Saskatchewan Roughriders add QB Gio Lopez to negotiation list

Photo: Wake Forest Athletics

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have added American quarterback Gio Lopez to their exclusive negotiation list. The move was reflect on the CFL’s official tracker on Tuesday.

The six-foot, 203-pound passer is in his redshirt junior season at Wake Forest University, where he has gone 3-1 as a starter to begin the 2026 season. He has completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,112 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception. He has also rushed 36 times for 104 yards and two scores.

The native of Madison, Ala. spent last season at the University of North Carolina, where he went 4-7 as a starter. He completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also rushed 86 times for 133 yards and three scores.

Lopez originally committed to the University of South Alabama, where he went 6-6 over two years. He completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 3,034 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed 101 times for 619 yards and nine scores.

CFL teams can claim the rights to up to 45 players via the negotiation list on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that they are not eligible for the Canadian or Global Drafts, and do not have CFL veteran status. These players can be added, traded, or removed from the list at any time.

Being added to a negotiation list does not mean that the player has expressed interest in the CFL, and some are unaware that their rights have even been claimed. Players can only force their removal from the list if the team does not provide them with a minimum contract offer at their request.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-6) will host the Calgary Stampeders (7-8) on Friday, October 2 with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. EDT. The Roughriders are coming off a loss to B.C. that bumped them to third place in the West Division, while the Stampeders completed their two-game sweep of Ottawa.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 620 CKRM in Regina and 770 CHQR in Calgary.