The 1972 CFL season is considered to be the 19th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 15th Canadian Football League season.
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was officially opened on November 28, 1972, in Hamilton. The Grey Cup game was played on AstroTurf at nearby Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The Western Conference Finals were now played under a single-elimination game. The Eastern Conference continued to play a two-game total-point series affair in their Conference Final round until the following season, when it adopted the West's single-game elimination in the Conference Final round as well.
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
Western Football Conference
Team
GP
W
L
T
PF
PA
Pts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
16
10
6
0
401
300
20
Edmonton Eskimos
16
10
6
0
380
368
20
Saskatchewan Roughriders
16
8
8
0
330
283
16
Calgary Stampeders
16
6
10
0
331
394
12
BC Lions
16
5
11
0
254
380
10
Eastern Football Conference
Team
GP
W
L
T
PF
PA
Pts
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
14
11
3
0
372
262
22
Ottawa Rough Riders
14
11
3
0
298
228
22
Montreal Alouettes
14
4
10
0
246
353
8
Toronto Argonauts
14
3
11
0
254
298
6
Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
Winnipeg and Hamilton have first round byes.
Grey Cup playoffs[]
Note: All dates in 1972
Conference Semi-Finals[]
Eastern Semi-Finals
Montreal Alouettes @ Ottawa Rough Riders
Date
Away
Home
November 11
Montreal Alouettes 11
Ottawa Rough Riders 14
Western Semi-Finals
Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Edmonton Eskimos
Date
Away
Home
November 12
Saskatchewan Roughriders 8
Edmonton Eskimos 6
Conference Finals[]
Western Finals
Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Date
Away
Home
November 19
Saskatchewan Roughriders 27
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24
This game was especially notable for its final play. The game was tied and Saskatchewan attempted a last-second field goal to win, or at least score a single. The kick missed wide, and was recovered by Winnipeg in the end zone. As they were unable to run it out, they punted. The Saskatchewan player who fielded the punt attempted to score a single (winning the game) by punting it through the end zone again, but was unsuccessful, and the punt was fielded by Winnipeg, who punted it out again. The Saskatchewan returner was tackled, ending the play and presumably the game, but a Winnipeg penalty negated the play and gave Saskatchewan another chance. The second Saskatchewan field goal attempt, with no time on the clock, was successful.[1][2]