The biggest trophy will be hoisted Sunday, but before that the CFL is handing out some significant individual hardware.

The CFL Player Awards will be announced Thursday, with Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Canadian, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Coach of the Year up for grabs.

Most Outstanding Player: Calgary Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell vs Ottawa Redblacks WR Ernest Jackson

Mitchell is the clear favourite after quarterbacking the Stampeders to a near-historic season and leading the league in passing touchdowns with 32. Mitchell also finished second in passing yards with 5,385 despite resting in the final game of the regular season. His 68 percent completion percentage and eight interceptions also stand out in a MOP-worthy stat line.

Jackson had a great season too, though. The Redblacks WR’s name can be found in the Top 10 in almost all statistical categories at his position. The 30-year-old finished tied for second in receiving touchdowns with 10, and seventh in both receptions and receiving yards with 88 and 1,225 respectively.

Still, Mitchell took his game to an even higher level in his third full season as a starter and should win his first MOP at 26-years-old.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player: BC Lions LB Solomon Elimimian vs Montreal Alouettes LB Bear Woods

Elimimian is looking to win this award for the second time in his career after beating Woods two seasons ago. The two finished first and second in the league in tackles this year with Elimimian edging Woods 129-126. Elimimian also finished with eight sacks (a career-high) and an interception in topping Adam Bighill (third in the league in tackles) as the top Lions defender – a hotly contested title the past five years.

Woods meanwhile, finished with an equally impressive stat line that included five sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles along with his tackle total. Woods was one of the most steady performers for the Alouettes this year, returning from an injury that cost him most of 2015.

The two have established themselves as premier linebackers in the CFL and either would be a deserving winner of the Most Outstanding Defensive Player title.

Most Outstanding Player: Calgary Stampeders RB Jerome Messam vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats SB Andy Fantuz

Messam took over for Jon Cornish as a ratio-buster in the Stampeders’ backfield this year, and has a good shot at taking over for the retired running back as the league’s top National. Injury prevented Cornish from wining a fourth straight Most Outstanding Canadian award last year but Messam, who led the league in rushing yards (1,198) and touchdowns on the ground (11), could take over after a year off Calgary running backs winning the award. Cornish also finished with 485 receiving yards and a sterling 5.8 yards per rush average.

Fantuz meanwhile, had a season reminiscent of his 2010 campaign which culminated in an Most Outstanding Canadian award. Fantuz led all Canadian receivers with 1,059 yards (11th in the league), and five touchdowns (10th). The 32-year-old Western product’s numbers would have been even better had he not missed the last game of the regular season with a serious knee injury.

With Cornish retired, the Top Canadian award is wide open. The last two winners before Cornish’s run? Fantuz and Messam.

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Calgary Stampeders LT Derek Dennis vs Ottawa Redblacks C Jon Gott

Another matchup of players from the Grey Cup contestants. Dennis protected Mitchell’s blindside in Calgary, and was an integral part of an offensive line that paved the way for the third-ranked rushing team in terms of yards, and second in terms of scoring. The Stamps also gave up the fewest sacks – by a wide margin – with just 20 on the year.

Gott meanwhile, anchored the Redblacks line that helped the unit finish second in net offence and fourth in net rushing.

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: Winnipeg Blue Bombers K Justin Medlock vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats KR Brandon Banks

Medlock was a marquee free agent signing for the Bombers and didn’t disappoint, connecting on 60 of 68 field goal attempts (88.2 percent success rate) with a long of 58 yards. Medlock’s 220 points were the most of his decorated CFL career and his 42.7-yard punting average was the highest of his career.

Medlock’s teammate last year, Banks, is looking for his second straight Most Outstanding Special Teams award. Banks was once again outstanding returning kicks, finishing with a 22.6-yard average on kickoff returns and 9.6-yard average on punt returns. Banks also added a return touchdown to his already healthy career totals.

Most Outstanding Rookie: Calgary Stampeders WR DaVaris Daniels vs Ottawa Redblacks OL Jason Lauzon-Seguin

The third award pitting Grey Cup contestants against each other. Daniels finished with a sterling stat line in just 11 games – 51 receptions for 885 yards and nine touchdowns. Had he played a full 18-game season, Daniels was projected to have finished with 83 receptions, 1,448 yards, 15 touchdowns, and almost assuredly a Most Outstanding Rookie award.

Lauzon-Seguin has a good shot at the award as well after being a versatile piece of the Redblacks’ offensive line. Lauzon-Seguin played multiple positions in helping the Redblacks’ offence finish second in net offence and fourth in net rushing.

Coach of the Year: Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson vs Ottawa Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell

Dickenson and Campbell will meet on Sunday with the Grey Cup on the line; on Thursday, they go head-to-head for Coach of the Year.

In Dickenson’s first year as head coach, he fell one win short of the best record in CFL history. He opted instead to keep his starters healthy and on the bench in the regular season finale, which could be argued as a good coaching move considering the Stamps are still healthy with their ultimate goal in sight. As it were, Calgary finished with a 15-2-1 record, still one of the best seasons to go down in CFL history.

Campbell meanwhile, once again proved his coaching merit leading the Redblacks to their second straight East Division title in just their third year of existence. While Campbell’s Redblacks didn’t finish with as exceptional a record as the Stamps, they maneuvered through injuries to some key players to earn the easiest ride to the Grey Cup in the East.