CIS Football Preview: Manitoba Bisons (0-0) vs. UBC Thunderbirds (0-0)

Game Details

• Time: 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET
• Venue: Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver, BC
• Conference: Canada West opener

Season Context

The Canada West campaign kicks off with two of the conference’s perennial contenders. UBC enters as the defending Hardy Trophy champion after a 7–1 regular season in 2024 and a run to the national semifinals. Manitoba finished 6–2 last year, falling just short in the conference semifinals, and looks to reassert itself on the road.

Team Overviews

Manitoba Bisons

• Head Coach: Brian Dobie (25th season)
• 2024 Record: 6–2 CW, lost in conference semis
• Offense: QB Darius Johnson (2,100 yds, 15 TDs in 2024) anchors a pro-style attack; RB Noah Koch chipped in 900 yds on the ground.
• Defense: DE James Petten tallied 8 sacks; DB Taylor Styffe led with 5 interceptions and solid cover skills.

UBC Thunderbirds

• Head Coach: Blake Nill (16th season)
• 2024 Record: 7–1 CW, Hardy Trophy winners
• Offense: QB Drew Viotto (Power Five transfer) battles with veteran Derek Engel for the starting nod; RB Rico Buford averaged 6.2 ypc.
• Defense: LB Juwan Gill led with 80 tackles; the secondary, bolstered by CB Daniel Juergens, excels in zone coverage.

Head-to-Head

• UBC leads the all-time series, 25–8, including a 35–21 victory at Winnipeg last September.
• Manitoba snapped a two-game skid in 2022, but UBC has won three of the last four matchups.
• Home-field at Thunderbird Stadium has swung the edge: UBC is 5–1 at home against Manitoba over the past decade.

Key Players to Watch

Manitoba Bisons

• Darius Johnson (QB): Poised pocket passer whose late-down accuracy keeps drives alive.
• Noah Koch (RB): Between-the-tackles grinder who forces defenses into heavy fronts.
• James Petten (DE): Edge rusher with an arsenal of counters and bull rushes.

UBC Thunderbirds

• Drew Viotto / Derek Engel (QB): Viotto brings big-play flair; Engel offers veteran game management.
• Rico Buford (RB): Explosive cutback runner who turns minimal space into chunk gains.
• Juwan Gill (LB): Sideline-to-sideline playmaker anchoring the front seven.

Additional Notes

• Vancouver’s forecast calls for light showers and temperatures in the mid-60s °F—key for ball security and footing.
• Watch the quarterback decision: an early call on Viotto or Engel will shape UBC’s play-calling balance.
• Special teams could swing field position; Manitoba’s punter averaged 42 yards per boot in 2024, while UBC boasts a top-5 kickoff return unit in Canada West.