Why SMU is the Team to Beat in AUS Football
The SMU Huskies Football team celebrating a 46-11 Loney Bowl victory over the STFX X-men at Huskies stadium on November 8th, 2025. Photo by Mona Ghiz
2025 was a special year for SMU Huskies football. Not only did they establish themselves as AUS champions for the first time since 2015, but they did so in dominant fashion. The Huskies outscored their AUS opponents by a staggering 361-80 this past season, beating opponents by an average of 28.1 points on route to a 10-1 record in conference. When asked about the culture at Saint Mary’s, which paves the way for this kind of success, Coach Sumarah alluded to the pillars of success deeply ingrained in the philosophy of Huskies football. Looking ahead to 2026, this Huskies team will return several key pieces, including starting quarterback Justin Shibley, wide receivers Chandler Zinck-Marier and Cherokee Robinson, and defensive linemen Jahmari Brown, who led the team in sacks last season. Alongside these valuable pieces, this team will return all of their starters on a young offensive line that allowed only one sack the entire 2025 season, a huge component to the team's success. Alongside these focal points, the best overall aspect of this Huskies team in 2025 might have been their defensive unit. Led by veteran defensive coordinator Gavin Lake, the Huskies led the nation in interceptions and fumble recoveries in 2025, while the unit ranked fifth in points against per game. There’s no doubt there is so much for Husky fans to be excited about going into next season, and much of that is in thanks to Head Coach Steve Sumarah, who knows exactly what it takes to compete at the national stage with Saint Mary’s. Sumarah was the offensive coordinator for a Huskies team that won back-to-back Vanier Cups in 2001 and 2002. He was then promoted to head coach, winning four straight Loney Bowls and leading Saint Mary’s to a Vanier Cup appearance in 2007.
SMU Quarterback Justin Shipley throwing a pass against the Bishop’s Gaiters on September 6th at Huskies Stadium in a 33-7 win. Photo by Mona Ghiz
Another one of the many reasons why SMU will be the favourites to win another Loney bowl next season will be the return of Huskies quarterback Justin Shibley, who offers stability and experience to the most important position on the field. We sat down with Justin, who spoke about the standards of excellence and culture in the Huskies locker room that contribute to his confidence in the Huskies making another run next season. When asked about his returning offensive unit, Shibley remarked “The core elements of our offence is going to be strong for years going forward…the expectation is that our offence are going to step up and we’re going to control games” While making references to key returning players including Chandler Zinck-Marier, Liam Legge, and potentially Joshua Jack pending if he goes to the CFL next year. Shibley also emphasized the sense of urgency associated with this Huskies team making another run next year, Shibley stated, “You can see it in the guys who laid the foundation for this program…going through hard times to get us to where we are right now…you can feel the excitement” Shibley, only being in his first year of eligibility with the Huskies, proved himself as an established starter and will look to improve on a fantastic 2025 campaign. The Carleton transfer will be one of the key players to watch in the AUS going into his second year with the Huskies.
Changes to the AUS Landscape
Last played Dal vs SMU football game (1975)
The landscape of the AUS will be altered significantly next year as Bishop’s departure from the conference will bring the AUS down to four teams once again. Upon first glance, this seems daunting, but the idea of playing the same teams several times throughout the season is a challenge that Coach Sumarah looks forward to. When asked about the departure, Sumarah remarked “An even number of teams no matter how many it is, is way better for the conference…every week your preparation is the same it doesn’t matter who your opponent is…there’s no secrets” He also noted “If the 5th team was Dal or UNB then it would make sense, but going to Bishops was a 4 day trip, it was challenging” This was a fascinating perspective, and one that started a conversation about potential expansion within AUS football if Dal were to join U Sports. Despite being the largest school in Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie hasn’t had a varsity football team since 1976. When asked about Dal potentially joining the AUS and replacing Bishop’s, Coach Sumarah hinted at being excited by a potential inner-city rivalry and what that could bring to the AUS, stating “Another team in Halifax would be great for football” Despite the logistical concerns associated with transitioning Dal football from the AFL to AUS level, in an AUS that has lagged behind other conferences in attendance, it’s hard to imagine a world in which the fan engagement and financial benefits that would come with Dal joining AUS football wouldn’t overall be a fantastic thing for the conference. It’s unclear whether this is possible, but if Dalhousie football were to join the AUS at some point over the coming years, it would certainly be exciting for the conference.
Quest for a Vaniér Cup
It’s no secret that AUS football has been long overdue for a visit to the Vanier Cup. Despite excellent recruiting and high-level teams year in and year out, SMU’s 49-19 defeat to the eventual national champion Montréal Carabins on November 19th was the 17th consecutive loss for AUS teams in national semi-final games, and the 20th in their last 21 national semi-finals as a conference playing in Uteck/Mitchell bowl games. There’s no doubt that the AUS is the smallest conference in U Sports in terms of funding, school size, and recruiting territory, but this streak could speak to a larger issue of fairness in U Sports football. When asked about this discrepancy, Coach Sumarah referenced some of the differences between programs across U Sports. He provided a detailed answer, stating, “It’s a multi-pronged issue. There’s never one thing that just makes a difference…budget is a factor, the age gap rule, which has significantly hurt the AUS and Canada West, and the rise of RSEQ schools, more specifically Montreal and Laval.” Sumarah then notes that in 15 of the last 18 years, one of those two schools has been in the Vanier Cup. Despite this being an impressive feat for the conference, the trend also represents a broader issue of fairness. When asked if there are any administrative changes that should be made to counter these issues of fairness, Sumarah stated “When we played the university of Montreal they didn’t have 1 teenager on their roster and we had about 40….to be blunt, this is a USport issue” This issue of fairness in U Sports football has been a long-lasting concern for players and coaches alike. However, Justin Shibley emphasized that regardless of the trends in recent years, this Huskies team feel they are capable of winning a Vanier Cup in 2026. Regarding the expectations in the lockeroom going into next year, Shibley stated “our standard next year is to have pretty convincing wins over teams in our division, and then to fight, you know, win a semifinal and then go to the Vanier” The Huskies will be the team to beat in the AUS next season and will look to avenge the 17-year absence from AUS participation in the Vanier Cup.
Saint Mary’s Huskies head football coach Steve Sumarah. Photo by Mona Ghiz
In 2025, AUS football reported an average attendance of 946 fans per game, which is over 3,000 fans lower than the average attendance in the OUA, Canada West, and RSEQ. As the smallest conference in Canada, it’s natural for lagging behind at the national level to be expected. However, a 17-year absence from the Vanier Cup is indicative of a larger issue. Whether that issue is a product of size, recruiting, budget, or the dominance of the RSEQ conference is irrelevant to the fact that sports are about storylines; and a Saint Mary’s Huskies team who return the vast majority of an already phenomenal team in 2025, with a coach who has proven to be successful at the national level and an opportunity to make history in 2026, is a pretty great story to follow.
