Last updated: October 17 2026
The Ottawa REDBLACKS beat the Toronto Argonauts 40-39 at TD Place on Friday October 16 2026, their first win of the 2026 season, according to TSN. Paul Geelen’s convert gave Ottawa the lead with six seconds left, TSN reports. Rookie Bryson Barnes made his first CFL start at quarterback.
| Final score | Ottawa REDBLACKS 40, Toronto Argonauts 39 (TSN; Yahoo News Canada) |
| Date | Friday October 16 2026 |
| Venue | The Stadium at TD Place |
| Halftime | Ottawa 23, Toronto 16 (TSN) |
| Records after the game | Ottawa 1-16, Toronto 9-8 (TSN; Yahoo News Canada) |
| Bryson Barnes | 27 of 37, two touchdown passes, both to Ayden Eberhardt; 335 yards (TSN; Yahoo News Canada) or 339 yards (BGM Sportstrax) |
| Ayden Eberhardt | Nine catches, 101 yards, two touchdowns (BGM Sportstrax) |
| Next game | At Hamilton, Saturday October 24 2026, 3:00 pm Eastern, TSN and CFL+ (CFL schedule) |
How the game went
TSN reports that Toronto scored first when Ethan John returned a blocked punt 16 yards for a touchdown. Ottawa led 10-6 after the first quarter on a one-yard run by Daniel Adeboboye and a 20-yard field goal, TSN says. Ottawa led 23-16 at halftime after a three-yard Adeboboye run and a 53-yard field goal by Paul Geelen.
Toronto tied the game 24-24 in the third quarter on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Nick Arbuckle to Kevin Mital and a two-point conversion, according to TSN. Geelen kicked a 51-yard field goal, and Barnes then threw his first CFL touchdown pass, to Eberhardt, for a 33-24 Ottawa lead, TSN reports.
TSN reports that Arbuckle threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Mital with about three minutes left, and that Isaiah Smith ran four yards for a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 30 seconds left to put Toronto ahead 39-33. Barnes then led a three-play drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Eberhardt, and Geelen’s convert gave Ottawa a 40-39 lead with six seconds left, according to TSN and Yahoo News Canada. BGM Sportstrax reports that Ottawa’s defence stopped Toronto on the final play.
Bryson Barnes in his first start
Barnes completed 27 of 37 passes for two touchdowns, both to Eberhardt, according to TSN and Yahoo News Canada. They give his yardage as 335; BGM Sportstrax gives 339. TSN says Arbuckle completed 26 of 34 passes for 305 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Toronto, and that Toronto starter Chad Kelly left midway through the first quarter with an apparent injury.
Record and what is next
TSN reports that Ottawa is now 1-16 and Toronto is 9-8. TSN also reports it was the REDBLACKS’ first home win since September 5 2025. Ottawa visits Hamilton on Saturday October 24 2026 to close the regular season, with kickoff at 3:00 pm Eastern on TSN and CFL+, according to the CFL schedule.
Everything on the team: Ottawa REDBLACKS at TD Place. Our earlier game-day post: REDBLACKS vs Argonauts at TD Place, October 16 2026.
Sources
- TSN (Canadian Press), “Redblacks claim first victory of season with dramatic last-second win over Argonauts”: score, scoring sequence, Barnes and Arbuckle lines, records, next game. Read October 17 2026
- Yahoo News Canada, “Ottawa Redblacks get 1st win of the season during final home game”: score, Barnes line, records. Read October 17 2026
- BGM Sportstrax, “At long last: Ottawa Redblacks snap 22-game winless streak over the Argonauts”: Barnes 339 yards, Eberhardt line, final play. Read October 17 2026
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