The 1968 CFL season is considered to be the 15th season in modern-day

Canadian football Canadian football () is a team sport, sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's sco ...

, although it is officially the 11th

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

season.

CFL News in 1968

J.G. (Jake) Gaudaur was appointed

CFL Commissioner The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

and the league adopted a new constitution. Gaudaur would serve in that position until 1984; he is the league's longest-tenured commissioner.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Tim Hortons Fiel ...

wide receiver

Ted Watkins Ted Watkins (1941 – June 2, 1968) was a Canadian football player who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa Rough Riders. He won the Grey Cup with Hamilton in 1967. He previously played college football at the University of the Pacifi ...

was shot and killed while allegedly robbing a liquor store in California, shortly before the start of the CFL season.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs. *''Saskatchewan and Ottawa have first round byes.''

Grey Cup playoffs

''Note: All dates in 1968''

Conference Semi-Finals

Conference Finals

Playoff bracket

Grey Cup Championship

CFL Leaders

CFL Passing Leaders The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

CFL Rushing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian F ...

CFL Receiving Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian ...

1968 CFL All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Russ Jackson Russell Stanley Jackson (born July 28, 1936) is a former professional Canadian football player. Jackson spent his entire 12-year professional football career with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a member of t ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB –

Bill Symons Bill Symons (born June 14, 1943 in Nucla, Colorado) is a former professional Canadian football running back with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. College football career Symons played for the University of Colorado Bu ...

, Toronto Argonauts *RB –

Vic Washington Victor Arnold Washington (March 23, 1946 – December 31, 2008) was an American football running back and kick returner. After attending the University of Wyoming, he played nine professional seasons, three in the Canadian Football League (CFL) a ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *TE –

Tommy Joe Coffey Tommy Joe Coffey (November 18, 1936 – August 25, 2020) was an American-born Canadian Football League (CFL) player who was an end, wide receiver and place kicker for the Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts. CFL In his f ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *TE – Herman Harrison, Calgary Stampeders *F – Ken Nielsen, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C –

Ted Urness Harold Edwards Urness (June 23, 1937 – December 29, 2018) was an offensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1961 to 1970. CFL career Urness played in three Grey Cups for the Roughriders, winning one in 1966, the 54th Grey Cup ag ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG –

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Bill Danychuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OT –

Bill Frank William B. Frank, Jr. (April 13, 1938 – June 26, 2014) was a Canadian football offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in the ...

, Toronto Argonauts *OT –

Clyde Brock Clyde Vern Brock (born August 30, 1940) is a former professional Canadian football offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers in the Nation ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

*DT –

Ed McQuarters Eddie Lee McQuarters (born April 16, 1943 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a former defensive tackle (number 61) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1966–1974. McQuarters was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1988. College and NFL ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos *DE –

Billy Ray Locklin Billy Ray Locklin (September 13, 1936 – November 8, 2019) was an American football defensive lineman who played ten seasons in the Canadian Football League for two different teams. He was a CFL All Star three times. Locklin started his pro car ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE –

Ed Harrington Ed Harrington (February 8, 1941 – November 26, 2011) was a star defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. Harrington played college football at Langston University and later with the Toronto Rifles of the Continental Football League. ...

, Toronto Argonauts *LB –

Wayne Harris Carroll Wayne Harris (May 4, 1938 – June 4, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1961 through 1972. His son, Wayne Harris, Jr., coaches f ...

, Calgary Stampeders *LB –

Wally Dempsey Walter Dempsey (born January 9, 1944) was a Canadian football player who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions. He won the Grey Cup with Saskatchewan in 1966. He played college football at Washington State University. After his CFL ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB –

Ken Lehmann Kenneth E. Lehmann (born January 13, 1942) is a former linebacker for the Ottawa Rough Riders and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League from 1964 to 1972. He was a CFL All-Star from 1965 to 1969 and was a part of two Grey Cup victories for th ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Bob Kosid, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB –

Garney Henley Garney Henley (born December 21, 1935) is an American former professional football player, who played in the Canadian Football League. College career Garney Henley attended Huron College in South Dakota, playing as a running back from 1956 to ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Ed Learn, Toronto Argonauts *DB –

Marv Luster Marvin Luster (November 27, 1937 – May 25, 2020) was an American football defensive back and end. He played college football at UCLA and professional football in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for from 1961 to 1974. He was inducted into ...

, Toronto Argonauts

1968 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB –

Bo Scott Robert Marilla Scott (March 30, 1943 – August 4, 2021) was an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League. Palmer, Pete; Pullis, Ken; Lahman, Sean; Silverman, Matthew; Gillette, Gary. ''The ESPN Pro ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB –

, Toronto Argonauts *RB –

, Ottawa Rough Riders *TE –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *TE –

Mel Profit Mel Profit (born July 30, 1941 in New York, New York) was a football player in the CFL for six years. He was selected originally by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1963 NFL Draft. He starred as a tight end for the Toronto Argonauts. Mel authored ...

, Toronto Argonauts *F –

Whit Tucker Whitman D. (Whit) Tucker (born November 15, 1940) is a former professional Canadian football flanker in the Canadian Football League who played the entirety of his career with the Ottawa Rough Riders. He was a CFL-All Star in 1967 and won two G ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *C – Basil Bark, Montreal Alouettes *OG –

, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Bill Danychuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OT –

, Toronto Argonauts *OT –

Ellison Kelly Ellison Lamar Kelly (May 17, 1935 – February 11, 2016) was an American and Canadian football offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1960–1970 and the Toronto Argonauts from 1971-1972 of the Canadian Football League. He also playe ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Defence

*DT – Mike Wadsworth, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Marshall Shirk, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE –

, Toronto Argonauts *LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB – Allen Ray Aldridge Sr., Toronto Argonauts *LB –

, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Larry Fairholm, Montreal Alouettes *DB –

Don Sutherin Don Paul "Suds" Sutherin (February 29, 1936 – January 11, 2022) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) defensive back and placekicker. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1992). Playing care ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Ed Learn, Toronto Argonauts *DB –

, Toronto Argonauts

1968 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Ron Lancaster Ronald Lancaster (October 14, 1938 – September 18, 2008) was an American-Canadian professional football player and coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL). As the starting quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 16 seasons, he ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB – Dave Raimey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB –

Jim Evenson Jim Evenson (born January 9, 1947) was a running back who played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions and the Ottawa Rough Riders. Evenson won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy in 1971. He was a part of the ...

, BC Lions *SE –

Terry Evanshen Terrence Anthony "Terry" Evanshen (born June 13, 1944) is a motivational speaker and former star receiver in the Canadian Football League. CFL Drafted by the Montreal Alouettes, Terry went on to have an outstanding career in the CFL playing for ...

, Calgary Stampeders *TE – Herman Harrison, Calgary Stampeders *F – Ken Nielsen, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Bob Lueck, Calgary Stampeders *OG – John Atamian, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OT –

Ken Sugarman Ken Sugarman (born June 16, 1942) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's the British Columbia Lions. After playing college football at Whitworth College, Sugarman spent his entire 9-year CFL career as ...

, BC Lions *OT –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

*DT –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos *DE –

Bill Whisler Bill Whisler (born November 15, 1940) was a Canadian football player who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1962. He played college football at the University of Iowa. Whisler w ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DE –

Dick Suderman Richard Suderman (October 18, 1940 – October 16, 1972) was a Canadian Football League defensive end. College football Dick Suderman played college football at the University of Western Ontario. Calgary Suderman played defensive end for the Cal ...

, Calgary Stampeders *LB –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB –

Phil Minnick Phil Minnick (born December 28, 1942) was a Canadian football linebacker who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played college football at the University of Northern Iowa. As a rookie linebacker, he played in 14 games and intercepted one pas ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *LB – Greg Findlay, BC Lions *DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Bob Kosid, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB –

Jerry Keeling Jerry Keeling (August 2, 1939 – January 20, 2018) was a quarterback and defensive back in the Canadian Football League, playing fifteen seasons from 1961 to 1975 for the Calgary Stampeders, the Ottawa Rough Riders, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. ...

, Calgary Stampeders *DB –

Bruce Bennett Bruce Bennett (born Harold Herman Brix, also credited Herman Brix; May 19, 1906February 24, 2007) was an American film and television actor who prior to his screen career was a highly successful college athlete in football and in both intercol ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB –

Ernie Pitts Ernie Pitts (March 8, 1935 – September 24, 1970) was a Canadian Football League wide receiver and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions in a 14-year career in the CFL from 1957 to 1970. He won four Grey Cups with Winnipe ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1968 CFL Awards

CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Terry Evanshen Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winner from ...

–

(RB), Toronto Argonauts * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ken Nielsen (F), Winnipeg Blue Bombers *

CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award The Most Outstanding Lineman Award was an award annually given to the best defensive player or offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League from the year 1955 to 1973. By the 1974 season, the league decided to make two separate awards for bo ...

–

(LB), Ottawa Rough Riders * CFL's Coach of the Year –

Eagle Keys Eagle Keys (December 4, 1923 – December 20, 2012) was a Canadian football player and coach. He is currently fifth all-time in regular season wins with 131 as a head coach in the Canadian Football League. He was inducted into the Canadian Foo ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *

Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy The Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding football player of the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RESQ) The trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanshi ...

(Eastern MVP) – Larry Fairholm (DB), Montreal Alouettes *

Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's most outstanding player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division. Either this trophy winner or the winner of the Terry Evanshen T ...

(Western MVP) -

(QB), Saskatchewan Roughriders * Gruen Trophy (Eastern Rookie of the Year) - Dave Knechtel (DL), Toronto Argonauts * Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Dave Cranmer (RB), Calgary Stampeders * DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) -

(DT), Saskatchewan Roughriders

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1968 Cfl Season

CFL The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

Canadian Football League seasons