Two nationally ranked opponents will duke it out on Saturday afternoon, as the 7-1 Saskatchewan Huskies, the number-one seed in the Canada West conference, welcome the 4-4 Manitoba Bisons, the fourth-seed. Catch the game live at 2 pm CT at Canadawest.tv.

Home has been where the heart is for the Huskies, who have won their last 16 straight games at Griffiths Stadium. They're also undefeated against Manitoba at home dating all the way back to 2017. Saskatchewan also boasts the conference's best statistical offence, averaging 30.1 points per game. Their defence is also tops in Canada West, allowing just 14.9 points per game. 

Undeterred are the Bisons, who had to win their last two games to secure the conference's final playoff spot, Trailing at halftime against Alberta as well as Regina, the Bisons battled back, showing all kinds of heart and relentlessness which they hope will carry into the playoffs against the Huskies. 

In the team's first showing, it was running back Ted Kubungo who was the x-factor. He scored on the game's opening kickoff, had over 300 all-purpose yards and scored in three different ways to pace the Huskies in their 43-22 win. Hec Crighton candidate Mason Nyhus, who led the conference in passing yards with 2817, also threw for 315 and had two scores.

Manitoba will look to get a pass rush on Nyhus, forcing him out of his comfort zone in the pocket to create turnovers for their talented secondary, which led the conference in pass breakups and was the second-best statistical unit behind Saskatchewan. Canada West All-Stars Marcel Arruda-Welch and Nick Conway, along with interception leader Sebastien Reid, Stephen Adamopoulos, Austin Balan, Jake Nitychoruk and Owen Miller will be amongst the players looking to flip the field for their side. Arruda-Welch, Conway, Reidm, Balan and Adamopoulos all had at least three PBUs on the year. 

The Bisons had a halftime lead against the U of S in their regular season contest (22-19), but were shut out in the second half in a game that saw Manitoba struggle o move the ball through the air. Look for the run game to play a big factor in this one, as the Bisons attempt to establish a presence with Breydon Stubbs (486 rushing yards, third in CanWest), Noah Anderson (218 rushing yards) and Vaughan Lloyd (scored his first U SPORTS touchdown last week against Regina). 

Success on the ground leads to the defence second-guessing themselves in RPO situations, opening up holes in zones for fifth-year pivot Des Catellier, who broke the Bisons all-time passing record last week (7,616 total). His favourite target on the year, Canada West All-Star AK Gassama who had 749 receiving yards (second in the nation), was held to three catches for 33 yards against the green dogs, but has gone over 100 in each of his last three games.