The Laval Rouge et Or remain the team to beat in Canadian university football ahead of the opening of the 2025 season.
The reigning Vanier Cup champions topped the first edition of the U Sports’ weekly rankings. The inaugural list ordered all 27 teams based on their respective ELO ratings, which uses an algorithm to generate a statistical calculation of a team’s strength based on certain customized variables. Beginning on Monday, the league will release their regular top 10 rankings, which evenly weight ELO scores and media voting.
Under the current statistical model, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, who fell 22–17 to Laval in last year’s national championship, are ranked second. The Bishop’s Gaiters are the top AUS team at number five, while the Manitoba Bisons check in at number eight as the top Canada West program.
The full list of teams can be seen below.
|
Pos
|
Team
|
League
|
ELO Rating
|
|
1
|
Laval |
RSEQ |
1777.4364
|
|
2
|
Laurier |
OUA |
1773.2011
|
|
3
|
Montreal |
RSEQ |
1708.7391
|
|
4
|
Western |
OUA |
1691.5396
|
|
5
|
Bishop’s |
AUS |
1644.7563
|
|
6
|
Guelph |
OUA |
1577.3494
|
|
7
|
Queen’s |
OUA |
1569.0482
|
|
8
|
Manitoba |
Canada West |
1549.1430
|
|
9
|
Saskatchewan |
Canada West |
1546.9886
|
|
10
|
StFX |
AUS |
1540.7849
|
|
11
|
UBC |
Canada West |
1535.4483
|
|
12
|
Regina |
Canada West |
1524.1084
|
|
13
|
Windsor |
OUA |
1515.3903
|
|
14
|
Saint Mary’s |
AUS |
1510.6521
|
|
15
|
Ottawa |
OUA |
1471.7157
|
|
16
|
Alberta |
Canada West |
1463.5500
|
|
17
|
McMaster |
OUA |
1449.2942
|
|
18
|
Calgary |
Canada West |
1443.1784
|
|
19
|
Carleton |
OUA |
1433.1662
|
|
20
|
McGill |
RSEQ |
1418.6573
|
|
21
|
Concordia |
RSEQ |
1403.5486
|
|
22
|
Sherbrooke |
RSEQ |
1379.2134
|
|
23
|
Acadia |
AUS |
1342.0687
|
|
24
|
York |
OUA |
1326.5030
|
|
25
|
Mount Allison |
AUS |
1319.7890
|
|
26
|
Waterloo |
OUA |
1296.6042
|
|
27
|
Toronto |
OUA |
1288.1255
|
The 2025 U Sports season begins on Friday, August 22, when the Acadia Axemen travel to Halifax to face the Saint Mary’s Huskies at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Three of the four conferences — Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), and Ontario University Athletics (OUA) — begin play this weekend, while the Canada West will take to the field next week.
All the action will lead up to the 60th Vanier Cup, which is set for Saturday, November 22 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. It will be the first time the championship game is staged in Regina.
“The 60th Vanier Cup is a milestone for our sport and a celebration of generations of student-athletes, coaches and communities,” U SPORTS CEO Pierre Arsenault said in a statement. “With more than 200 U SPORTS alumni playing in the Canadian Football League, and the 2024-25 Lois and Doug Mitchell Award winner Taylor Elgersma continuing his quest to become an NFL quarterback with the Green Bay Packers, the pathway from our fields to the pros has never been stronger.”
U SPORTS Football Schedule (Week 1)
Friday August 22
Acadia @ Saint Mary’s, 6 pm ET (AUStv)
Sherbrooke @ McGill, 7 pm ET (McGill Sports)
Saturday August 23
McMaster @ York, 1 pm ET (OUA.tv)
Concordia @ Montréal, 2 pm ET (TVA Sports)
Bishop’s @ Mount Allison, 3 pm ET (AUStv)
Western @ Queen’s, 3 pm ET (OUA.tv)
Toronto @ Carleton, 4 pm ET (OUA.tv)
Ottawa @ Waterloo, 4 pm ET (OUA.tv)
Laurier @ Guelph, 6 pm ET (OUA.tv)
