TORONTO — The race is on.

There are eight weeks left in the 2016 CFL season and so far nothing has been decided.

Consider the East Division, for example, where an Argos win over the Ticats in Week 12 has leveled out the playing field between the top three teams. Instead of a two-horse race between the Ticats and REDBLACKS, now it’s anyone’s game.

Out West, the Stampeders have only asserted their dominance with a home and home sweep of the Eskimos, but the Lions continue to keep pace after picking up their third straight win. While BC looks to keep up with Calgary, the Lions also have to worry about the Bombers and Eskimos on their trail.

It’s a battle royale and, at least for now, everyone’s in it. Who will be left standing come playoff time?

As the races kick it up a notch and September continues, we ask the difficult questions for Week 13.

Here are nine pressing questions for Week 13:

1. Will the Eskimos make the playoffs in 2016?

It might seem ridiculous, and the Eskimos really did play well enough to win in the Labour Day rematch against Calgary, but whether the defending Grey Cup Champions make the playoffs or not is starting to become a legitimate question.

Mike Reilly is putting up an MOP-calibre season and the best of his career while Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker have been unstoppable, yet here we are in Week 13 and the Esks are sitting below .500 and on the outside looking in at the playoff bubble.

» QB Index: Reilly hovering at No. 2

Mike Reilly was solid despite his team’s loss in the Labour Day rematch (Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca)

The Esks have been a streaky team this season, following up a three-game losing streak with three straight wins and then back to back losses to the Calgary Stampeders, meaning it’s likely they’ll heat up again.

But while there’s still plenty of time for Jason Maas’ team to find that consistency that’s been so elusive, it better happen soon, especially considering the tough stretch ahead: only two of the Esks’ final seven games are at home, while three of those five road dates come against Hamilton, Winnipeg and BC — all teams ahead of them in the standings.

The Eskimos are chasing the Bombers, Lions and Eskimos in the West along with the Argos and Ticats in the East for a chance to cross over. They have games remaining against all of those teams.

 2. Is Drew Willy a long-term solution for the Argos at QB?

Much has been made about the Argos’ ability to develop young quarterbacks, coincided of course with their failure to keep them for the long haul. Part of the dilemma has been the presence of Ricky Ray on the roster, the CFL’s fourth all-time leading passer who showed as recently as Labour Day he can still definitely play the game at a high level.

While Trevor Harris and Zach Collaros were the ones that got away, it appears Jim Barker and Scott Milanovich have zeroed in on a potential long-term option at quarterback in Drew Willy and might soon be willing to hitch their wagon to him.

Willy is 29 and has showed he can dissect a defence, while his playing style and skill-set seem perfectly catered to the type of offence Milanovich likes to run. And with a mentor and partner in Ray at the position, suddenly the Argos’ quarterback room is a lot stronger no matter who starts.

First a chance to sit and clear his head, then a new beginning and a team that believes in him — can Willy make the most of his second chance and become the Argos’ long-term answer at quarterback?

 3. In a 2016 re-draft, would Alex Singleton be the first overall pick?

Alex Singleton is one of several players from the 2016 CFL Draft class that have made an impact, but 11 games into his Canadian Football League career it’s safe to say he stands out.

This year’s sixth overall pick has emerged as a regular contributor on the Stamps’ surging defence, just this week making off-season free agent signing Taylor Reed expendable with the Stampeders releasing him.

The 22-year-old has flown around the football field this year and earned his chance to play regular downs, and the potential is sky-high. So where does he stand next to others that have made an impact this season?

Fifth overall pick Charles Vaillancourt started early in the season and provides valuable depth on the Lions’ O-line. Third-round pick Taylor Loffler has been a terror in the Bombers’ secondary. Second overall pick Philippe Gagnon has been a mainstay at right guard for the Als.

Who would you take first overall in a re-draft?

4. Should Rakeem Cato get the rest of the season at QB for the Als?

With Kevin Glenn being traded to Winnipeg, now is clearly Rakeem Cato’s time. The question is, with Vernon Adams Jr. also in the picture, how much time should Cato get?

Once a possible camp casualty with the Alouettes’ crowded quarterback room, the departures of Glenn and national quarterback Brandon Bridge have opened the door for Cato to recapture some of that magic we saw early in his rookie season at age 23.

With his team 3-8 and still in the playoff picture, can the Als’ young pivot both keep his team in the playoff hunt and prove his worth as a starting CFL quarterback? And perhaps the bigger question, how long should Head Coach and General Manager Jim Popp give Cato to show his worth before turning things over to Adams Jr.?

Cato’s the man now, but keep in mind the Alouettes gave up a first round pick to get the young Adams Jr.

 5. Did the Bombers make the right move trading Willy and getting Glenn?

When all is said and done, the Bombers come out of Week 12 with an extra first round pick, a veteran backup in Kevin Glenn and an emerging playmaking defensive back in T.J. Heath. The cost? Drew Willy.

Yes, all ties have now been severed between the Bombers and their former starting quarterback. For three seasons, Willy went into the season as Winnpeg’s starting quarterback. Now the Bombers are Matt Nichols’ team with Glenn as the backup.

» Cauz: Why Kevin Glenn is a Canadian Football League icon

It all looks pretty good on paper for the Bombers, especially considering Nichols has won six straight and Glenn is a renowned CFL insurance policy who excels coming off the bench.

Still, while Willy couldn’t find success in five starts this season, he’s shown potential in the past and just a couple of months ago was considered the Bombers’ franchise pivot. Will Winnipeg miss Drew Willy?

 6. What’s the biggest concern for the Ticats heading into the final stretch?

With five of seven remaining games at home and just a point out of first in the East, the Ticats have put themselves in a favourable position to claim the division. Still, with a record below .500 both overall and with Zach Collaros under centre, the 2016 season hasn’t come so easy for the Tabbies.

A new-look secondary and a dinged up O-line could be among concerns for Kent Austin’s club as the second half of the season progresses, issues that played a role in an uneven performance over a home-and-home split with the Argos. And on top of allowing the fifth-most sacks in the CFL, the Ticats also own the league’s second-worst rushing attack and have had a punt blocked in three straight games.

Ticats fans have plenty to be optimistic about, but what has to change for the team to represent the East in the 104th Grey Cup Championship as many expect?

 7. Who do you see as the Riders’ quarterback of the future?

With all the talk on Darian Durant and his future for the Riders, what about further down the depth chart? Priority number one for Chris Jones, regardless of what happens with Durant, has to be finding that quarterback of the future — Saskatchewan’s version of Mike Reilly.

Mitchell Gale and Brandon Bridge are both players that have gotten opportunities to put their game on film and both have had success. Bridge made his debut late in 2015 and threw a highlight-reel touchdown pass, against the Saskathewan Roughriders, as a member of the Montreal Alouettes. Gale won his first professional start earlier this year — the Riders’ only win of 2016 — in a victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS.

While fans clamour to see a national quarterback rise among the ranks and become a starting CFL pivot, Gale’s clearly put his hat in the ring too. That’s not to mention any other option that could emerge too.

Who’s the quarterback of the future in Riderville?

 8. Which player is most critical to Ottawa’s late-season success?

With a joint effort between Henry Burris and Trevor Harris, the Ottawa REDBLACKS are 5-4-1 and leading the CFL East Division with a game in hand.

Harris has been the sparkplug on the team, leading the CFL with a 128.4 quarterback rating and a completion percentage of 78.4, but even his play as dropped off slightly since returning from the injured list late last month.

Facing a difficult remaining schedule including visits to Calgary, BC and Hamilton, which player has to take over and become the team’s Most Outstanding Player over the next couple of months?

While Harris has been one of the CFL’s top pivots, that hasn’t always been enough as Ottawa has lost four of its last six. Greg Ellingson was held without a catch in a win over Montreal last time out, while Travon Van has shown flashes but hasn’t been able to totally get loose.

Who’s the player to watch from here on out for the Ottawa REDBLACKS?

 9. Who is the BC Lions’ MOP through 12 weeks?

The CFL’s second-ranked team, you could say the BC Lions have been the biggest surprise of the 2016 CFL season.

While Wally Buono should get plenty of credit for his return to the sideline and the corresponding turnaround on the west coast, he isn’t the only driving force for the Lions’ most successful season so far since 2011.

Jonathon Jennings has made strides in his second CFL season, emerging as an elite quarterback — or at least close to it. Solomon Elimimian has returned to his form as one of the league’s surest tacklers and biggest defensive playmakers after missing a large chunk of 2015 with a devastating Achilles injury.

Adam Bighill is always a consistent force in the middle of the Lions’ defence while Alex Bazzie has taken the next step as one of the league’s elite pass rushers, currently leading all defenders with 10 sacks.

That’s not even to mention the receivers, whether it’s Emmanuel Arceneaux or the fast-emerging Bryan Burnham, now the fifth-ranked receiver in the CFL with 848 yards.

Plenty of players have chipped in to make the Lions a top contender, but who is their Most Outstanding Player through 12 weeks?