Tiger-Cats host rivals Montreal Alouettes in tone-setting 2026 CFL opener

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats host their east division rivals the Montreal Alouettes Thursday night and it’s more than just a home opener, it’s a tone setter. This is their chance to show the rest of the league they have a chance to win it all. Let’s rip off the band aid and start with this: the last time Montreal was in the hammer, they beat the Hamilton Ticats to take the 2025 CFL Eastern Final. The Ticats finished first in the East Division last year with an 11-7-0 record. They qualified for the playoffs, then lost the heartbreaking Eastern Final to Montreal 19 – 16. Montreal previously took the 2023 Grey Cup title at Hamilton Stadium, after beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28 – 24.