The Manitoba Bisons football team represents the University of Manitoba in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The program was the first of four U Sports football teams to have won back-to-back Vanier Cup championships, having won in 1969 and 1970. In total, the Bisons have won three Vanier Cup national championships and 11 Hardy Trophy conference championships.

Notable history In 2007, the Bisons' football team won the Vanier Cup as the national champions in Canadian Interuniversity football, the first for the school in 37 years. Pat Gill, the manager then, was the manager for 40 years and was with the team during the 1969 and 1970 Vanier Cup teams. A big factor in the 2007 Vanier Cup was the injury to running back Matt Henry, who suffered a broken femur in three places and severe muscle damage. However, in the end, kicker and punter Scott Dixon converted on all but one of his field goals and pinned the Saint Mary's Huskies deep several times. Dixon, in his rookie year, was tied for second all-time for most field goals in a game.Manitoba Bisons win the Vanier Cup

Maya Turner became the first woman to play in any U Sports regular season football game, on September 23, 2023, as a Manitoba Bisons kicker. She kicked the game winning field goal in overtime for the Bisons in their game against the Regina Rams.

The Bisons were led by head coach, Brian Dobie, who served as the team's head coach from 1996 to 2024. Stan Pierre, who served as the team's defensive coordinator since 1999, was named head coach on January 16, 2025.

Recent season results Season Games Won Lost Standing Playoffs20008 611 0.813 279 138 1st in CW Defeated UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 14–4Lost to Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 25–2220018 710 0.875 302 91 1st in CW Defeated Calgary Dinos in semi-final 31–10Defeated Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 23–17Defeated McMaster Marauders in Churchill Bowl 27–6Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in 37th Vanier Cup 42–1620028 800 1.000 271 119 1st in CW Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–1820038 350 0.375 172 249 6th in CW Out of playoffs20048 350 0.375 191 237 5th in CW Out of playoffs20058 431 0.563 228 172 3rd in CW Lost to Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 33–2420068 800 1.000 363 143 1st in CW Defeated Regina Rams in semi-final 44–29Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 32–1520078 80- 1.000 206 110 1st in CW Defeated Calgary Dinos in semi-final 27–5Defeated Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 48–5Defeated Western Ontario Mustangs in Mitchell Bowl 52–20Defeated Saint Mary's Huskies in 43rd Vanier Cup 28–1420088 35- 0.375 126 160 5th in CW Out of playoffs20097 25- 0.286 164 203 6th in CW Out of playoffs20108 26- 0.250 160 295 5th in CW Out of playoffs20118 35- 0.375 214 218 5th in CW Out of playoffs20128 44- 0.500 282 306 4th in CW Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 57–1820138 53- 0.625 335 274 2nd in CW Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–36Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 43–2820148 44- 0.500 290 247 3rd in CW Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 47–39Defeated Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 27–15Lost to Montreal Carabins in Uteck Bowl 29–2620158 53- 0.625 284 253 3rd in CW Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 52–1020168 35- 0.375 276 323 5th in CW Out of playoffs20178 26- 0.250 180 289 6th in CW Out of playoffs20188 35- 0.375 195 225 4th in CW Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 37–1320198 44- 0.500 221 242 4th in CW Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 47–462020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic20216 42– 0.667 138 124 2nd in CW Defeated Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 43–17Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 45–1720228 44– 0.500 232 217 4th in CW Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–920238 35– 0.375 203 272 4th in CW Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 29–2120248 71– 0.875 251 204 1st in CW Lost to Regina Rams in semi-final 28–2520258 44– 0.500 166 186 3rd in CW Lost to Regina Rams in semi-final 32–29

A. Manitoba forfeited two wins for using an ineligible player. Simon Fraser also used an ineligible player in a Manitoba loss, so the game was declared "no contest".

National postseason results +Vanier Cup Era (1965-current)YearGameOpponentResult1968Churchill BowlQueen'sL 6-291969Churchill Bowl Vanier CupWindsor McGillW 41-7 W 24-151970Churchill Bowl Vanier CupQueen's

OttawaW 24-20 W 38-111973Churchill BowlMcGillL 0-162001Churchill Bowl Vanier CupMcMaster Saint Mary'sW 27-6 L 16-422007Mitchell Bowl Vanier CupWestern Saint Mary'sW 52-20 W 28-142014Uteck BowlMontrealL 26-29 Manitoba is 4-3 in national semi-final games and 3-1 in the Vanier Cup.

Head coaches Name Years Notes Paul Bennett 1919–1920 Fred Ritter 1921–1922 Hunt 1923 Hal Moulden 1924 Fred Ritter 1925–1928 Bob Priestley 1929 Jack Little 1930 Karl Wintemute 1931 No team 1932 Gordon Bowes 1933 Walter Hass 1934 No team 1935–1940 Bill Boivin 1941 Art Stevenson 1942 No team 1939–1945 Pat Twomey 1946–1947 Acey Olson 1948–1950 No team 1951–1961 George Depres 1962–1966 Henry Janzen 1967–1971 Gary Naylor 1972–1978 Dennis Hrycaiko 1979–1989 Scott Spurgeon 1990–1992 Ron Lancaster Jr. 1993–1995 Brian Dobie 1996–2024 Stan Pierre 2025–present

National award winners J. P. Metras Trophy: Bart Evans (1974), Jason Rauhaus (1991), Israel Idonije (2002), David Onyemata (2015), Giordano Vaccaro (2024) Presidents' Trophy: Joey Mikawoz (2000), D. J. Lalama (2016) Peter Gorman Trophy: Domenic Zagari (1991) Russ Jackson Award: Thomas Hall (2009, 2010), Cameron Teschuk (2016), Mark Rauhaus (2023) Frank Tindall Trophy: Henry Janzen (1969), Brian Dobie (2001) Gino Fracas Award: Richard Urbanovich (2005), Vaughan Mitchell (2023)

Manitoba Bisons in professional football

As of the start of the 2026 CFL season, six former Bisons players are on CFL teams' rosters: Gavin Cobb, Winnipeg Blue Bombers Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers Collin Kornelson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers Jake Nitychoruk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Matthew Stokman, Calgary Stampeders Zack Williams, Calgary Stampeders

In the 2016 NFL draft, David Onyemata became the first Bison to be drafted into the National Football League, being selected in the 4th round, 120th overall by the New Orleans Saints. As of the start of the 2025 NFL season, he is on the active roster of the Atlanta Falcons.

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