With no playoffs this CFL season, Ticats and Stampeders look to end with a win

There'll be no playoff games this year for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but head coach Scott Milanovich feels the club can get a head start on changing that narrative in 2025.

Hamilton hosts Calgary on Friday night in a battle between two non-playoff teams. The Ticats will finish fourth in the East Division while the Stampeders remain fifth in the West, three points behind idle Edmonton with two regular-season games remaining.

"There's momentum that can be built at the end of the season," said Milanovich, who's completing his first season as Hamilton's head coach/offensive coordinator. "I've been part of situations where momentum was built and then the following season it took off.

"What I don't want to have happen is have a lull where you lose what we've kind of started building over the last six weeks. I want to take that into the off-season and training camp."

Hamilton (6-10) played itself back into playoff contention with four straight victories before a 31-10 home loss to Winnipeg on Oct. 4. The Toronto Argonauts (9-7) eliminated the Ticats from post-season contention with a 14-11 road win over the Blue Bombers last Friday.

For some coaches, that would present an opportunity to audition new players under game conditions. But Milanovich said his priority is to field the best team possible in order to secure the victory, although he did leave the door open to getting backup quarterback Taylor Powell some reps down the stretch.

"He may not play, I'm not making any promises," Milanovich said. "But other than him we're playing the best guys available."

With that in mind, rookie Greg Bell will start at running back ahead of veteran James Butler, who'll come off the roster. Cornerback Jamal Peters (neck) is out while defensive