EDMONTON – Each needing wins to secure the fourth and final playoff spot in Canada West, the 2-5 Alberta Golden Bears visit the 2-5 Regina Rams on Friday night at Leibel Field.
 
Remarkably, all six teams have either clinched a postseason berth or are still in playoff contention entering Week 8. The fourth and final playoff spot is still up for grabs with three teams in the hunt. Alberta, Calgary and Regina are log jammed at 2-5, and only one team will advance to the postseason.
 
The math is simple for Regina; win and you're in. The Rams hold the tie-breaker over Calgary if both teams were to win this weekend, and finish the season at 3-5. The Golden Bears need a win and a Calgary loss to Saskatchewan to earn their second-straight post-season appearance, and fourth in five seasons.
 
Meanwhile, an epic clash between UBC and Manitoba on Saturday will decide first place overall. Both teams have already secured a home semifinal game and will be looking to secure home field advantage for a potential Hardy Cup.
 
Manitoba already beat the T-Birds 33-10 back on Sept. 6, meaning they'll have the leg up. Factoring in all tiebreakers, UBC will need to beat the Bisons by exactly 23 points or more on Saturday to leapfrog the Herd and secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Only Saskatchewan cannot move up or down in the standings, as the Huskies are locked into the third seed.
 
While the Week 8 results are undecided, one thing is a guarantee — one of Alberta or Regina will end their losing skids. Alberta enters the final week having lost three-straight, with their last win being a 30-6 result over these Rams in mid-September. After a 2-0 start, Regina has lost five straight to tumble down the conference standings.
 
The Bears completely controlled the game in their Week 4 win over the Rams, finishing with 25 first downs and 36:38 of ball possession. Matthew Peterson and Ope Oshonubi combined for 194 rush yards, with the Bears also forcing five Regina turnovers in the win.

---

GAME INFO

Golden Bears Football (2-5 Conference, 2-6 Overall)
Conference
Friday, October 25
Alberta @ Regina Rams (2-5), Leibel Field, 7:00 p.m. MT

---

KEY STATS

• Alberta heads to Regina looking for their first road win over the Rams since 2019. The home team has won each of the last four meetings between the Bears and Rams. The Rams are 12-4 all-time against the Bears at home.
• Starting in place of the injured Eli Hetlinger, sophomore QB Cade Labrecque has impressed in his two starts. The Bears pivot has tossed for 549 yards and four touchdowns, completing 55% of his passes.
• All four of Labrecque's TD passes went to former high school teammate Carter Kettyle last week, who tied the Bears program record with four TD receptions in one game.
• Looking to slow down the Bears offence, Regina boasts the best defence in Canada West. The Rams are allowing just 22.1 points and 366 yards against per game. Over their last three games, the Rams have five interceptions and four sacks. The Rams 10 interceptions leads Canada West.