No more ties: CFL ratifies rule changes for 2026

Photo courtesy: David Friederich/B.C. Lions

Ties are officially a thing of the past in the Canadian Football League.

The league’s board of governors has approved several rule changes, it was announced on Tuesday, including the elimination of tie games.

Previously, regular-season games would end in a tie if the score remained even after two overtime mini-games.

Moving forward, teams will now alternate two-point converts from the three-yard line until a winner is determined. These attempts will each take place on the same end of the field.

Since 2016, the CFL has had four regular-season games end in a tie, two of which occurred in 2024. There were no ties in 2025.

This change was recommended by the CFL’s rules committee in January. The rules committee is comprised of head coaches, team presidents, the Canadian Professional Football Officials Association (CPFOA), and the CFL Players’ Association (CFLPA).

With the league adapting a new 35-second play clock in 2026, the rules committee also recommended switching back to a 20-second clock that must be whistled-in by an official during the final three minutes of both halves.

This recommendation was also approved by the board of governors. As a result of this decision, the league has provided what it termed “additional direction” to the replay centre.

When the new 35-second play clock is in effect, replay officials are to “avoid slowing the game down, unless a critical ruling is in question.” When the 20-second play clock is in effect, the replay centre is to “support on-field officials during natural breaks in play … such as after a penalty has been called on the field, or in automatic review situations.”

There were other minor changes approved by the board of governors, including:

-turnover on downs rulings will result in automatic review from the replay centre

-if a kick goes out of bounds through the end zone with no point awarded, or a field goal attempt strikes the goalpost and no points are scored, the ball will be scrimmaged from the 40-yard line

-prior to the game, teams may provide officials with a third ineligible number capable of reporting and lining up in an eligible position

-an incomplete pass will be added to the possible outcomes available to the defending team when an ineligible receiver penalty is called

-with team benches now on opposite sides of the field, bench violations will be a point of emphasis for officials and will result in in-game penalties and defined supplementary discipline

-a half or the game may end on a single kneel if all of the following conditions are met:

• The defence does not possess a timeout
• It is first down and the offence wishes to end the half or game
• 40 seconds or fewer remain on the game clock