2026 U SPORTS Football Playoff Schedule: Full Postseason Dates, Matchups and Vanier Cup
The 2026 U SPORTS football postseason schedule features an exciting championship race involving 27 university football teams across four Canadian conferences. The postseason began with the OUA quarterfinals on October 31 and will conclude with the 61st Vanier Cup on Saturday, November 28, 2026.
Teams from the Ontario University Athletics (OUA), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Atlantic University Sport (AUS), and Canada West conferences will compete for their respective conference championships and national semifinal spots.
The road to the Vanier Cup includes conference semifinals, four conference championship games, two national bowl semifinals, and the national championship final in Quebec City.
2026 U SPORTS Football Playoff Schedule
Here is the complete 2026 U SPORTS football postseason schedule, including game dates, matchups, kickoff times, locations, and completed results.
OUA Quarterfinals – October 31, 2026
The 2026 postseason opened with three Ontario University Athletics quarterfinal games on Saturday, October 31.
| Game | Matchup | Final Score | Time & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| OUA Quarterfinal 1 | Laurier at Western | 41–58 | 1:00 PM EDT – London, ON |
| OUA Quarterfinal 2 | Guelph at Windsor | 24–28 | 1:00 PM EDT – Windsor, ON |
| OUA Quarterfinal 3 | Ottawa at McMaster | 33–17 | 1:00 PM EDT – Hamilton, ON |
Conference Semifinals – November 7, 2026
The conference semifinal round took place on Saturday, November 7, featuring matchups across all four U SPORTS football conferences.
| Game | Matchup | Final Score | Time & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSEQ Semifinal 1 | McGill at Montréal | 21–28 | 12:00 PM EST – Montreal, QC |
| AUS Semifinal | Acadia at StFX | 17–48 | 1:00 PM EST – Antigonish, NS |
| OUA Semifinal 1 | Ottawa at Queen’s | 27–45 | 1:00 PM EST – Kingston, ON |
| OUA Semifinal 2 | Windsor at Western | 33–43 | 1:00 PM EST – London, ON |
| RSEQ Semifinal 2 | Concordia at Laval | 4–42 | 3:00 PM EST – Quebec City, QC |
| Canada West Semifinal 1 | Regina at Saskatchewan | 39–27 | 3:00 PM EST – Saskatoon, SK |
| Canada West Semifinal 2 | Manitoba at UBC | 23–30 | 3:00 PM EST – Vancouver, BC |
2026 U SPORTS Conference Championship Games – November 14
The conference championship games are scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026. Four conference champions will be crowned, with each winner earning a place in the national championship semifinals.
| Championship Game | Matchup | Time & Location |
|---|---|---|
| Loney Bowl (AUS) | StFX at Saint Mary’s | 1:00 PM EST – Halifax, NS |
| Jacques Dussault Cup (RSEQ) | Montréal at Laval | 1:00 PM EST – Quebec City, QC |
| 118th Yates Cup (OUA) | Western at Queen’s | 1:00 PM EST – Kingston, ON |
| 89th Hardy Cup (Canada West) | Regina at UBC | 3:00 PM EST – Vancouver, BC |
These four championship games will determine which teams advance to the Mitchell Bowl and Uteck Bowl on November 21.
2026 U SPORTS National Semifinals – November 21
The national semifinal round will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, with two major bowl games determining the finalists for the 61st Vanier Cup.
24th Mitchell Bowl
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- Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
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- Matchup: Loney Bowl Champion vs. Yates Cup Champion
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- Potential Location: Kingston or London, Ontario
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- Kickoff: Time to be announced
The Mitchell Bowl will feature the AUS champion against the OUA champion. Under the 2026 hosting rotation, the OUA champion will host this national semifinal.
23rd Uteck Bowl
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- Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
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- Matchup: Hardy Cup Champion vs. Jacques Dussault Cup Champion
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- Potential Location: Quebec City or Montreal, Quebec
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- Kickoff: Time to be announced
The Uteck Bowl will feature the Canada West champion against the RSEQ champion. The RSEQ champion will host the game under the 2026 national semifinal hosting rotation.
Both bowl winners will advance to the national championship game.
61st Vanier Cup 2026: Date, Time and Location
The 2026 U SPORTS football season will reach its conclusion with the 61st Vanier Cup on Saturday, November 28, 2026.
Here are the championship details:
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- Game: 61st Vanier Cup
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- Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026
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- Matchup: Mitchell Bowl Champion vs. Uteck Bowl Champion
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- Kickoff Time: 12:00 PM EST
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- Venue: Stade TELUS
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- Location: Quebec City, Quebec
The two national semifinal winners will compete for the Canadian university football national championship. The winning team will be crowned the 2026 U SPORTS Vanier Cup champion.
2026 U SPORTS Football Playoff: Important Scheduling Information
National Semifinal Hosting Arrangements
The 2026 U SPORTS national semifinal hosting rotation determines which conferences will host the two bowl games.
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- Mitchell Bowl: The OUA champion will host the AUS champion.
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- Uteck Bowl: The RSEQ champion will host the Canada West champion.
The final host locations will depend on which teams win their respective conference championships.
U SPORTS Football Playoff Broadcast Information
Fans can follow the national championship games and Vanier Cup through U SPORTS broadcast coverage on CBC. Viewers should check official broadcast listings for confirmed television and streaming details.
Where to Find Live Scores and Updates
For the latest 2026 U SPORTS football playoff information, fans can follow the official U SPORTS Football Playoffs Portal.
The portal provides updates on live box scores, game schedules, kickoff confirmations, national bowl locations, and Vanier Cup ticket information.
2026 U SPORTS Football Postseason Schedule: Final Overview
The 2026 U SPORTS football playoffs feature several important dates as teams compete for the national championship.
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- October 31: OUA quarterfinals
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- November 7: Conference semifinals
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- November 14: Loney Bowl, Jacques Dussault Cup, Yates Cup, and Hardy Cup
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- November 21: Mitchell Bowl and Uteck Bowl national semifinals
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- November 28: 61st Vanier Cup national championship
With four conference championships and two national semifinal games separating the contenders from the title, the 2026 U SPORTS football postseason promises an exciting finish.
The championship journey will culminate in Quebec City on November 28, when the two remaining teams meet at Stade TELUS to compete for the prestigious Vanier Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – 2026 U SPORTS Football Playoffs
When do the 2026 U SPORTS football playoffs begin?
The 2026 U SPORTS football postseason began on Saturday, October 31, with the OUA quarterfinals. The playoffs continue through the conference championships and national bowl semifinals before concluding with the Vanier Cup.
When is the 2026 Vanier Cup?
The 61st Vanier Cup is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
Where will the 2026 Vanier Cup be played?
The 2026 Vanier Cup will take place at Stade TELUS in Quebec City, Quebec.
How many teams compete in the 2026 U SPORTS football playoffs?
A total of 27 university football teams compete across four conferences: OUA, RSEQ, AUS, and Canada West.
When are the 2026 U SPORTS conference championship games?
The four conference championship games are scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026. They include the Loney Bowl, Jacques Dussault Cup, Yates Cup, and Hardy Cup.
When are the 2026 Mitchell Bowl and Uteck Bowl?
Both national semifinal games are scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026. The winners will advance to the 61st Vanier Cup.
Which teams will play in the 2026 Mitchell Bowl?
The Mitchell Bowl will feature the Loney Bowl champion from AUS against the Yates Cup champion from OUA. The OUA champion is scheduled to host the game.
Which teams will play in the 2026 Uteck Bowl?
The Uteck Bowl will feature the Hardy Cup champion from Canada West against the Jacques Dussault Cup champion from RSEQ. The RSEQ champion is scheduled to host the semifinal.
Where can I watch the 2026 U SPORTS football playoffs?
Fans can follow U SPORTS national championship coverage and the Vanier Cup on CBC. Check official broadcast listings for confirmed game coverage and streaming information.
Where can I find 2026 U SPORTS football playoff scores and results?
Fans can visit the official U SPORTS Football Playoffs Portal for live scores, completed game results, updated schedules, national bowl information, and Vanier Cup announcements.
What time does the 2026 Vanier Cup start?
The 61st Vanier Cup is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, November 28, 2026.
How many games remain before the 2026 Vanier Cup?
After the conference semifinals, four conference championship games and two national semifinal bowl games remain before the Vanier Cup determines the national champion.
