Hamilton Tiger-Cats can clinch first in East Division with win over Ottawa Redblacks

By Canadian Press on October 23, 2025.

HAMILTON — The CFL post-season is starting early for Ante Milanovic-Litre.

The veteran Canadian fullback is taking a playoff approach to Hamilton’s regular-season finale Friday night versus the Ottawa Redblacks (4-13). The Ticats (10-7) can clinch first in the East — and home field for the division final Nov. 8 — with a victory.

A Hamilton tie or loss would give Montreal (10-7) an opportunity to finish first Saturday with a road win over Winnipeg (9-8). In that scenario, the Ticats would host either the Blue Bombers or B.C. Lions in the East semifinal Nov. 1.

If both Hamilton and Montreal were to lose, the Ticats would get top spot because on having won the season series with the Alouettes.

And although Ottawa has been eliminated from post-season contention, Milanovic-Litre is expecting the Redblacks to approach Friday’s game like a playoff contest.

“We’re taking this game as seriously as a playoff game, this is a playoff game,” he said. “Ottawa is participating in a playoff game this week despite not being included in the subsequent weeks.

“For them, they don’t have a tomorrow and that’s always a very dangerous player, dangerous team when they’re in that situation.”

It’s a feeling Milanovic-Litre and the Ticats know well.

Last year, Hamilton finished last in the East Division with a 7-11 record. They ended their campaign by losing 37-31 in Ottawa to the playoff-bound Redblacks in a game that featured 1,067 total offensive yards.

“You really find out your love for the sport in a game like this,” Milanovic-Litre said. “When you have to fight when there’s no tomorrow, how are you going to play? How are you going to show up? Are you going to bring your best game possible?

“I think the way we ended last year, we fought to the bitter end of that game and I’m expecting the exact same effort and execution from Ottawa. This is a real deal.”

Hamilton won both previous games this season versus Ottawa. The Ticats have also done a solid job of taking care of business in the East, boasting a 6-1 record versus division rivals.

Conversely, Ottawa comes in riding a five-game losing streak. The Redblacks are 1-6 within the East Division and 2-6 on the road.

Hamilton could’ve clinched first Oct. 11 at home versus Calgary, but dropped a 37-20 home decision to the Stampeders before heading on their final bye week of the season. That dropped the Ticats to 1-13 going into a bye week since 2021.

But Hamilton is 10-3 over the same span coming off a bye week. And a win Friday could give the Ticats another bye week leading up to the East Division final.

Hamilton has won seven straight home games versus Ottawa, dating back to October 2018.

Both teams have players closing in on individual milestones.

Hamilton receiver Kenny Lawler needs a TD catch to tie Tony Champion’s club record of 15, while Tim White is 53 yards short of a fourth straight 1,000-yard season. And with 56 yards rushing, Greg Bell would reach the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time as a pro.

White is looking to become Hamilton’s third 1,000-yard receiver behind Lawler (82 catches, 1,400 yards) and Canadian Kiondre Smith (78 receptions, 1,027 yards, five TDs). White enters Friday’s game with 80 catches and five touchdowns.

“It’s everything,” White said of the importance of 1,000 yards to a receiver. “As a competitor, you want to go out there and continue to (establish) a great model of consistency.

“Reaching that 1,000-yard mark is something many receivers look forward to doing and doing it for a fourth time would be an amazing experience. It’s something I definitely want to do and it’s something I’m motivated to do, for sure.”

Ottawa receiver Justin Hardy needs 32 yards for his third straight 1,000-yard season, and with 72 yards would move past Gerald Alphin (3,807) for sixth in franchise history.

Canadian defensive lineman Cleyon Laing also returns for Ottawa.

Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell will make an 18th straight start, the only CFL quarterback to start all of his team’s regular-season games. Mitchell, twice the league’s outstanding player and the Ticats’ nominee for the award this year. leads the league in passing (5,032 yards) and TDs (34).

Tyrie Adams makes a second straight start for Ottawa, with former Ticat Matt Shiltz backing up. Dustin Crum (head) is listed as the Redblacks’ third quarterback.

Adams completed 27-of-44 passes for 286 yards with three TDs but also threw three interceptions in Ottawa’s 39-28 loss last week to Montreal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2025.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press