The Saskatchewan Roughriders are being recognized for what they built behind the scenes, and now, the rest of the league has taken notice.
The Roughriders were named the inaugural recipients of the Ted Goveia Football Operations Award on Wednesday night in Edmonton, an honour that recognizes excellence across an entire football operations department in scouting, roster construction and leadership.
It’s an award rooted in collaboration, and Saskatchewan’s 2025 season made a strong case.
Led by Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O'Day, the Riders assembled a roster that not only finished first overall at 12-6, but went on to capture the Grey Cup on Nov. 16 in Winnipeg, the franchise’s fifth championship.
The recognition extends well beyond O’Day. Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel Kyle Carson, Assistant GM Paul Jones, Director of Football Operations Jordan Greenly, and Assistant Director of Player Personnel Larry Dean were all part of a group that relied heavily on cross-departmental collaboration, from coaching to video, equipment, and medical staff.
Head coach Corey Mace sees that work up close every day and says it’s what separates the organization.
“I think it's really cool being able to be in the same building year-round because you see it hands-on,” Mace said. “The communication that they have, the hours that these guys put in, the amount of film that they watch, the communication is endless.”
That constant dialogue translated directly to results on the field.
Saskatchewan led the CFL with nine All-CFL selections, including Jermarcus Hardrick, who was named the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, and Micah Johnson, a cornerstone on the defensive front. The offensive line anchored a dominant ground game led by A.J. Ouellette, who rushed for 1,222 yards, while also keeping quarterback Trevor Harris clean in the biggest moments; he wasn’t sacked in either the West Final or the Grey Cup.
Harris delivered a historic postseason, leading the league in completion percentage during the regular season (73.6) before earning Grey Cup MVP honours with a record-setting 85.2 per cent completion rate in the championship game. Samuel Emilus added Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian after a 10-catch, 108-yard performance.
Personnel decisions throughout the year proved just as critical.
Free-agent addition Tevaughn Campbell made an immediate impact, tying for the league lead with six interceptions while piling up a CFL-best 205 interception return yards. Along the defensive line, Mike Rose started 17 games and continued his streak of six-plus sacks seasons, forming a dominant pairing with Johnson.
Younger pieces also stepped in seamlessly. Rookie LT Payton Collins made 12 starts and earned team Rookie of the Year honours, while first-round pick Ali Saad played all 18 games and contributed along the defensive front.
Depth, a hallmark of strong roster construction, was tested often. The Riders started 11 different offensive linemen and 10 different receivers over the course of the season and never lost stride.
For Mace, that consistency comes back to preparation and problem-solving behind the scenes.
“In every scenario that comes up, be it during the season or in the offseason, solutions are found pretty dang quick. I've been in a few organizations; it’s not a secret why I think the football ops is up for an award, man. They’re excellent.”
The award, voted on by football operations departments across the CFL, is named after longtime personnel executive Ted Goveia and reflects the league-wide respect for Saskatchewan’s approach.
It’s also a sign that the foundation built in 2025 from scouting reports to Grey Cup celebrations is one the organization believes can sustain success moving forward.
