The Bisons football team returns home this weekend, after two spirited road contests that were nail-biters. In week one, UBC knocked off the Herd 21-9, however the Bisons demonstrated flashes of excellence with two takeaways and six trips to the red zone. In week two, they nearly beat Calgary on the final play of the game, going for two instead of one to tie the game, falling 15-14. Now, they face the No. 5 ranked, 2-0 Saskatchewan Huskies, looking to put everything together in front of a home crowd.

Saskatchewan has had Manitoba's number as of late. They've won eight of the last ten meetings between the two sides, and hold a regular season record of 24-18 against Manitoba over the last 28 years. The Bisons, however, have been successful at home against their prairie rivals. They've split each of the last four contests in Manitoba, including a home victory to open the 2024 campaign, 37-24. In that game, All-Canadian running back Breydon Stubbs rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns, adding to a career regular season rushing total that is now at 23, following a week two score against the Dinos. 

Stubbs' 23 rushing majors are tied for second in school history with Vanier Cup champion Matt Henry, and he also needs just ten rushing yards to pass Grey Cup champ Anthony Coombs for fifth in school history, at 2,232. Quarterback Jackson Tachinski is also just one rushing major shy of tying Brett Watt for fourth in school history, with 19. That would also tie for the most by any Bisons quarterback, while his 1,407 career rushing yards rank 11th all-time, are the most by any Bisons quarterback, and are just 77 yards shy of Kienan LaFrance for tenth. 

Manitoba's 154.5 rushing yards per game rank third in Canada West, just behind Saskatchewan, at 166, with both sides featuring All-Canadian backs who can flip momentum. Ryker Frank is second in Canada West, with 192 rushing yards, while Stubbs is fourth, with 131. The passing game is a separator entering play. The Huskies, led by veteran Anton Amundrud, are throwing for 333.5 yards per game, second in Canada West, while Manitoba is last, at 197. Amundrud leads Canada West, with 667 passing yards, and his seven passing scores are also first. 

At the receiver position, Bisons Braeden Smith and Nathan Udoh are both coming off career highs, while CFL Draft pick Daniel Wiebe leads the conference, with 252 yards. Not far behind is fellow speedster Dawson Lennea, at 138.

On defence, Charlie Parks of Sask and Jack Shaffer of Manitoba are tied for the conference lead in sacks, with three, and both side's five sacks are first. That total is a career high for Shaffer, a captain for the Bisons, while Jordan Friesen's two sacks for the hosts are also a personal best.