CALGARY – In the span of just two games, the football rivalry between the University of Calgary Dinos and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies has become one of the most fierce in the nation.

Virtually nothing separated the two squads in their two meetings last season, both at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. In the season opener, the Huskies took a 34-33 win when a Calgary two-point convert attempt in overtime was unsuccessful. Then, in the conference final, Saskatchewan missed the game-winning field goal to give the Dinos their second straight Canada West title.

Both games came down to the last play, and there's little reason to suspect otherwise when the teams hook up to start 2010 Saturday night at McMahon Stadium. Kickoff goes at 7 p.m., live on Shaw TV and AM 770 CHQR.

Live stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/calgary/football

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

2010 Dinos Media Guide (.pdf, 12 MB)

It's the third straight year that the Dinos and Huskies have met to begin the regular season, but this time it finally comes to McMahon Stadium and it's the front end of a home-and-home series that will end in Saskatoon on Oct. 15. Saskatchewan last visited Calgary in 2007.

While the Dinos were unsuccessful in the previous two season-openers against the Huskies, this time they're at home – and Calgary hasn't lost at McMahon since Sept. 29, 2007 – a span of 10 conference games, 13 if post-season contests are included.

Adding to the drama, both teams are ranked in the top three in the nation, according to the Football Reporters of Canada. The Dinos find themselves at No. 1 for the first time since 1993, with the Huskies nipping at their heels in third spot and Laval sandwiched in between the Canada West rivals. A Calgary win would cement the Dinos' spot atop the rankings, while a win by the Huskies would give them a claim to the No. 1 spot.

So, exactly 365 days since the last time they met in the regular season, the Dinos and Huskies will hook up in the most anticipated contest on the national schedule Saturday.

And there's little reason to suspect it won't be another instant classic – the last time these two teams met in the Hardy Cup, they combined for more than 1,200 yards of offence. The defence that is best able to control the other team's offence, then, will likely come out on top of this one.

Here's a look at the two sides:

No. 1 Calgary (0-0)
Last week: defeated Alberta 20-14 (exhibition)
Next week: host Regina

The Dinos' strengths are well-documented: a veteran, explosive, talent-laden offence; a two-time national MVP at quarterback; and a head coach who does nothing but win. Calgary's meteoric renaissance in the CIS football world was capped off in a way by this week's crowning as the preseason No. 1 – but every player in the locker room would rather be on top at the end of the season than the beginning.

The long road back to the Vanier Cup for last year's national runners-up begins Saturday night against the Huskies, and head coach Blake Nill has his team looking forward rather than back. And not taking anything for granted.

“We're talented, we're fast, we're strong, and they say we're the best team in the country,” Nill said to his players after practice this week. “But what does that entitle us to?”

The collective, emphatic response: “Nothing.”

The depth chart is impressive. Erik Glavic, last year's BLG Award winner and the reigning Hec Crighton Trophy recipient, leads an offence that returns virtually everybody and welcomes another former All-Canadian in Anthony Woodson back into the mix. The weapons on offence are impressive, from two-time conference rushing champ Matt Walter to the top two receivers in the conference last season in Anthony Parker and Nathan Coehoorn. And leading the way for it all is a veteran, experienced offensive line.

The defence, meanwhile, underwent an overhaul under Nill, who took over as Defensive Coordinator this season. Defensive lineman Linden Gaydosh is the reigning CIS rookie of the year and a force up front, while last year's All-Canadian free safety Anthony DesLauriers transferred from Simon Fraser and will shore up the secondary. Most of Calgary's off-season departures came on the defensive side of the football, however, and the Dinos will have their hands full with the Laurence Nixon-led Saskatchewan offence.

No. 3 Saskatchewan
Last week: defeated Western 40-12 (exhibition)
Next week: host UBC

Coming off back-to-back playoff defeats at home in the last two seasons, the Saskatchewan Huskies would love nothing more than a big win on the road over the No. 1 team in the nation to open the season.

The 2009 Huskies had an up-and-down season but poured it on late with a stifling defence that allowed an average of just 14 points per game. Despite losing last year's Canada West defensive player of the year in linebacker Taylor Wallace, the Saskatchewan 'D' still features safety Bryce McCall and linebacker Peter Thiel and will look to stifle the Glavic-led Calgary attack.

Offensively, Nixon returns for his fifth and final season behind a solid offensive line led by conference all-star Patrick Neufeld. Running back Jeff Hassler played just four games last season but averaged nearly 92 yards in each of them, while Travis Gorski, Rory Kohlert, and Braeden George lead the Huskies' receiving corps.

-UC-