Before the 2026 season kicked off, the Edmonton Elks were the longest shot in the CFL at +1900 to win the Grey Cup. One year earlier they went 7-11 and missed the playoffs for a fifth straight season. Tonight they play the Montreal Alouettes in the 113th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.
Here is how a team nobody picked turned into the West Division champion, and why history says this run could go either way.
The Edmonton Elks Run in Numbers
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 7-11 | 13-5 |
| West Division finish | 5th | 1st |
| Playoffs | Missed (5th straight year) | West Final win, 28-16 over BC |
| Grey Cup odds before Week 1 | +1900, longest in the CFL | |
| Grey Cup odds now | +140 underdog |
Where the Edmonton Elks Started: Rock Bottom in 2025
Mark Kilam took over as head coach in December 2024, with Ed Hervey back as general manager. His first season started 1-6 and finished 7-11, fifth in the West. It was the club’s fifth straight year without a playoff game, a long drought for a franchise with 14 Grey Cups.
So when FanDuel listed Edmonton at +1900 to win the 2026 Grey Cup before Week 1, nobody argued. It was the worst price of all nine teams.
How the Elks Turned It Around
| Date | Moment | Record |
|---|---|---|
| June 20 | Beat Montreal 32-29 in overtime, Fajardo walks it off | 2-0 |
| June 25 | Win at Winnipeg for a 3-0 start | 3-0 |
| July 23 | 36-34 win in Regina | 6-1 |
| September 12 | 53-16 Labour Day rematch rout of Calgary clinches first playoff spot since 2019 | 10-3 |
| September 26 | 37-35 triple overtime win over Hamilton | 11-4 |
| October 24 | Regular season ends first in the West, first time since 2015 | 13-5 |
| November 7 | West Final: Elks 28, Lions 16 before 40,182 at Commonwealth Stadium | Grey Cup bound |
The Elks never lost more than two games in a row all season, and their best stretch was four straight wins from August 15 to September 12.
What Changed: Defence First
- The stingiest defence in the CFL: Edmonton allowed a league low 24.3 points per game and 338.6 yards per game.
- A takeaway machine: 42 takeaways, 27 interceptions and a league best +23 turnover margin. Tyrell Ford had 7 picks, and Malik Carney (11 sacks) was named the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
- A run game that wears teams down: Justin Rankin ran for 1,170 yards, and the Elks led the CFL with 127.6 rushing yards per game.
- A quarterback who fits: Cody Fajardo, the team’s Most Outstanding Player, threw for 4,788 yards and ran for 517 more. In the West Final he had 274 passing yards, 84 rushing yards, two total touchdowns and no turnovers.
- A kicker you can trust: Vincent Blanchard made 55 of 59 field goals and was the team’s top special teams player.
The Coach Who Knows McMahon Stadium Best
There is a twist in where this run ends. Mark Kilam was born in Edmonton and played linebacker at the University of Alberta, but he spent almost 20 years on the Calgary Stampeders staff, from 2005 to 2024. He won three Grey Cups there as an assistant, in 2008, 2014 and 2018.
Calgary let him go in October 2024. Two years later he is back at McMahon Stadium, his old home field, coaching Edmonton in the Grey Cup.
Can a Long Shot Actually Win the Grey Cup?
History says reaching the final is the hard part, and winning it is harder. According to TSN, only four CFL teams that were +1000 or longer before Week 1 have made the Grey Cup since 2010, and only one of them won it.
- 2017 Toronto Argonauts: +1500 before the season. Won the Grey Cup over Calgary.
- 2015 Ottawa Redblacks: +2000 before the season, the longest odds of any finalist. Lost the Grey Cup to Edmonton.
- 2026 Edmonton Elks: +1900 before the season. One game away.
Montreal is favoured tonight, and MOP Davis Alexander beat this defence for 48 points in August. But Edmonton won the first meeting in June, and underdogs have covered in eight of the last ten Grey Cups.
What a Win Would Mean
- Edmonton’s 15th Grey Cup, second only to Toronto’s 19.
- The club’s first title since 2015 and its first as the Elks.
- The second +1000 preseason long shot since 2010 to finish the job.
- A champion coach in Kilam’s second season, one year after a 7-11 finish.
For the full matchup breakdown, read 5 things that will decide Alouettes vs Elks and our Grey Cup 2026 prediction. Find channels on how to watch Grey Cup 2026, see the Edmonton Elks team page and follow the live score on our 113th Grey Cup page.
Edmonton Elks Grey Cup FAQ
What were the Edmonton Elks odds to win the 2026 Grey Cup before the season?
Edmonton was +1900 at FanDuel before Week 1, the longest odds of all nine CFL teams.
What was the Edmonton Elks record in 2026?
The Elks went 13-5 and finished first in the West Division for the first time since 2015.
How did the Elks do in 2025?
Edmonton went 7-11, finished fifth in the West and missed the playoffs for a fifth straight season.
Who is the Edmonton Elks head coach?
Mark Kilam, in his second season. He spent 2005 to 2024 on the Calgary Stampeders staff and won three Grey Cups there as an assistant.
When did the Elks last make the playoffs before 2026?
In 2019. They clinched their first playoff spot since then with a 53-16 win over Calgary on September 12, 2026.
How many Grey Cups have the Edmonton Elks won?
Fourteen, the last in 2015. A win tonight would be their 15th.
Has a long shot ever won the Grey Cup?
Yes. The 2017 Toronto Argonauts were +1500 before the season and won the Grey Cup. They are the only +1000 preseason team to do it since 2010.
Who do the Elks play in the 113th Grey Cup?
The Montreal Alouettes, on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET.
One Game From Finishing the Story
The Edmonton Elks went from 7-11 and +1900 to the 113th Grey Cup in one season, built on defence, turnovers and a coach returning to his old stadium. Win tonight and it becomes one of the best turnarounds in CFL history. Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET in Calgary.
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