U SPORTS preseason kicks off this weekend

TORONTO (U SPORTS) – The road to the 54^th Vanier Cup begins this weekend, as U SPORTS football teams hit the gridiron for the start of the 2018 preseason schedule.

This year’s U SPORTS football exhibition season includes 10 contests, with the first game kicking off Friday afternoon when the York Lions travel to Montreal to clash with the Concordia Stingers at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. Later that evening, the Bishop’s Gaiters and the Sherbrooke Vert et Or renew their crosstown rivalry for the first time since Bishop’s moved to the AUS conference, while the Laurier Golden Hawks take on the McGill Redmen, with both games starting at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.

In addition to the three inter-conference games on Friday, the Vanier Cup finalist Laval Rouge et Or, will duel with the Guelph Gryphons at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 18, in the first of five preseason games on the day. The U SPORTS preseason schedule will come to an end four days later with a pair of Canada West matches, which includes a contest between the Mitchell Bowl finalist Calgary Dinos and Alberta Golden Bears in Red Deer, Alta.

In total, 20 of 27 U SPORTS football teams will take part in the 2018 preseason schedule. The defending Vanier Cup champion Western Mustangs will wait until Week 1 of the new campaign to take the field.

The 2018 U SPORTS football regular season begins Aug. 24 and runs until Oct. 27. The conference semifinals and championships are scheduled for Nov. 3 and 10, respectively with the winners advancing to the Uteck (AUS @ RSEQ) and Mitchell Bowl (CW @ OUA) national semifinals on Nov. 17.

The 54^th Vanier Cup will be held Nov. 24 in Quebec City at TELUS-UL Stadium, home of the Laval Rouge et Or, for the fifth time since 2009.

2018 U SPORTS FOOTBALL PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 17

York @ Concordia, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

Laurier @ McGill, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT – McGill Sports Network

Sherbrooke @ Bishop’s, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT

Saturday, Aug. 18

Guelph @ Laval, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT

Acadia @ StFX 1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

Mount Allison @ Saint Mary’s 1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

Carleton @ Montreal 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

Waterloo @ Queen’s, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT – YourTV Kingston, OUA.TV

Wednesday, Aug. 22

Manitoba @ Regina, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Calgary vs. Alberta (@Red Deer, Alta.), 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT