• It's a huge midseason game for Regina and Manitoba as they meet for the only time this season and come into the week tied for third in the Canada West standings with identical 2-2 records.

• Fifth-year QB Noah Picton has a chance to become the national all-time leader in passing yards. He enters the game with 11,201 in his career and now needs just 278 more to surpass former Sherbrooke QB Jérémi Roch (11,477).

• The Rams are 13-18 all-time against Manitoba in conference games, but are looking for their second straight road victory over the Bisons after winning 55-21 back in Winnipeg on Oct. 29, 2016.

CLOSING IN ON HISTORY - PICTON NEARS PASSING RECORDS: Rams QB Noah Picton now needs just 278 more passing yards to surpass former Sherbrooke QB Jérémi Roch, who holds the national all-time record with 11,477 career yards. He also has 815 career completions, needing only one more to tie former McGill QB Matt Connell for second in U SPORTS history and 51 more to tie Roch for the all-time lead. Aswell, he's seventh in U SPORTS history and second in Canada West and school history with 69 career touchdown passes. Teale Orban had 76 during his Rams career, which spanned from 2004 to 2008.

BORSA TAKES OVER CONFERENCE RUSHING LEAD: Second-year RB Kyle Borsa has had two excellent starts for the Rams since Atlee Simon's injury, rushing for 119 yards in the UBC win and for 98 yards last week at Saskatchewan. He leads Canada West in rushing yards (337), touchdown runs (4), and all-purpose yards (604) at the halfway mark of the conference season. He also had a 52-yard kickoff return in last Friday's game, the second longest by a Canada West player this year and the 10th longest in U of R history.

INJURY WARD: RB Atlee Simon and DL Ryan Warner both missed last week's game due to injuries and both players are again considered doubtful for Manitoba. Borsa has started in Simon's absence, while DL Eric Wicijowski moved over into Warner's slot with DL Grey McKen sliding into Wicijowski's forme spot at rush end. DL Blake Turner was injured in the Saskatchewan game, but has looked good at practice this week and is probable for Saturday.

MOORE RECORDS SECOND PICK: Second-year DB Zach Moore collected his second interception of the season in last Friday's game. One of only five players in the conference with multiple interceptions, Moore also has a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup this season.

SCHIENBEIN MOVING UP: SB Ryan Schienbein, second in Canada West in receptions (30) and tied for third in touchdown catches (4), is moving up the U of R record book. Schienbein moved past Addison Richards for 10th in school history in career receiving yards (1668) on Friday. He's eighth with 127 career receptions and closing in on Brenden Owens (131), Cory Olynick (138), and Jordan Sisco (141). He's also seventh in touchdown receptions (15) with Owens (16), Chris Bauman (16), and Michael Thomas (17) in reach.

RAMS SIGN SIX TO LOI: We're only two games into the 2018 season, but the Rams have also added six new recruits for the 2019 campaign. Three of them signed their U SPORTS Letter of Intent on Sept. 1, the first day Grade 12 student-athletes could officially commit. The Rams welcomed DB Jaxon Fuchs (Michael A. Riffel HS), OL Colby Joyes (Clavet School), and DL Payton O'Connor (Riffel) on that Saturday, then got a commitment from LB Hunter Morgan (Central Collegiate) the following day. The Rams followed that up with commitments from OL Holden Serack (Evan Hardy Collegiate) and LB Jacob Dakiniewich (Dr. Martin LeBoldus HS).

RAMS IN THE PROS: The Rams currently have six players on active professional rosters, including two in the NFL – Akiem Hicks (Chicago) and Brett Jones (Minnesota). Four U of R alumni are in the CFL, including Tevaughn Campbell (Montreal), Jorgen Hus (Saskatchewan), Brendon LaBatte (Saskatchewan), and Richard Sindani (Calgary). Mitchell Picton is on Saskatchewan's practice roster.