Edmonton Elks prep for 1st playoff game since 2019 — with trip to Grey Cup final on the line

Mark Korte recalls growing up in Edmonton, often going to Commonwealth Stadium with his father and brother to watch football.

Now, the offensive lineman is one win away from helping take his hometown team to the Grey Cup final.

“It’s certainly full circle to come back and be playing in a game like this, that I’d love to come to as a fan,” said Korte, who has spent five of his eight CFL seasons with the Edmonton Elks. “Certainly, you love it even more as a player.”

The Elks are making final preparations before Commonwealth Stadium hosts its first playoff game in more than a decade on Saturday.

Edmonton has been in the CFL’s basement for years, missing the playoffs since 2019. But the 2026 season marked a turnaround, with the franchise topping the west and earning a bye to the division final.

The Elks will host the B.C. Lions, who are coming off a 33-26 comeback win versus the Saskatchewan Roughriders in last weekend’s West Division semi-final, which required the team's defence to fend off a last-minute touchdown drive.

Rourke leads Lions past Roughriders in CFL West semifinal

Both squads are evenly matched.

Edmonton is a relatively high-scoring team, whose run game drives the offence. The Elks also have the CFL’s stingiest defence, particularly when protecting against the aerial attack. B.C., meanwhile, has a strong, balanced offence and boasts the league’s best rush defence.

The Elks have been comfortable at home this year, winning eight of nine regular season games. When the teams last met on July 17, the Elks held off a late comeback effort by the Lions, squeaking out a 19-17 victory. On July 4, the Lions beat the Elks 36-24 in Vancouver.

“I don't really look at it as pressure,” Elks’ defensive back Tyrell Ford, the