[2] In 2018, Ford became the team's starting quarterback where he played in eight regular season games and passed for 2,822 yards, 27 touchdowns, and two interceptions with 74.1 completion percentage, which was the highest in OUA history.

[9] With the 2020 U Sports football season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Ford elected to defer his CFL Draft eligibility by one year to 2022 and returned to play for the Warriors in 2021.

[12] He was also the first Waterloo player to win the Lois and Doug Mitchell Award as U Sports top male university athlete for the 2021–22 season.

[16] Due to his strong testing numbers at the University of Buffalo pro day where his 40-yard dash time of 4.45 was the best of any 2022 NFL draft-eligible quarterback, there was also speculation that Ford would be signed by a National Football League team.

[21] Ford managed to lead the Elks to a narrow win, completing 15 of 26 passes for 159 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

[25] In mid-September, Jones confirmed that Tre Ford would return to the active lineup for the team's Week 15 matchup, with Taylor Cornelius remaining as the starter.

[26] Following the season, Ford had a workout with the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL) in December 2022 and with the New England Patriots in January 2023.

[30][31] Entering the team's week 10 matchup with the Blue Bombers with a 0–8 record, the Elks held a 22–0 lead in the second quarter, but ultimately fell 38–29.

[43] While clinging to playoff hopes, interim head coach Jarious Jackson announced that Bethel-Thompson would start in the following week, which was also a loss to the Blue Bombers.

[41] Ford dressed in 16 regular season games where he completed 18 of 117 pass attempts for 1,137 yards with ten touchdowns and five interceptions.

[46] As a pending free agent entering the 2025 season, Ford was named the top available player in the February 2025 pool.

[1] He began playing football when he was six years old when his father, Robert, introduced him to the sport and also served as his coach.