Ontario University Athletics announced its 2017 football schedule on Wednesday with the road to the 110^th Yates Cup kicking off on Saturday, Aug. 26.
 
For the fifth straight year, the York University Lions will begin at home on opening weekend, this time against the Yates Cup finalist Western Mustangs on Sunday, Aug. 27.
 
The highlight of the home schedule is Week 5, when the Lions welcome the crosstown rival Toronto Varsity Blues to Alumni Field for the 48^th Red & Blue Bowl and the team's annual Homecoming game. The Lions will be looking to claim their first Argo Cup since 2012, and the contest will be part of a week-long celebration of York alumni that will also include the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday night.
 
The Lions will get their chance to topple the best in Week 7 when the defending Yates Cup champion Laurier Golden Hawks come to York. Their other home game will take place in Week 3 with a visit from the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
 
The road schedule includes trips to the home of both teams the Lions defeated in last year's regular season. On Labour Day weekend they will travel to Waterloo, Ont., to face the Warriors on Monday afternoon, rekindling a rivalry between the two squads. The Lions have won the last two meetings, including last year by a dominant 57-13 score.
 
The regular season will wrap up in Windsor, Ont., when the Lions head west to face the Lancers. Last year the Lions took down the Lancers 56-32 for their second win of the year.
 
The rest of the road schedule includes a trip to Hamilton, Ont., to face the McMaster Marauders in Week 6 and the first visit to the revitalized Richardson Stadium in Kingston, Ont., for a game against the Queen's Gaels.
 
The Lions will not face the Carleton Ravens or Guelph Gryphons this year, and their bye will come in Week 4.
 
The regular season will build to the much-anticipated playoffs following the conclusion of games in Week 9. The OUA quarter-finals will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 4. The "Quest for the Cup" will end on Saturday, Nov. 11 with the 110^th Yates Cup.
 
Week 1 – Aug. 26-27
Carleton @ Queen's
Western @ York
Toronto @ Laurier
Ottawa @ Guelph
Waterloo @ Windsor
 
Week 2 – Sept. 4
York @ Waterloo
Queen's @ Ottawa
Windsor @ Toronto
McMaster @ Carleton
Guelph @ Western
 
Week 3 – Sept. 9
Ottawa @ York
Windsor @ Guelph
Western @ McMaster
Carleton @ Laurier
Toronto @ Waterloo
 
Week 4 – Sept. 16
Ottawa @ McMaster
Waterloo @ Carleton
Laurier @ Queen's
Guelph @ Toronto
Western @ Windsor
 
Week 5 – Sept. 23
Queen's @ Western
Windsor @ Ottawa
McMaster @ Guelph
Toronto @ York
Laurier @ Waterloo
 
Week 6 – Sept. 30
Queen's @ Windsor
Western @ Laurier
York @ McMaster
Guelph @ Waterloo
Carleton @ Ottawa
 
Week 7 – Oct. 5-6
Waterloo @ Queen's
Laurier @ York
McMaster @ Toronto
Carleton @ Western
 
Week 8 – Oct. 14
York @ Queen's
Windsor @ McMaster
Laurier @ Guelph
Toronto @ Carleton
Waterloo @ Ottawa
 
Week 9 – Oct. 21
Ottawa @ Western
McMaster @ Laurier
Guelph @ Carleton
Queen's @ Toronto
York @ Windsor
 
OUA Quarter-finals – Oct. 28
6^th place @ 3^rd place
5^th place @ 4^th place
Bye – 1^st and 2^nd place
 
OUA Semifinals – Nov. 4
Lowest remaining seed @ 1^st place
Highest remaining seed @ 2^nd place
 
110^th Yates Cup – Nov. 11
Lowest remaining seed @ Highest remaining seed