BC Lions season ends in devastating defeat as Grey Cup drought grows
The BC Lions have been to the Western Final four times in five years.
And they’ve lost every single one of them.
BC’s Grey Cup drought will extend another year, after a bitter 28-16 defeat to the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, in front of 40,182 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
This game was a battle between both teams’ placekickers until the second half, when Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo scored the first touchdown of the game with 1:16 left in the third quarter. It was one of many times Fajardo burned BC with his legs, as the Edmonton quarterback rushed for a game-high 84 yards.
Another promising season ends in disappointment. (BC Lions/Facebook)
The Lions answered right back on their next possession, with quarterback Nathan Rourke finishing off a BC drive with a rushing touchdown of his own to tie the game 16-16.
ROURKE ANSWERS WITH ONE OF HIS OWN! 😤
A rushing TD on each side as the quarterbacks answer one another!
🗓️: Western Final presented by Wegovy® LIVE NOW
📺: TSN, RDS and CFL+#GCPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Wu9bUL5vSl— CFL (@CFL) November 8, 2026
But that’s when Edmonton took over the fourth quarter, scoring 12 unanswered points, punctuated by the only touchdown pass of the game, when Fajardo found Austin Mack in the end zone with 6:59 left.
CODY FAJARDO TO AUSTIN MACK FOR THE HUUUUGEEE TD! 💪
Edmonton keeps the pressure on and puts points on the board!
🗓️: Western Final presented by Wegovy® LIVE NOW
📺: TSN, RDS and CFL+#GCPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/aCXdMigosb— CFL (@CFL) November 8, 2026
It’s hard to blame Rourke, who completed 23 of 39 passes for 328 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. Still, this game was missing a moment of magic from the Lions’ marquee player.
Fajardo, meanwhile, completed 25 of 30 passes for 274 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Edmonton’s headed to the Grey Cup for the first time in 11 years. (BC Lions/Facebook)
The 113th Grey Cup matchup is now set, as the Elks will play the Montreal Alouettes, who defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-23 earlier in the day in the Eastern Final. Calgary will play host to the CFL’s championship game on Sunday, Nov. 15.
The Lions have the CFL’s longest Grey Cup appearance drought, having not been to the big game since they won it in 2011. Edmonton is looking to win their first championship since 2015.