The University of Montreal Carabins have won their second Vanier Cup in franchise history. On Saturday at Richardson Memorial Stadium in Kingston, Ontario, the Carabins defeated the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 16-9.
The Carabins were led by Hec Crighton Trophy winner Jonathan Senecal of Montreal, Quebec. Senecal completed 16 of 26 passes for 171 passing yards, and 50 rushing yards and one touchdown run. He becomes the third player ever to win the Hec Crighton Trophy (the Canadian University Football most outstanding player in a season), and Ted Morris Memorial Trophy (the Vanier Cup most valuable player) in the same season. Senecal follows University of Calgary Dinos wide receiver Don Blair of Ottawa, Ontario (1995), and Laval University Rouge et Or wide receiver Kevin Mital of Longueuil, Quebec (2022).
The first time the Carabins won the Vanier Cup was in 2014. They defeated McMaster University 20-19 at Molson Stadium in Montreal.
This was the second time that a football team from the same city won the Vanier Cup and Grey Cup in the same year. The Carabins follow the Montreal Alouettes, who beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 last Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario. The first time the Vanier Cup and Grey Cup champions came from the same city was in 1980 as Edmonton accomplished the feat. The University of Alberta Golden Bears beat the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 40-21 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Ontario to win the Vanier Cup, and the Edmonton Eskimos clobbered the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 48-10 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto to win the Grey Cup.
Meanwhile, the host city of the next three Vanier Cups have been announced. Kingston will host again in 2024. Regina, Saskatchewan will host in 2025, and Quebec City, Quebec will host in 2026.
