Preview: REDBLACKS wrap up home schedule vs. Toronto

It’s the final home game of the 2026 season for the Ottawa REDBLACKS and they’ll be led by a rookie starting quarterback.

Bryson Barnes earns his first career CFL start after serving primarily as the club’s short-yardage specialist throughout the season.

“We feel like he’s ready for this stage. Obviously, with a young QB, there’s going to be ups and downs,” said head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie.

“He’s going to have an opportunity to use his legs. He’s a good runner when things breakdown protection wise he can go and move the chains with his legs but also he can extend the pocket and get some big yards. When you look around this league, that’s a big deal.”

Following last week’s game in BC, coach Dinwiddie noted that he wanted to build a week’s game plan around Barnes rather than throwing him in halfway through a game.

With Barnes taking all the first-team reps this week, he’s poised to take the stage at TD Place this evening.

"I'm super excited and grateful for this opportunity, obviously the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted but I’m just excited to get my chance and I can't wait to get out there with the guys and go play ball,” Barnes said following practice this week.

Ottawa made five roster changes heading into the game, including a start for rookie receiver Grant DuBose, who takes over for the injured Justin Hardy. The former Green Bay Packers draft pick has impressed the coaching staff with his reliability and catch radius throughout his time in Ottawa.

Ricky Person Jr., Eric Starczala, CJ Nunnally IV, and Dennis Briggs round out the rest of the additions for Ottawa, with Mario Anderson, Charlie Parks, Zach Barlev, Justin Hardy and Jessie Evans all landing on the injured or reserve lists.

There are some significant milestones up for grabs for the REDBLACKS as well. Kalil Pimpleton, who continued to lead the league in all-purpose yards, is closing in on the CFL record for most kickoff return yards in a single season. He needs just 185 yards to establish a new league record.

Anthony Gosselin will also match Nigel Romick’s record for games played with the REDBLACKS at 128 on Friday night, another significant mark for the Ottawa veteran.

As for the Argos, they enter the game having already secured second place in the East Division and a home playoff game in a couple of weeks.

The Argos certainly aren’t sending their B squad to the nation's capital, with the majority of their starters making the trip, they’ll certainly be ready to play on Friday night.

Toronto is coming off a bye week following a home loss to the BC Lions, which snapped their three-game winning streak.

They’ve also taken both of the previous matchups this season with the REDBLACKS, including a week 3 win at TD Place and a walk-off field goal at BMO last month.

Kickoff is scheduled to get underway Friday at 7 p.m. and can be seen on TSN and heard on TSN 1200 and 104, 7.