Commissioner Stewart Johnston shines a spotlight on the football changes coming to the CFL in 2026 & 2027. From the repositioned goalposts and the resized field to the automatic play clock and the modified rouge, here's a closer look at the next big step in professional football in Canada.
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Commissioner Stewart Johnston has announced a phased plan to evolve the game; with goalposts moving back, a resized field, and a new take on the rouge beginning in 2026.
In 2026, we’re introducing an automatic 35-second play clock reset, keeping the urgency up, the tempo fast, the action flowing, and the game flow consistent.
The CFL is making a bold move to evolve the game with a set of changes centred upon entertainment and innovation.
Commissioner Stewart Johnston announced that changes will be instituted over the next two seasons through a phased approach. The most significant modifications will come in 2027 with goalposts being moved to the back of the end zone and the field being re-sized. In anticipation of these structural changes, beginning in 2026, the rouge will be modified and adjustments will be introduced to ensure more consistent game flow.
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