CFL announces changes to playing surface, modified rouge

The Canadian Football League is making structural changes to its field for the 2027 season, including moving the goalposts to the back of the end zone and resizing the playing surface.

Commissioner Stewart Johnston announced the upcoming set of changes at a news conference in Toronto on Monday, saying the alterations are about entertainment and innovation.

“This is all about making our great game even more entertaining,” Johnston said in a release. “We are trading field goals for touchdowns, while improving fan experience in stadiums and at home.

“These changes are the most significant in decades. We are retaining the unique elements upon which our traditions stand, but innovating where change is needed to evolve our world-class game.”

Johnston announced that the changes will be instituted over the next two seasons through a phased approach, with the goalposts being moved and the end zones shortened from 20 to 15 yards in 2027. The field will also be shortened from 110 yards to 100, while retaining its 65-yard width.

Other changes, scheduled to begin in 2026, include:

- The rouge will no longer include a single point for a missed field-goal attempt that goes wide of the goalposts. A point will also not be awarded when a punt or kickoff sails through or rolls out the back, or sides, of an end zone without being touched by a returner. If a punt, field goal or kickoff settles in the end zone, and the returner fails to take it out or takes a knee, a single point will still be awarded.

- All teams will be required to have their bench areas on opposite sides of the field, eliminating cases where some players are required to run 50-60 yards for substitutions.

- A new 35-second play clock will automatically begin as soon as the previous play is whistled dead. Currently, the 20-second play clock does not start until manually initiated by an official.

The CFL rules committee will review and address the nuances of rules impacted by these changes in the upcoming off-season.

The package of changes was approved unanimously by the CFL’s Lead Governors, which includes team owners and chairpersons.

“I commend the board of governors for its unwavering commitment to a culture of constant improvement,” Johnston said. “Our governors do not take change lightly because they know how much the CFL, and the Canadian icon that is the Grey Cup, mean to generations of Canadians.

“These changes are about improving something that is already great. They are rooted in data and analytics; they have been thoughtfully and carefully considered. But they are big and bold because that’s what’s necessary to make our fantastic game even more entertaining, and to win in the attention economy.”

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