PRSPECTVES Sept 19: Five Quick Stories Happening In U SPORTS Football You Need To Know 🏈
C/O - Manitoba Bisons
We’re nearly halfway through the 2024 U SPORTS football season, so here are five quick stories you NEED to know…
Laurier Is Golden 🟣🟡
The Golden Hawks are 3-0 and sitting at first place in the OUA
They just defeated Western on Saturday (43-28)
This was Laurier’s first time defeating Western in the regular season since 2006, and Western’s first OUA loss since 2021
The Hawks are currently ranked #1 in the nation
It’s the first time they’ve been ranked #1 since 1995
Manitoba Bisons Sit Atop The West 🦬
After three weeks, the Manitoba Bisons are first place in the Canada West Conference and are ranked 5th in the country
They are currently the only undefeated team in the conference, sitting at 3-0
They’ve racked up convincing wins over the Saskatchewan Huskies, UBC Thunderbirds, and Alberta Golden Bears
The Canada West preseason coaches poll predicted the Manitoba Bisons would finish third in the conference
Saskatchewan, UBC, and StFX All Off To Underwhelming Starts 😳
The Saskatchewan Huskies, who went to the Vanier Cup in both 2021 and 2022, started the season 0-2 before picking up their first win of the season last Friday against Calgary
The UBC Thunderbirds, who went to the Vanier Cup in 2023, started the season 0-2 before picking up their first win of the season last Saturday against Regina
The StFX X-Men, who are the 3-time reigning AUS champs, lost their first conference game in five years in week 1 and proceeded to start the season 0-2 before picking up their first win of the season against Acadia
The Upper-Echelon Of The OUA Is MAD Competitive 👏
Outside of the aforementioned Laurier Golden Hawks, the Western Mustangs, Windsor Lancers, Queen’s Gaels and even the Guelph Gryphons have all given fans a reason to believe they are Yates Cup Contenders
Despite falling to the Laurier Golden Hawks last Saturday, the Western Mustangs enter their bye week with a 3-1 record, while being ranked 4th in the country
The Windsor Lancers, who still boast an immensely talented defence, remain undefeated through three games and are ranked 6th in the country
The Queen’s Gaels are currently 3-1 and are silently ranked 8th in the country behind running back Jared Chisari’s heroics out of the backfield
The Guelph Gryphons are also 3-1 and have returned to the top 10 this week at the No. 10 spot
The Always Intense Montreal-Laval Rivalry Seems Quite Even This Year 🤝
Laval is currently 1-0 against Montreal this year after defeating the Carabins in week 2 on a 54-yard game-winning field goal (final score of 23-22)
This win comes after Montreal swept the Rough et Or 3-0 last season
Their next meeting will be on October 12th
Banks Entering The Canadian College Sports Space? 💰
What happened: BMO announced this past August that they’ve become the official banking partner of Toronto Metropolitan University varsity athletics, also known as the TMU Bold.
Let’s dive deeper: The partnership between TMU Bold and BMO will unfold over the next three seasons, focusing on enhancing student experiences both inside and outside of sport. Together, they will offer students access to trusted resources, advanced banking services, and valuable financial literacy content, equipping them with the tools to navigate their financial futures confidently.
Why is this important: This partnership is significant because, despite the vast landscape of Canadian college sports—with over 50,000 student-athletes and more than 2 million students annually—few banks are actively engaging with this space.
BMO’s investment highlights the untapped potential within Canadian college sports, offering a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students’ financial well-being.
What To Watch 🎥
Since we’re on the topic of financial literacy, here’s a throwback to Tuition Talks, our exclusive sit-down interview from 2023 with now Edmonton Elks receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr.
Scholarships, Salaries, Finances
We talk about it all 🎥
