The stakes couldn't be any higher on Saturday at 2 pm when the No. 8 nationally ranked Manitoba Bisons welcome the No. 6 nationally ranked UBC Thunderbirds to Winnipeg for the final game of the Canada West regular season.

The contest will also serve as 29-year head coach Brian Dobie's last regular season match as head coach of the program. He will retire following the 2024 season as the winningest coach in school history, with 127 career victories.

It's fitting that Dobie's final regular season home game is against Blake Nill, a 27-year head coaching veteran who's been stride for stride with Dobie competitively, and in national recruiting. In 2001, Nill's St. Mary's Huskies beat Dobie's Bisons for the Vanier Cup, and the two have competed in countless memorable games over the years.

Manitoba, entering playing at 6-1, has controlled first place all year. They can secure home field advantage for both rounds of the Canada West playoffs, as well as the right to host the national semi-final, with a win over 5-2, second place UBC. It would be the first time since 2007 that the Herd have earned this opportunity.

Manitoba beat the T-Birds 33-10 in week two, however UBC has won their last five games in a row. They would need to beat the Bisons by 23 points or more to secure first place and home field advantage for the Canada West playoffs, and the right to host the national semi.

Manitoba is coming off a 26-point come-from-behind 38-37 OT win over Alberta last weekend, the biggest against the Golden Bears in school history. Senior quarterback Jackson Tachinski was instrumental in the win, throwing for 267 yards and a score while rushing for a career-high 146 yards and a major.

Statistically, Tachinski's best passing game of the year came against UBC, where he went off for 286 yards and two scores, as Manitoba battled back from 10-0 down to score 33 straight points. The Bisons defence added five turnovers, including three interceptions.

In Winnipeg weather, the run game will also play a factor. The Herd lead Canada West and are second in the nation in rushing yards per game, at 225.7, including 352 against Alberta. Breydon Stubbs leads the way with 693 rushing yards and ten scores, both career highs, while Tachinski has added 512 yards and six majors.

The T-Birds are not the same team they were at the start of September, specifically in the run game. Bell cow back Isaiah Knight, who's receiving NFL interest, has gone off for 754 yards in his last five games, and leads Canada West with 897 yards on the campaign. The team's success will begin with his ability to open up the passing game, along with the play of their two rookie tackles.

Through the air, veteran UBC quarterback Garrett Rooker, also a mobile pivot, is second in Canada West with 1801 yards. As a team, the 'Birds are second in the conference with 269.4 passing yards per game.

Statistically, Sam Davenport is third, and Mark Webb is fourth in yards receiving, with 481, and 422 respectively, however Manitoba's defence held UBC to just 195 through the air in their week two win.