Can the BC Lions repeat their 2011 season this year?

The BC Lions are the CFL’s hottest team.

After a 1-5 start, the Lions have rattled off wins in seven of their last eight and have moved into a tie for second in the West Division. It’s been a stellar turnaround on the west coast, and it has BC looking like a 113th Grey Cup contender again, much like many expected entering the season.

The story of this year’s Lions might sound familiar for CFL fans. It was 15 years ago when BC got off to a difficult start only to storm back to make the playoffs. That 2011 version of the Lions marched all the way to the 99th Grey Cup, which just happens to be the franchise’s last championship win.

The parallels 15 years later are rather eerie. More than anything, BC would love to repeat how they finished that 2011 season.

THE START

2011

The Lions lost their first five games, and six of their first seven, with only two margins of defeat larger than eight points. Quarterback Travis Lulay struggled out of the gates and was even replaced by backup Jarious Jackson in an August 7 loss to Winnipeg.

BC entered 2011 with high expectations after Lulay had won the starting job in the back half of the prior campaign. Coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Saskatchewan in the 2010 Western Semi-Final, there was considerable buzz around the Lions as a new season got going.

2026

This year saw BC drop their first three games and five of their first six before turning things around. Three of those five losses came by eight points or less in a year where the Lions were looked at as a bona fide Grey Cup threat.

Last season saw quarterback Nathan Rourke re-establish himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks en route to being named George Reed Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian. Oh, and just like in 2011, last season ended for BC with a heartbreaking Western Semi-Final loss to the Riders.

THE RUN

2011

If head coach Wally Buono was sending Lulay a message by yanking him in that loss to the Bombers, it was certainly well received. The Lions went on to win their next eight games and finished the regular season with wins in 10 of 11.

As a result, BC tracked down Edmonton in the West Division standings before beating them in the playoffs. Lulay would end up finishing second overall with 4,815 passing yards and tied for first with 32 touchdowns. He’d be named Most Outstanding Player at the end of the season.

2026

Since that 1-5 start, the Lions have won seven of eight to push their record to 8-6 with four games to go. If things keep trending the way they have been, BC has an outside shot at tracking down the Elks for top spot in the division. The two teams are also on a probable postseason collision course.

After missing one week with injury, Rourke has been stellar. In seven starts since his return, Rourke has completed 71.8 per cent of his passes for 2,448 yards and 15 touchdowns. That’s an average of around 350 yards and two touchdowns per game; he’s also added a pair of rushing touchdowns during this current stretch.

LET’S GET WEIRD

2011

The Lions started the season playing home games at Empire Field, a temporary outdoor venue in northeast Vancouver, while renovations finished at BC Place. The team was finally able to return to BC Place in late September.

2026

With Vancouver serving as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, BC played their first two home games at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna, an outdoor venue with temporary expanded capacity. The Lions didn’t play their first home game at BC Place until August 8, right at the beginning of this current run.

2011

In the first game back at BC Place in almost two years, adopted Vancouverite Sarah McLachlan sang the national anthem.

2026

It was announced earlier this month that Sarah McLachlan will sing O Canada at the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary. Hmmmmm.