Jamie Nye: Plenty of surprises in first half of 2025 CFL season

The midway point of the CFL season comes with reflection on the expectations we held going into the season. And, to be honest, how many people actually think this season has played out exactly how you envisioned it?

If you said yes, you’re either lying to yourself or you should take my job as the CFL predictor.

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There have been plenty of good, bad and pleasant surprises midway through 2025. Here are my three biggest surprises for teams and my three biggest surprises for individual performances:

Calgary Stampeders

With all the changes in Calgary over the last few years, from coaching staff to team personnel to roster turnover, I thought the Stampeders could go 6-3 in the back half of the season after a slow start. But I didn’t think we’d see the Stamps make this type of jump.

Yes, Vernon Adams Jr. coming on board had the potential to improve the Stampeders, but the biggest reason for the surprise is their defence.

The moves on defence saw so much change, from their defensive line through the linebackers and secondary, as well as saying goodbye to long-time co-ordinator Brent Monson.

Moves like that have the makings of misery and early season frustration, but instead the changes appear to have created just the right mix for Dave Dickenson and company. The fact Calgary would be leading the league in some key defensive statistics at this point in the season was not on my 2025 CFL bingo card.

After an impressive start to the year, we’ll see if they can keep it going through the second half.

Toronto Argonauts

Sure, when you’re without Chad Kelly through the first half of the season, there are going to be some hard times. But after surviving the first half following Kelly’s suspension last year, I didn’t expect to see Toronto at the basement of the CFL and tied with the Edmonton Elks with just two wins.

The big surprise was the release of Ka’Deem Carey, and that move appears to be backfiring for the Argos. Yes, Carey is out for the season with a nasty injury he suffered after signing with the Roughriders, but the Argonauts have no running game at all, and it’s hampering their offence.

Then there are the other injuries that are impacting the depth of the Argonauts, a factor which had often been their greatest strength and contributed to the team’s two championships over the last three seasons.

Another surprise in Toronto has been how long the lingering injury for Chad Kelly has actually lasted.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

This one is more of a pleasant surprise than a major surprise.

Did I foresee the Riders being the best team in the league at the halfway point? Sure. Did I see a 7-1 start, with Trevor Harris playing some of the best football of his career without Kian Schaffer-Baker and Sam Emilus for a big chunk of the first half and three different left tackles? Nope.

As much as the Argos’ depth is being exposed, the Roughriders’ depth is being highlighted week in and week out.

As the injuries piled up early in the year, it felt like many were waiting for the house of cards to tumble. Instead, we’ve learned that the ‘build it’ mantra form last year did, in fact, build a tremendous foundation for Saskatchewan’s success in 2025.

Damonte Coxie

Despite throwing the Argonauts on my list as a bad surprise, there has been a bright spot. Damonte Coxie is becoming an unstoppable force within that team’s receiving corps. Yes, Coxie has had some good seasons in the past, but talk about a breakout performance.

The big-play star of the Argonauts is on pace for more than 1,500 receiving yards in 2025.

He’s battling the likes of Kenny Lawler, Eugene Lewis and Keon Hatcher for top receiver in the CFL.

I love a good breakout season for a new potential superstar in the CFL!

Tre Ford

You have to wonder if Ford will ever be able to figure it all out.

We’re all cheering for him as one of the young, exciting Canadian quarterbacks in the league, but the reason he’s included in the surprises list is the fact the Elks moved off of him as quickly as they did.

After being quite adamant in the offseason that Ford was the face of the franchise and making him a major part of marketing the 2025 season in Edmonton, the Elks were quick to switch to Cody Fajardo as their starter.

Yes, the move has been justified by how efficient Fajardo has been when compared to Ford, but it’s still been one of the biggest surprises to see Ford failing to flourish with Jordan Maksymic running the offence in Edmonton.

Damien Alford

Place this under a pleasant surprise.

Unfortunately, the first overall pick has landed on the injured list for the last few weeks, but after watching previous top picks take some time, you never expect them to hit the end zone five times in a three-week span in the first half of their very first season.

Orville Lee was the last first overall pick to have this type of impact in the CFL.

If Alford gets healthy again, I can’t wait to see what he does in the second half, because it’s great to see a young Canadian draft pick excelling early.