CFL star Brady Oliveira criticizes new playoff format

Photo: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

One of the CFL’s biggest stars took a shot at the expanded playoff format the league plans to implement in 2027.

“Eight out of nine teams in the Canadian Football League playoffs takes away from what makes those games special,” Brady Oliveira posted to X on Wednesday. “Playoff football is supposed to be earned. If anything, grow the league by adding more teams, not the number of automatic spots.”

The 28-year-old made the comment in reply to TSN analyst and Hall of Fame receiver Milt Stegall, who suggested players would unanimously be in favour of the change.

“Ask CFL players how they feel about this new era of playoff football,” Stegall wrote. “I guarantee 100 percent of them love it. More games, more exposure, more chances to put extra coins in their pockets.”

Two-time All-CFL strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis, who signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in free agency after four seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, agrees with Oliveira, replying to his post with the word, “Bingo.”

Oliveira is one of the league’s most prominent stars, leading to the creation of his new television show Must Love Dogs. He has one of the league’s largest social media followings, including almost 250,000 followers on Instagram.

The five-foot-ten, 229-pound ball-carrier became one of the league’s highest-paid players this offseason, signing a three-year contract extension worth almost $900,000. He has won two Grey Cups, two CFL rushing titles, two Most Outstanding Canadian awards, and one Most Outstanding Player award with his hometown team, recording 7,310 yards from scrimmage and 27 touchdowns.

On Tuesday, the CFL announced the playoffs will be expanded to eight teams starting in 2027.

The first round will soon feature four matchups. Two of the games, dubbed the ‘Division Showdowns,’ will pit the two top teams from the league’s two divisions against each other. The two winners will earn byes to the third round of the postseason, while the losers move on to the second round.

The other two games, dubbed the ‘Play-In Games,’ will see the No. 5 seed host the No. 8 seed and the No. 6 seed host the No. 7 seed. The two winners will advance to the second round, while the two losers are eliminated. This seeding will be done based on regular-season records, irrespective of divisions.

Round two of the new format, dubbed the ‘Elimination Games,’ will see the two Division Showdown losers host the two Play-In Game winners. Seeding will again be done based on regular-season records, not divisions. The two winners will advance to the third round of the postseason, while the two losers are eliminated.

The third round of the playoffs will be called the ‘Grey Cup Semi-Finals’ and have the two Division Showdown winners host the two Elimination Game winners. Seeding will again be done based on regular-season records, not divisions. The two winners will advance to the Grey Cup, while the two losers are eliminated.

Oliveira is no stranger to the postseason, having reached the Grey Cup five times over his six-year career. Evidently, he doesn’t think highly of the new CFL playoff format.

Editor’s note: Oliveira and Stegall’s statement have been lightly edited for clarity.