Saskatchewan

Regina Rams crack CIS top 10, Huskies up to No. 8

After a miserable 0-8 season in 2015, the University of Regina Rams are back on the national stage.

Huskies and Rams both 2-1 so far this season

University of Regina Rams quarterback Noah Picton set a national passing record this season throwing for more than 3100 yards. (Peter Mills/CBC)

After a miserable 0-8 season in 2015, the University of Regina Rams are back on the national stage.

For the first time since 2012, Regina cracked the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top 10 this week, sitting at No. 9.

On Saturday, the Rams (2-1) beat the defending Vanier Cup champion UBC Thunderbirds 20-10 in Vancouver. UBC entered the game ranked No. 6 in the country.

It was Regina's second straight win against a top-10 team after beating the previously No. 8-ranked Manitoba Bisons a week earlier. It was also the second straight week the Rams bounced their opponents out of the CIS top 10.

"It's definitely nice to be ranked, but we want to continually work on improving and can't afford to spend too much time looking in the rear view mirror," Rams head coach Steve Bryce said in a news release. "It doesn't matter what we did last week if we don't take care of business this week, and we have a good challenge ahead of us on Friday."

Regina's only loss of the season came against the University of Saskatchewan in a 41-39 overtime loss.

The Rams will be in a tough position to keep their top 10 ranking alive on Friday. They'll host the No. 2-ranked University of Calgary Dinos (3-0) at Mosaic Stadium at 7 p.m. CST.

Second-year University of Regina receiver Ryan Schienbein has had a great start to the 2016 season. In three games, he has 22 catches for 252 yards and four touchdowns. (Peter Mills/CBC)

Regina has lost seven straight games — regular season and playoffs — against Calgary. Their last win against the Dinos came on Oct. 19, 2012.

Last year, Calgary beat Regina 72-8 at Mosaic Stadium.

Huskies move up to No. 8

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies are currently ranked No. 8 in Canada after a 2-1 start to the 2016 season. (Peter Mills/CBC)

Speaking of the tough Calgary Dinos, the U of S Huskies let their perfect season slip away against the Dinos at Griffiths Stadium on Friday.

The Huskies (2-1) held a 19-17 lead with under a minute to play, but a late Calgary field goal gave the Dinos a 20-19 victory.

Despite the loss, Saskatchewan still moved up two spots to No. 8 in the CIS.

This week, Brian Towriss and the Huskies will travel to Manitoba to take on the 1-2 Bisons. 

Here is how the CIS top 10 looks going into this week:

  1. Montreal (3-0)
  2. Calgary (3-0)
  3. Laval (2-1)
  4. Western (3-1)
  5. Laurier (3-0)
  6. Ottawa (3-0)
  7. McMaster (3-1)
  8. Saskatchewan (2-1)
  9. Regina (2-1)
  10. Carleton (2-2)