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CFL Playoff System Finally Explained—Experts Still Confused
The CFL has finally attempted to explain its playoff system, and fans are more confused than ever. If you thought you understood it, think again.
By Randy Slapchuk – Flin Flon, Manitoba
CANADA – In a groundbreaking attempt to clear up years of confusion, the CFL has finally unveiled a detailed explanation of its playoff system. Unfortunately, after a 90-minute PowerPoint presentation, fans and experts alike are even more bewildered than before.
“It’s really quite simple,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, sweating profusely. “We just have to consider the East and West Divisions, crossover rules, semi-finals, byes, and a few other minor details. I promise it all makes sense once you see the diagram.”
Ambrosie then clicked to Slide #57, which featured arrows pointing in multiple directions, question marks scattered throughout, and the phrase ‘Trust the Process’ written in Comic Sans.
By the end of the presentation, even longtime CFL insiders were scratching their heads.
How the CFL Playoffs ‘Work’
In theory, the CFL playoff format follows a clear structure:
🏈 Six teams qualify for the playoffs. (Unless they don’t.)
🏈 The first-place team in each division gets a bye to the Division Finals. (Unless a team from the other division finishes higher. Then maybe not?)
🏈 The second- and third-place teams play in the Semi-Finals. (Unless there’s a crossover team, which changes everything.)
🏈 A fourth-place team from the West can technically play in the East. (Because geography is optional in the CFL.)
🏈 The winner of each division final goes to the Grey Cup. (Unless, for some reason, they don’t. Again, we’re not entirely sure.)
“It’s not that hard to understand,” said one CFL executive. “If you just accept that sometimes a team that finishes below another team can advance while another one doesn’t, it all makes perfect sense.”
Fans Try to Understand the System
The CFL’s attempt to explain the system has only made things worse.
🗣️ “I watched the entire press conference, and now I have more questions than I started with.” – Dave, 47, Lifelong CFL Fan
🗣️ “Wait… why does a West team sometimes play in the East? How does that even make sense?” – Jenna, 32, First-Time Playoff Viewer
🗣️ “I just cheer when the Riders make it. Don’t ask me to explain anything.” – Chad, 54, Saskatchewan Fan for Life
Despite the national confusion, one group of people seems to understand the playoff system perfectly: Saskatchewan Roughriders fans, who confidently declare “it’s actually pretty simple” before proceeding to explain it in a way that makes even less sense.
Why Is the CFL Playoff System So Weird?
Historians believe that the CFL playoff format was created in a mysterious basement in 1958, where early league officials developed the structure using:
📜 A map of Canada with random arrows drawn on it.
📜 An Ouija board.
📜 Two cases of Labatt Blue and a flip of a coin.
The crossover rule, which allows a fourth-place team in one division to take a playoff spot in another, was reportedly added in 1986 after a lost bet at a Tim Hortons in Moose Jaw.
Meanwhile, CFL Commissioner Ambrosie insists that the system is “working as intended” and that “once you accept that normal logic doesn’t apply, it all makes sense.”
How Does This Compare to Other Leagues?
To help fans understand the CFL’s system, let’s compare it to other sports:
🏈 NFL Playoffs: Win games, advance. Lose games, go home. (Simple.)
🏒 NHL Playoffs: *16 teams. Four rounds. Just don’t touch the Campbell Bowl. (Still reasonable.)
⚾ MLB Playoffs: *A mix of Wild Card chaos and division dominance. (Makes sense after a beer or two.)
🏈 CFL Playoffs: West plays East, but sometimes East plays West. Crossover teams exist. Sometimes a second-place team hosts, and other times, they don’t. Just trust the process. (Good luck.)
Despite the confusion, the CFL remains committed to preserving its “unique” playoff system, with Commissioner Ambrosie promising that “things could always be more confusing if we wanted them to be.”
Proposed Solutions to Make the Playoffs Simpler
Experts have proposed several alternative ideas to help fix the CFL playoff system:
✔️ “Last Man Standing” Format – All nine teams enter the playoffs, single-elimination. The last team left wins the Grey Cup. No crossover, no confusion, no nonsense.
✔️ “Pick Your Opponent” Format – Top teams get to choose who they play. Saskatchewan fans will still argue it’s unfair.
✔️ “Rock, Paper, Scissors” Format – If the system is already a gamble, why not go all in?
✔️ “Make the Rules Up as You Go” Format – Wait… this might already be the current system.
