As the CFL prepares to introduce a series of rule and field changes, a new poll suggests overall attention to the league continues to decline.
The Angus Reid Institute says the percentage of Canadians who closely or very closely follow the CFL has dropped from 21 per cent in 2014 and 2018 to 16 per cent in 2025.
The online survey was conducted Oct. 7-11, and released this week as the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes get set to clash in Sunday’s Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
Those who follow the league most closely leaned strongly toward keeping the CFL distinct from the American game.
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Among less-engaged fans, opinions were more mixed — 61 per cent of those who don’t follow closely and 53 per cent of casual followers were unsure or preferred it align more with the NFL, compared with 46 per cent of avid fans.
The CFL announced a series of rule changes on Sept. 22 — including a longer play clock, revised rouge rule and smaller field — drawing mixed reactions from those torn between preserving tradition and modernizing the game.
Starting next season, teams will no longer be able to win games with a rouge — the single point awarded on a missed field goal that sails through the end zone. A single point will only be awarded if a returner fields a missed field goal, punt or kickoff in the end zone and either kneels or is tackled in the end zone trying to forward the ball.
Also, there will be a 35-second automatic reset on the play clock. Teams currently have 20 seconds to run a play, but the clock typically starts only when officials spot the ball.
Another change will see team benches moved to opposite sides of the field to make substitutions easier. Both benches are currently on the same side.
The most significant changes will come in 2027, when CFL fields will be shortened from 110 to 100 yards, end zones reduced from 20 to 15 yards, and goalposts moved from the goal line to the back of the end zone.
The poll found two-thirds of avid fans opposed the field change, while half of casual followers also disagreed.
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke called the new rules “garbage,” criticizing the league for not consulting players.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell took the opposite stance.
“This isn’t about Americanizing the game — it’s about modernizing it,” said Mitchell, a 12-year veteran and two-time most outstanding player.
“What can we do to put a better product on the field, a product that people want to watch, that's a faster pace? This is not taking away the unique things (about the CFL).”
Montreal Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette says he's aware of the changes the CFL is planning to implement but isn't giving them much of a second thought.
"I just feel like I'm a player no matter the elements you throw at me, I'm going to go out there and play my best and be the best," he said Wednesday during Grey Cup media day in Winnipeg. "It (rule changes) doesn't matter.
"If we all have the same rules, I'm cool with that."
Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jameer Thurman says he's more than good with the changes because the core elements of Canadian football (12 players, three downs, wider field, keeping the waggle) still remain.
"As a defensive player I keep telling everyone nothing really has changed for us besides the goalposts moving to the back," he said. "The length of the field, OK, I get it, it's reducing a little bit.
"But the width is still the same, there's still 12 guys on the field, the width is still the same, there's still going to be a waggle, it's still going to be three downs. Those are the main things, and they're not changing, so I don't see what the big fuss is about.
"Moving the goalposts to the back gives them (offensive players) so much more field that they can use. As a defensive player, if anything, it's just helping the offence out again."
The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.
-- With files from Dan Ralph in Winnipeg.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2025.
