As the 67th CFL season is upon us and the Argos, we figured we should fill you in on what you need to know as the Boatmen go for their 20th Grey Cup in franchise history.

Can the Argos run it back? Winning back-to-back championships is something Toronto is looking to fo for the 4th time in their illustrious history and the first time since the 1996 and 1997 seasons, but there will be challenges for Toronto this year.

The Argos have won 2 championships in 3 years sandwiched between a season with the best record in the CFL and they were able to achieve these heights through excellent quarterback play as well as exceptional defense. This year will start the same for Toronto as it did last season without star quarterback Chad Kelly. Kelly won the MOP in 2023 but is coming off a fracture of both his tibia and fibula in last year’s divisional final against the Montreal Alouettes. Though his injury isn’t supposed to keep him out of the lineup too long and his replacement in Nick Arbuckle should fill the void as he did in the Grey Cup last year securing the win against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as well as capturing MVP honors with 252 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. Of course a big part of the Argos win last November came because of their stellar defence and pass rush. The front 4 from a year ago are all gone. Folarin Orimolade is in Calgary, both Robbie Smith and Jake Ceresna are in Edmonton and Ralph Holley signed in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Those losses are huge but should Toronto be able to replace those departures, it will allow Wynton McManis to thrive once again at the linebacker position. Flanked with Cameron Judge, those two will benefit from even a half decent pass rush. They are ball hawks and breakup plays seemingly with ease.

The final roster cuts were announced earlier this week and some eyebrows were raised as among them was star running back Ka’Deem Carey who rushed for over 1,000 yards and had a combined 8 touchdowns last year. But being on the wrong side of 30 meant there was room for a younger replacement. Miyan Williams out of Ohio State is only 23 and only 5’9 but tops the scales at 226lbs. He’ll be a challenge for anyone to bring him down one on one. Coach Ryan Dinwiddie has his options on offence as long as his defence can get stops and turnovers.

The Toronto Argonauts are in Montreal to take on the Alouettes on Friday. As this season begins under the eyes of new commissioner Stewart Johnston, the league has never been better with talent and as it is vaulted to new heights, myself and Crier Media will be there to cover it all.