The 1954 season of Canadian football is widely considered to be the first season of the modern era of Canadian football, although the Canadian Football League would not be officially founded for another four years.

Canadian Football News in 1954

The BC Lions joined the WIFU and adopted the colours of burnt orange and brown. The Lions played their first regular season game on Saturday, August 28, as they lost 8-6 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Empire Stadium.

Winnipeg's Gerry James (RB), became the first player to win the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.

The NBC national network were televising IRFU games.

Regular season

Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points

Western Interprovincial Football Union]] Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Edmonton Eskimos 16 11 5 0 255 163 22 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 10 4 2 239 204 22 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16 8 6 2 202 190 18 Calgary Stampeders 16 8 8 0 271 165 16 BC Lions 16 1 15 0 100 345 2

Interprovincial Rugby Football Union]] Team GP W L T PF PA Pts Montreal Alouettes 14 11 3 0 341 148 22 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 14 9 5 0 275 207 18 Toronto Argonauts 14 6 8 0 212 265 12 Ottawa Rough Riders 14 2 12 0 129 337 4

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
• Edmonton has a bye and will play in the WIFU Finals.

Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1954

SEMI-FINALS

WIFU Semi-Finals - Game 1 Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers Date Away Home October 30 Saskatchewan Roughriders 14 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 14

WIFU Semi-Finals - Game 2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Saskatchewan Roughriders Date Away Home November 1 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 13 Saskatchewan Roughriders 11

• Winnipeg won the total-point series by 27-25. The Blue Bombers will play the Edmonton Eskimos in the WIFU Finals.

FINALS

WIFU Finals - Game 1 Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Edmonton Eskimos Date Away Home November 6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 3 Edmonton Eskimos 9

WIFU Finals - Game 2 Edmonton Eskimos @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers Date Away Home November 11 Edmonton Eskimos 6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 12

WIFU Finals - Game 3 Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Edmonton Eskimos Date Away Home November 13 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 5 Edmonton Eskimos 10

• Edmonton wins the best of three series 2-1. The Eskimos will play the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (ORFU) in the Grey Cup Semi-Final.

IRFU Finals - Game 1 Montreal Alouettes @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats Date Away Home November 20? Montreal Alouettes 14 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 9

IRFU Finals - Game 2 Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Montreal Alouettes Date Away Home November 22? Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19 Montreal Alouettes 24

• Montreal wins the best of three series 2-0. The Alouettes will advance to the Grey Cup game.

Grey Cup Semi-Final

Edmonton Eskimos @ Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (ORFU) Date Away Home November 24? Edmonton Eskimos 28 Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen (ORFU) 6

• The Edmonton Eskimos will advance to the Grey Cup game.

Grey Cup Championship

November 2742nd Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium - Toronto, Ontario WIFU Champion IRFU Champion Edmonton Eskimos 26 Montreal Alouettes 25 The Edmonton Eskimos are the 1954 Grey Cup Champions Note: IRFU Final and Grey Cup Semi-Final dates are not confirmed, however since [1] the regular season ended October 25 in the West, and November 13 in the East, and [2] all other playoff dates, as well as Grey Cup date are accurate, it is reasonable to assume the above dates are accurate. 1954 Canadian Football Awards Most Outstanding Player Award - Sam Etcheverry (QB), Montreal Alouettes Most Outstanding Canadian Award - Gerry James (RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers