• Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and hosting their first home postseason game since 2016, the Rams meet UBC on Saturday for the right to advance to the 85th Hardy Cup.

• The winner of this game will play the winner of the Saskatchewan/Manitoba semifinal next weekend for the Canada West banner. The Hardy Cup will be in Saskatoon if the Huskies win that semifinal, or it'll be hosted by the Regina/UBC winner if the Bisons pull off the upset.

• Saturday's game will mark the Rams' third consecutive postseason game against UBC. They also matched up against the Thunderbirds in 2016 and 2017.

RAMS/UBC HISTORY: The Rams are arguably more closely matched with UBC than any other Canada West team. Regina has an 18-15 edge in 33 regular season games against the Thunderbirds, but UBC is 2-0 against the Rams in the playoffs including a six-point win in 2016 (40-34 in Regina) and a seven-point win in 2017 (28-21 in Vancouver). Each of the past three matchups between the two teams and five of the past six have been decided by one possession, including the Rams' 21-13 victory over UBC back on September 23 in Vancouver.

SEMIFINALS AT HOME: The Rams are 3-1 lifetime in Canada West semifinal games in Regina. All three of the wins were over Saskatchewan as the Rams took out the Huskies by scores of 58-31 in 2001, 19-13 in 2007, and 31-9 in 2012. The loss was in the Rams' most recent playoff game, a 40-34 setback to UBC back in 2016 which was also the final football game ever played at the old Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field.

HARDY CUP HISTORY: A win over UBC would give the Rams their sixth Hardy Cup appearance. Besides the home semifinal wins in 2001, 2007, and 2012, the Rams also won road semifinals in both 2000 (33-32 at Calgary on Jon Ryan's legendary game-winning punt rouge on the final play of the game) and 2002 (39-17 at Calgary) to advance to the Canada West championship contest.

RECORD BREAKERS: The Rams broke three individual school single-season records this year, most notably DL Anthony Bennett setting a new standard for sacks after finishing with 8. K Aldo Galvan broke Jon Ryan's mark for highest punting average in a single season (46.0 yards per punt), while SB Emmett Steadman set a new U of R record with 50 punt returns. Bennett also tied the U of R record for most yards on tackles for loss (58) while Varga tied the school mark for most forced fumbles (3).

BENNETT'S BRILLIANCE: DL Anthony Bennett has had one of the best seasons by a U of R defensive player in school history. Besides setting the U of R single-season sacks record, he has also been named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Week on three different occasions this year. Bennett, who should be eligible for selection in the 2023 CFL Draft, is fourth on the Rams with 25.5 tackles and also set a school record with eight sacks, tied a school record with 10.5 tackles for loss, and collected an interception and a fumble recovery.

LAST PLAYOFF WIN: The U of R will be looking for its first playoff victory since 2012, when the Rams defeated Saskatchewan 31-9 in a snowy Canada West semifinal at the old Mosaic Stadium. That game is still known affectionately as the Buch Bowl in honour of receiver Landon Buch, who went into the contest with two career receptions but exploded for six catches, 130 yards, and two touchdowns in the win over the Huskies. Current U of R receivers coach Addison Richards was in the lineup for the Rams that game, while head coach Mark McConkey was also on the roster but suffered a season-ending injury earlier in the season.

RB BY COMMITTEE: The Rams have seen more turnover at running back this year than they have at any other position on the field. RB Kyle Borsa was expected to shoulder the bulk of the load there this year, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the Calgary win and run game coordinator Dwayne Masson has been busy juggling ever since. RB Christian Katende stepped up after the Borsa injury, but he was hurt in the UBC win. RB Olivier Savard stepped up in a big way with Katende out, and after Katende was banged up again in the Saskatchewan game the Rams brought in redshirt RB Marshall Erichsen who had a huge Week 7 outing at Calgary. RB Semba Mbasela became the fourth player to start at running back last week at Manitoba, and the Rams expect to have Katende, Savard, and RB Jayse Easton all available on Saturday. Don't be surprised to see all three get touches against UBC.

STUSEK CLIMBING CHARTS: SB Bennett Stusek finished with 29 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns this year. With a year of eligibility still remaining, he ranks 14th in career receiving yards (1552), 14th in career receptions (99), and is tied for 16th in career touchdown receptions (7). He'll have a great shot to break into the U of R's all-time top ten in all major receiving categories next season.

NEXT GENERATION: The Rams have already signed six players for the Class of 2023 including WR Caelan Haid (Regina/Riffel), OL Mackenzie Hills-Craig (Moose Jaw/Central), OL Aidan Paslowski (Saskatoon/Holy Cross), WR Hudson South (Melfort/MUCC), DL Tanner Weir (Balgonie/Greenall), and DL Matthew Zeiler (Regina/Knoll).