that helps his team earn a victory, but this is a mark that will have special meaning for him down the road — as someone who appreciates CFL history and the Canadian running backs that have come before him.

 

Who’s available?

Winnipeg was forced to move some things around in the secondary last week when Deatrick Nichols wasn’t available and further steps might need to be taken since defensive back Jonathan Moxey missed most of this week with a groin injury.

Friday’s workout was closed to the media. The team’s injury report listed Moxey as doubtful, with Nichols listed as questionable.

If Moxey is unable to play, expect Ridge Tejada (who made his CFL debut last week) to see additional playing time and Trey Vaval to remain with the starting defence after making his first start at corner.

“(Vaval) is ultra competitive,” said Younger. “You guys know how fast he is and how competitive he is. He has all the tools to be elite at anything he does on this football field.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Oliveira (ankle) and receiver Nic Demski (ankle) didn’t practice on Friday and are listed as questionable. O’Shea is hopeful both will be able to suit up.

Receiver Dorian Singer saw a lot of reps with the first-team offence this week and could be called upon to make his CFL debut.

There will be a change on special teams, as Charles Elliot Bouliane is expected to replace Brody Clark (out with a hamstring injury) on special teams.

Fellow special teamer Dylan Hazen (groin) is also listed as questionable, so there could be multiple changes to the active roster for the Bombers this week when the depth chart is released today.

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe