Saskatchewan Roughriders' rookie Ali Saad lays out what his team needs to do when facing Montreal Alouettes' quarterback Davis Alexander in the 112th Grey Cup.
"In my opinion, I feel like we need to continue working as a team, continue stacking days, stay focused on the film and outside on the field," Saad told voice of the Riders, Dave Thomas. "I feel like everyone is locked in so far, I feel like we're going to have a great game, I feel like we're going to dominate for sure."
Alexander has never been beaten as a CFL starting quarterback with a perfect 13-0 record, 11 regular-season wins and two postseason victories.
In the 2025 regular season, Saskatchewan and Montreal won one game against each other, but Alexander missed both games with his left hamstring injury.
"I've never won a ring before, I've never been to a championship before. We got close in college," Saad explained. "High school never got the opportunity. It's the first time for me to be here and be around a championship team, which feels great."
Historically, in the Grey Cup, the Riders and the Alouettes have faced each other twice. The first time happened in 2009, when the team lost 28-27. They would meet a second time the following year and Montreal won again, 21-18.
The magnitude of the Grey Cup has not gone unnoticed by Saad.
"It's unbelievable, especially seeing all these news reporters and everybody around," Saad said. "Bunch of cameras and stuff, I've never had that experience."
The Riders selected Saad in the first round, fourth overall during the 2025 CFL Draft out of Bowling Green State University. Saad elaborated on how he has progressed from when he started in the CFL to now.
"At the beginning of the season in camp, I said I was struggling, especially with the one-yard off the ball. When I first got here, getting used to the rules, right now, everything's been great, I got more used to it," Saad explained.
"I understand the game more, understand what to do, understand all the rules. The game got much easier for me as time went on and I've been performing recently, so it feels good."
Saad dressed in 18 games for the Green and White in the regular season as a rookie and accumulated 19 defensive tackles with one sack.
The 112th Grey Cup between Montreal and Saskatchewan goes on Sunday at 5 p.m. Listen or watch the 620 CKRM Rider Broadcast Network pre-game show at 2 p.m. featuring Dave Thomas, Luc Mullinder, Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates.
