Hamilton Tiger-Cats clinch top spot in East Division, earn first-round bye

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have earned themselves a little break next week.

Bo Levi Mitchell and company officially clinched first place in the East Division with a 35-15 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night. Mitchell found Tim White twice in the end zone to set a new career-high with 36 passing touchdowns on the season, while the defence combined for six interceptions, thanks to two apiece from DaShaun Amos and Braxton Hill.

With the win, the Ticats have earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will host the Eastern Final at Hamilton Stadium on Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 p.m. EST. They will host the winner of the Eastern Semi-Final, which will be played between the Montreal Alouettes and a West Division crossover team — either the Winnipeg Blue Bombers or the B.C. Lions.

Hamilton last finished first in the division in 2019, utilizing the advantage to make it to the Grey Cup game, which they lost to Winnipeg. The franchise has the longest championship drought in the CFL, having last hoisted the trophy in 1999. They have hosted the East Final just twice in the 25 years since.