Elks QB Cody Fajardo to face former Alouettes teammates in 113th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium

The Story

The Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Elks, both arriving in Calgary on Tuesday, will square off in Sunday’s 113th Grey Cup game at McMahon Stadium.

Montreal, back in the CFL championship game for a third time in four years, lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025 before beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023 to win its eighth Grey Cup. Edmonton has won the Grey Cup 14 times, second only to the Toronto Argonauts’ 19, and is returning to the championship game for the first time since winning the title in 2015.

The Alouettes, who ranked first in the East with a 14-4 record, advanced to the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 in Saturday’s division final. The Elks (13-5) finished first in the West Division to end a five-year playoff drought, then beat the B.C. Lions 28-16 in the division final to reach the championship game.

Montreal head coach Jason Maas said the week has been unusual, adding that players need to stay focused while enjoying the moment.

Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo will face former Alouettes teammates in the Grey Cup. Montreal won the 2023 Grey Cup with Fajardo under centre, and the Als traded him to Edmonton in 2024. Edmonton’s Davis Alexander, who was named this season’s Most Outstanding Player, took over at quarterback after the trade.

Alexander described texting Fajardo and said he has appreciated how smooth the transition has been. Fajardo said the matchup carries extra meaning because it is the biggest game of the year and involves playing his former team, while stressing he will still work hard every game.

The Elks have a defence built around both the pass and the run and lead the CFL in rushing yards. Edmonton’s offence is led by Most Outstanding Canadian Tyson Philpot.

Philpot said he knows McMahon from his four-year university career with the Dinos and described the Grey Cup as a “full-circle moment” in his college town. He also said he has requested his old locker room stall for Sunday, and that his twin brother Jalen, a Calgary Stampeders receiver, will handle friends and family ticket requests.

Calgary will host the Grey Cup a sixth time and the first time since 2019, when the Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The forecast for Sunday is a high of 12 with part sun and cloud.

Elks head coach Mark Kilam, who spent 20 years on the Stampeders coaching staff before Edmonton hired him for the 2025 season, said he is hoping many fans follow the team to Calgary. Kilam also referenced the team’s travel to Calgary as a short drive, and called on supporters to “paint the city green and gold.”