Ottawa Redblacks get 1st win of the season during final home game

The Ottawa Redblacks defeated the Toronto Argonauts 40-39 on Friday night at TD Place. It's broken their 22-game losing streak that stretches back to last season.

Rookie quarterback Bryson Barnes led the team to victory in his first CFL start. It is also Ottawa's first win this season and first at home since Sept. 5, 2025.

Barnes completed 27 of 37 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns to Ayden Eberhardt for the Redblacks (1-16).

Nick Arbuckle led the way for the Argonauts (9-8) going 26-for-34 for 305 yards, two TDs and one interception after Chad Kelly left the game midway through the first quarter.

Kelly was apparently hurt after he was brought down by Ottawa defensive end Luiji Vilain.

Toronto took a 39-33 lead with 30 seconds left to play, but Barnes was poised, putting together a three-play drive and connected with Eberhardt for a 24-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Paul Geelen gave Ottawa the lead with the convert with six seconds remaining.

With time winding down and Ottawa leading 33-31, Khazir Brown intercepted Arbuckle to regain possession at the Ottawa 27.

The Redblacks were unable to capitalize and had to punt.

On the following drive the Argos got down field and Isaiah Smith ran in a four-yard touchdown and added the two-point conversion to take a 39-33 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

Ottawa took a 33-24 lead on Barnes's first CFL touchdown pass, to Eberhardt, but Arbuckle answered right back with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital with three minutes remaining to pull Toronto within two, 33-31.

The third quarter saw Arbuckle put together an impressive 3:30 drive that culminated with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Mital and a two-point conversion to tie things 24-24.

With Paul Geelen putting Ottawa