September 10, 2019

USports Top 10: Vanier Cup champion Laval once again unanimous pick at No. 1

USports Photo

For the second consecutive week, the Laval Rouge et Or were a unanimous No. 1 selection in the U SPORTS football rankings. The reigning national champions have topped each of the three weekly polls so far in 2019.

2019 U SPORTS Football Schedule & Results

2019 U SPORTS Football Standings

Join the conversation: #UAgree?

Click HERE for this week’s top 10 rankings in all other sports

The Rouge et Or (2-0), who last November captured their record-extending 10th Vanier Cup title, received all 17 first-place votes from the Football Reporters of Canada panel, good for 493 total points when combined with statistical calculation by the ELO Rating System.

For the third week in a row, the Western Mustangs (3-0), Vanier Cup finalists in 2018, and Montreal Carabins (3-0) hold on to the second and third positions, respectively, after meriting 490 and 431 points.

Rounding out the new top 10 are the No. 4 Calgary Dinos (2-0 / 420 points / no change), No. 5 McMaster Marauders (2-1 / 333 / no change), No. 6 Guelph Gryphons (2-1 / 310 / up two spots), No. 7 Acadia Axemen (2-0 / 297 / up two), No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (1-1 / 203 / down two), as well as the No. 9 Saskatchewan Huskies (1-1 / 200), returning to the ranking after a one-week absence, and No. 10 Saint Mary’s Huskies (2-0 / 186), joining the elite group for the first time this season.

Laval was once again dominant last Saturday in its second outing of the young campaign, cruising to a 41-6 road win over Concordia, thanks in large part to a monstrous 342 to 36 advantage in rushing yards.

The Rouge et Or, who had previously downed Sherbrooke 41-10 in their RSEQ opener on Aug. 25, should face a much stiffer test on Saturday afternoon when they visit No. 3 Montreal, live on TVA Sports at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. The archrivals have faced off in each of the past six RSEQ conference finals with Laval prevailing four times, including a 14-1 triumph in Quebec City last fall.

The Carabins improved to 3-0 over the weekend with yet another spectacular defensive display in a 34-4 victory at McGill. Montreal has allowed 16 points in three games so far this season, after setting an RSEQ record a year ago with a minuscule 46 points against in eight league contests.

In the OUA, Western also improved to 3-0 with a 34-17 road win over top-10 foe McMaster. With the score tied at 17 all in the third quarter, the Mustangs closed out the match with 17 unanswered points to earn their 23rd straight overall success against OUA opponents dating back to the start of the 2017 schedule and their 25th consecutive regular season victory since September of 2016.

Other Week 3 results from Top 10 squads included Calgary 24, Manitoba 10 (at Calgary); Guelph 53, York 19 (at Guelph); Acadia 54, StFX 19 (at StFX); Saskatchewan 40, UBC 7 (at Saskatchewan); Saint Mary’s 30, Bishop’s 13 (at Saint Mary’s).

In addition to Saturday afternoon’s showdown between Laval and Montreal, the Week 4 schedule is highlighted by a Top 10 duel for first place in the AUS standings, Friday night in Halifax. Acadia travels to Huskies Stadium to battle Saint Mary’s, starting at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT (AUStv Bell Aliant TV1).

FRC – U SPORTS FOOTBALL TOP 10 (#3)

For the second straight season, U SPORTS is using the ELO Rating System for the calculation of its weekly national rankings. Powered by RankR, ELO’s unique algorithm blends a statistical calculation with customized variables that is adaptable across a range of sports. For football, it will be combined with the results of the Football Reporters of Canada panel balloting (each weighted 50%) to produce the final top 10.

RANK SCHOOL RECORD MEDIA POINTS (1ST PLACE) ELO POINTS   TOTAL POINTS PREVIOUS RANKING
1 Laval 2-0 255 (17) 238 493 1
2 Western 3-0 235 255 490 2
3 Montreal 3-0 210 221 431 3
4 Calgary 2-0 2016 204 420 4
5 McMaster 2-1 180 1153 333 5
6 Guelph 2-1 140 170 310 8
7 Acadia 2-0 110 187 297 9
8 Manitoba 1-1 152 51 203 6
9 Saskatchewan 1-1 81 119 200 NR
10 Saint Mary’s 2-0 50 136 186 NR
Honourable mentions: Ottawa (184), Waterloo (164), Regina (132), Toronto (100), Alberta (77).

Football Ballots (PDF)