• The first Canada West game of 2023 for both teams is a rematch of last year's conference semifinal game in Regina, which UBC won by a 28-14 margin. 

• The Rams' offence will be guided by second-year QB Noah Pelletier, who threw for 1691 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. D'Sean Mimbs and Bennett Stusek will be among his favourite targets, while the Rams have a plethora of options at running back.

• While Pelletier is among the many familiar faces on the offensive side of the ball for the Rams, it's a new-look Rams defence with four starters from last year now in the CFL and three other starters graduated from the program.


ROAD WARRIORS: The road team has won the last five matchups between UBC and Regina. The last time a home team won in this head-to-head series was way back in 2018, when then-rookie kicker Aldo Galvan had a chip-shot field goal with no time left on the clock to give the Rams a 19-17 win.

PRESEASON: The Rams hosted Manitoba at Mosaic last Thursday in a non-conference game which saw the Bisons take a 26-7 victory. UBC was to square off with Alberta in Vernon, B.C. but that game was cancelled due to wildfires in the Okanagan region.

IN THE POLLS: The Canada West preseason coaches' poll has UBC and Saskatchewan in a dead heat, tied with 23 points and 3 first-place votes. Regina was picked No. 4 in that poll with 13 points, 1 behind third-place Manitoba and 1 ahead of fifth-place Alberta. UBC was ranked No. 9 in the first edition of the U SPORTS Top 10 poll which was released Tuesday, while the Rams were unranked but received a total of 11 votes.

UNDER CENTRE: Noah Pelletier opens the year as QB1 for the second consecutive season. He completed 139 passes for 1691 yards and 10 touchdowns in 8 Canada West games last year while also running 20 times for 109 yards and a TD. Veteran backup Bryden O'Flaherty returns for his fourth season, and the Rams have also been impressed with rookie pivot Owen Sieben out of Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

ON THE LINE: Matthew Hajewich, Maguire Abell, and Parker Hodel all look to reclaim their starting positions from last year while Connor Klassen has stepped in seamlessly at right tackle after coming over from the Regina Thunder. Connor Taylor missed all of 2022 due to injury, but was the team's starter at right guard in 2021 and looks to be back at full strength.

PASS CATCHERS: Bennett Stusek and D'Sean Mimbs are the big returning names for the Rams, but the coaching staff also expects increased roles for Emmett Steadman and Dallen Keen and significant contributions from Rylan Sokul, another Regina Thunder product.

AT RB: Look for the Rams to dress four running backs and deploy them in various situations. Christian Katende and Olivier Savard were both utilized heavily last year, while Marshall Erichsen should also dress after redshirting last year but performing brilliantly at Calgary in his lone game played. New to the fold is Jevon Garwood from the Okanagan Sun program.

ON THE LINE, "D" EDITION: No position was hit harder by graduation than the defensive line with Anthony Bennett and Tanner Schmekel now with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Garth Knittig now on the staff as a graduate assistant. Now in his third season, Michael Clow is (by far) the elder statesman of this group with 14 career Canada West games played. Jacob Dakiniewich and Evan Eide will both look for increased roles, while redshirts Mark Pierlot and Toryn Swystun-Bernes and newcomers Reed Rabbetz and Brad Rodin could all be in the mix.

LINEBACKERS: Last year's Canada West Defensive Player of the Year Ryder Varga is now with the BC Lions, but the Rams will look to now-veteran Cameron Mah to step right up at the mac linebacker position with starters Josh White, Chopper Hippe, and Brayden Wagg all returning. Ryan Mills, Jaxon Runge, Garret Hatchard, and Joe Vogelsang will also look to contribute with Simon Fraser transfer Colin McKellar also among those that could see time on the field this season.

THE BACKFIELD: For the first time since 2017, the Rams will head into the season without now-Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Jaxon Ford starting. With Zach Moore and Donovin Small also gone from last year's squad, that leaves Jackson Sombach, Jaxon Fuchs, and Gowrishan Aravinthan as the leading returners to this season's team. Dolani Robinson will play a key role in his first year with the Rams, with Ethan Jaster among a large group expected to see significant jumps in playing time in 2023.

HEAD TO HEAD: The Rams hold an 18-15 edge in the 33 Canada West regular season games played between the two teams. The two teams played in Vancouver in Week 4 last year, with the Rams taking a 21-13 road win over a UBC team that was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time.

CAREER WATCH: Bennett Stusek comes into the season with 99 career receptions, needing just 1 more to become the 14th University of Regina player to hit 100. He's also 14th on the school's all-time list with 1552 receiving yards and needs 154 more to surpass Chris Bauman and break into the U of R's top 10.