• The six Canada West teams enter Week 5 paired off with two 3-1 teams (Manitoba and Saskatchewan), two 2-2 schools (UBC and Alberta), and two 1-3 teams (Regina and Calgary).

• The Rams are in dire need of a Saturday win, which would move their record up to 2-3 for the season and ensure they stay in playoff contention heading into the final week of the Canada West schedule.

• Regina is looking for a road win to put the brakes on a two-game slide which has seen them lose at home to UBC in Week 3 and at Saskatchewan last week.

• And Alberta (2-2) did exactly that last weekend, collecting an away win over Calgary after losing in both Week 2 and Week 3.

BREAK OUT THE ABACUS
If the Rams win on Saturday, it sets up two scenarios from the U of R's perspective depending on what happens in the UBC/Calgary game which will kick off in Calgary an hour after the Rams/Bears game. A UBC win is the simpler scenario as that puts Regina and Alberta in a tie for fourth place in the Canada West standings with 2-3 records. But a Calgary win over UBC combined with a Rams win would create absolute chaos in the conference standings heading into the final week with Regina, Alberta, Calgary, and UBC all tied at 2-3.

THE TWO-WIN PLAYOFF SCENARIO
A loss wouldn't automatically eliminate the Rams from postseason contention, but it would put their playoff hopes on life support. In the event of an Alberta win on Saturday, the Rams would first need a Calgary win over UBC - and by fewer than 24 points - to head into the final weekend with a shot at the postseason. That would obviously set up a must-win situation for the Rams in Week 6 against Manitoba, and they'd also need wins by Saskatchewan (over Calgary) and Alberta (at UBC) to create a three-way logjam at 2-4 with UBC and Calgary that the Rams would take on head-to-head point differential. While this scenario is plausible, it's far more likely that the final playoff spot in the conference will go to a three-win team.

BENNETT BREAKS OUT
DL Anthony Bennett was a beast last week at Saskatchewan, collecting three tackles for loss including a strip sack which he recovered himself. Bennett, who was credited with eight tackles in total against the Huskies, now has five TFLs this season for a total loss of 19 yards.

UNDER CENTRE
With QB Josh Donnelly out due to injury last week, QB Sawyer Buettner got the start for the Rams. But Buettner was hurt in the second half, paving the way for second-year QB Bryden O'Flaherty to enter the game. O'Flaherty ended up completing seven passes, including a four-yard touchdown to SB D'Sean Mimbs that tied the game early in the fourth quarter. If O'Flaherty gets the call on Saturday, it'll be his second career start - his first came against UBC back on Oct. 4, 2019.

BACKING UP
And if it's O'Flaherty at pivot against Alberta, that means that highly touted first-year QB Noah Pelletier will dress for his first career Canada West game as the Rams' backup. Pelletier, still slated to redshirt this season, was a Balfour Collegiate star and won back-to-back Football Canada Cup championships with Team Saskatchewan in 2018 and 2019.

MIMBS FOR THE MAJOR
SB D'Sean Mimbs connected with O'Flaherty for his team-leading fourth touchdown of the season last week at Saskatchewan, tying the school record held by Jason Clermont and Ryan Anderson for most in a season by a University of Regina player in his first season with the Rams. Mimbs - whose four touchdown catches have all come in his past five receptions - also ranks third on the team in receptions (10) and second in receiving yards (149).

WHITE ON THE LEADERBOARD
LB Josh White added another tackle for loss last week at Saskatchewan, giving him 5.5 for the season. UBC DL Kyle Samson is the only Canada West player with more TFLs this year as White goes into Saturday's game tied with Alberta LB Justice Momoka for second in the conference in that category.

MORE SACKS
The Rams chalked up two more sacks against Saskatchewan as both Bennett and White brought down Huskies QB Mason Nyhus. Regina continues to lead Canada West with 12 sacks, two more than second-place Manitoba and four more than third-place Saskatchewan. White (3) and Bennett (2) are the team sack leaders.

FAMILY TIES
Look for two pairs of siblings on the defensive side of the ball for the Rams on Saturday. DL Matt Moore and DB Zach Moore will both be among the starters, while DB Jackson Sombach will start at halfback and DB Carson Sombach will dress as a backup. SB Bennett Stusek is the son of Rams special teams coordinator Jeff Stusek. The two Grays on the coaching staff, defensive coordinator Sheldon and quarterbacks coach Frankie, are no relation.