In 1960, the Canadian Football League consisted of two separate leagues: The Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU), and the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU). In 1960 the IRFU changed its name to the Eastern Football Conference. During the regular season each team would play only the teams in their own league, and the top three teams from each league would qualify for the post-season, and the right to compete for the 48th Grey Cup. In the WIFU, Winnipeg (14-2-0) would take the top spot with a comfortable 4-game lead over second-place Edmonton (10-6-0), while Toronto (10-4-0) would win a tight race over Ottawa (9-5-0) in the Eastern
Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, it was Ottawa rolling over Montreal 30-14, while Edmonton would sweep Calgary 30-7 and 40-21, giving them the total-point victory of 70-28. In the West Finals, it was Edmonton winning the series 2-1 over Winnipeg by the scores of Winnipeg 22-16, Edmonton 10-5, and Edmonton 4-2. In the East Finals, it was Ottawa sweeping Toronto 2-0, by the scores of 33-21 and 21-20, giving Ottawa a point-total victory of 54-41, and setting up the match-up for the 48th Grey Cup Championship. The Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 16 to 6 on November 26, 1960 at Vancouver's Empire Stadium before a crowd of 38,102 fans. The Empire stadium field was slippery and favoured the defenses. Ottawa scored in the first quarter with a Gary Schreider 16-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Edmonton quarterback Jackie Parker passed to Jim Letcavits for a 63-yard touchdown. The Ottawa defender attempted to make the interception but Letcavits took the ball away from him and ran untouched to the end zone. The convert attempt failed. Ottawa responded on the next series with a 72-yard drive. On the Eskimo 32 yard line, Ottawa quarterback Russ Jackson faked a handoff and rolled to the weak side on a bootleg. Jackson found Bill Sowalski for a touchdown. Schreider missed the convert. In the fourth quarter, Edmonton punt returner Joe Bob Smith fumbled on his own two yard line after being hit by Lou Bruce. Ottawa's Kaye Vaughan recovered the ball as it rolled into the end zone. Schreider converted the score. Parker ran back the ensuing kickoff 74 yards but Edmonton could not take advantage. Fans rushed onto the field with 41 seconds left to play, and the officials had to cancel the remainder of the game. Ottawa running back Ron Stewart was named the game's Most Valuable Player.