For the first time since the name change, Edmonton Elks fans can legitmately talk about hosting a playoff game at Commonwealth Stadium. Not completely reliant on hope but actually based on fact, talk about a home game in November. No hoping the Club goes on a winning streak in October while multiple other teams go on losing streaks. The reality is becoming that the Edmonton Elks are the team in 2026 which other Clubs are scoreboard watching hoping to see a loss so they can gain ground. This is cause to have some fun and wonder just who do we as fans want to see the Elks play in their first home playoff date since November 22, 2015.

With all due respect to the Ottawa REDBLACKS at 0-9, they were left off the CFL.ca screenshot of perspective playoff teams. With teams currently at varying games played due to bye weeks, there is no straightforward "if the playoffs started tomorrow" conversation. Really, with half a season to go, this whole conversation is somewhat wacky but as an Elks fan this is about five years of pent up frustration finally getting some relief. To host a home playoff date, the Elks need to finish 1st or 2nd in the West Division. The Saturday, October 24 game in Regina against the Roughriders may decide which position the Elks finish in. For the sake of this article, which is just for fun (something we Elks fans have not a lot of this decade), lets say the season ends with a second place finish. Who do the collective we want to see on the opening weekend of November?

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

A slow start and an injury to Zach Collaros, do we know who the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are yet? Multiple years now, the Bombers demise has been predicted but they just keep chugging along. The Elks already own a road win versus the Bombers this season and will be looking to add a home win against them this Friday night at Commonwealth. Winnipeg is also Edmonton's last home game of the season on Friday, October 16th. That game in October, regardless of the result of this Friday's game, could be what decides which of these two teams get to start the playoffs at home. Cody Fajardo and Mark Killam's Elks are 2-0 against the Winnipeg at this point. The Justin Rankin versus Brady Oliveira matchup is always intriguing. While one could be proven wrong this Friday, this feels like the "preferred" home playoff matchup.

BC Lions

Coach Killam's first regular season win versus the Lions was when Nathan Rourke left the game after the first drive. The Elks do not play the Lions again this season. This fan would prefer to not have to see Mr. Rourke and his Lions in November. Can the Elks defense limit him enough for Edmonton to win? Absolutely. Still not a preferred option, disagree if you wish (it sports, disagreements are fun as long as they kept civil).

Calgary Stampeders

As someone taking the Edmonton Sports Talk Labour Day bus to Calgary, not taking the trip to see the Elks lose. The Labour Day rematch, what should be the second time this season the Club opens the upper deck, needs to be another Elks victory. By virtue of these two non-negotiable rivalry week wins against our foes from Southern Alberta, the hope is the Elks have buried the Stampeders playoff hopes. Or at least forced the Cowtown'ers to have to look at crossing over to the East.

Toronto or Hamilton

One of the Argos or Tiger-Cats is going to finish second in the East and host the Eastern Semi. The other will have to fend off a team from the West to earn a playoff spot. With Hamilton being without Bo Levi Mitchell, the default thought is that Harrison Frost and Tre Ford will not be able feed their receivers enough to keep up with the gun-slinging Chad Kelly and his Argos. Although Kelly's penchant for throwing intereptions will keep the discussion interesting. After shellacking the Argos this past Saturday, the calls for another visit from Toronto might be aplenty. The headline of Tre Ford returning to Edmonton to oppose the Elks in the playoffs would sell newspapers (for those of you that still buy newspapers). These teams are lumped together because this author does not believe either will crossover to the West.

Have your say!

Let us know in the comment section here or on whichever platform you have consumed this article who you think and/or hope the Elks host in the playoffs. Keep it civil. And yes, allow yourself to dream a little bit about this as a November date at Commonwealth has been a long time coming.