FORT WORTH, Texas – By now, we know fans have their favorite teams, riders, coaches – hell even mascots – as the PBR Camping World Team Series prepares to embark upon its fourth season of camaraderie-driven antics.

So, it’s alright to admit some of the sport’s supporters have already made their mind up in regard to where their rooting favors will likely land when mid-July rolls around.

However, the 5-on-5 landscape has very much been known to stir up the water when it comes to seeing future title contenders announce themselves. Which means there are plenty of options when it comes to following any one rider or team throughout the four-month marathon.

And while we can all agree the likes of 2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber, who’s set to set the bar high for his Florida Freedom squad, are worth keeping an eye on during each of the summer’s 12 regular season showcases and beyond, PBR.com is shining the spotlight on a few up-and-coming talents who have sincere shots at claiming the top-scoring honors.

Later this month, we’ll further tier out some additional year four hopefuls by highlighting another few “dark horse” candidates.

But for now, we’re going to keep it a buck and spell out exactly how these future, if not current, stars have the opportunity to remember the 2025 campaign for seasons to come!

Clay Guiton – Carolina Cowboys
Whether we started or ended the listicle with the red-headed menace didn’t matter. All that we were concerned with is ensuring one of the tour’s brightest and fiercest competitors were included in this breakdown. And after seeing the Cherryville, North Carolina, native absolutely light the remainder of his 2025 Unleash The Beast season on fire since being traded to his home state Carolina Cowboys from the Oklahoma Wildcatters, there was NO WAY he wasn’t being included.

Finishing his first complete premier series session (after being forced to miss 2024’s late-season window due to injury) ranked No. 6 in the world, Guiton was nearly unstoppable since being welcomed to his new squad by Head Coach Jerome Davis and company. Like BLAZINGLY on fire, settling only for Top 5 finishes (first, fourth, fourth, fifth) during each of his final four regular season appearances. Only to keep the show going strong in the heart of Texas, eventually joining three-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme as the only men to stay perfect inside Cowtown Coliseum via flashy 4-for-4 performances. However, it was his 1-for-4 slate inside AT&T Stadium which may ultimately have left him itching for another fiery run this summer alongside the likes of a pair of World Champions in Cooper Davis and Daylon Swearingen. We aren’t sure if this is THE YEAR for Carolina or not. But we wouldn’t be surprised to see Guiton pace the checkered-flag pack either way.

Cort McFadden – Oklahoma Wildcatters
With zero disrespect to the organization or its current roster of riders, the Wildcatters’ hopes of securing a PBR Teams Championship revolve around the idea they need to surround 20-year-old Cort McFadden with quality complementary talent, as he’s pretty much the only star on the squad heading into the expansion unit’s second season. Which is both an ode to what we’ve seen McFadden accomplish over the past year and a half and the team’s dire need to land a top-tier talent via free agency or the league’s annual draft. And while McFadden turned in a respectable 13-for-29 record during his rookie season on tour, the team and fans throughout the Sooner State are expecting the young stud to take another step toward greatness after seeing the Novice, Texas, native produce No. 16 (2024) and No. 11 (2025) placements following his first two seasons within UTB competition.

One of the most consistent riders in the game when it comes to ensuring at least one conversion during any given weekend, he’s figured out a lot since storming onto the big boy tour last winter. But it’s how quickly he’s able to evolve from a sincere talent into a gold buckle contender which will ultimately decide the Wildcatters fate this summer. Completing his own first full trip around the Monster Energy-sponsored tour last month courtesy of a 36-for-68 slate, he tied No. 2 Dalton Kasel for the second-most qualified rides on tour while also tying Kasel with the third-most attempts. Which means the youngster found himself competing in his fair share of short rounds throughout his most recent campaign. He probably won’t lead Oklahoma to its first title in 2025, but he is 100% within striking range of joining Crimber and Leme as what would be the third-ever PBR Teams MVP.

Sandro Batista – Kansas City Outlaws
Sure, at 26, Sandro Batista has had a few more cracks at becoming a superstar compared to the likes of youngsters in McFadden, Guiton and friends. At the same time, he’s only got two formal Unleash The Beast campaigns to his resume, which is the same as both of the kiddos noted, so while he may have attempted a few more bulls, he’s finding his footing just the same as he prepares for what will be his fourth season of PBR Teams spiciness. And after seeing the lanky Brazilian finish No. 3 in the 2024 PBR Teams MVP race, he has to be considered closer to a favorite than a long-shot ahead of next month’s Wildcatter Days, which is set to invade Paycom Center July 11-13. 

Knowing the Kansas City Outlaws’ ace just ended the legendary Cool Whip’s record-breaking buckoff streak during the most recent UTB season means he has more than enough skill to exit showdowns against some of the sport’s fire-breathing dragons in the win column. Seeing him come back from a mid-season hand injury while firing up an electric streak of success reminds us he is very much positioned to rejoin forces with Cassio Dias, Koltin Hevalow and teammates while helping the Outlaws capture the world’s largest gold buckle. Capable of hitting “singles” to anywhere on the diamond ensures he remains a locked-in piece of the Outlaws roster. But it’s his home run capability which keeps him in the consideration for MVP honors in 2025.

Daniel Keeping – Texas Rattlers
Obviously we’re keeping an eye on Texas Rattlers’ star Brady Fielder this summer after seeing him capture the first-ever Great 8 Award during the 2024 season only to follow it up with a career-best No. 3 finish during the most recent iteration of UTB action. But it’s his teammate Daniel Keeping who’s produced a Top 20 finish in the PBR Teams MVP race in each of the league’s first three (No. 17, 20, 14) seasons, one of just a few cowboys who have that feat to their name ahead of year four. And after turning in a less than ideal No. 32 placement during his 2025 premier series session, we have a feeling he’s going to turn things up a notch after spending another few months working closely with Head Coach Cody Lambert, Fielder and friends.

Having competed in a pair of PBR Canada events the past two weekends (where he finished eighth and fifth, respectively) proves he’s all-in in year four after helping his Rattlers win it all back in 2023. So, he knows what it feels like to win on the big stage – And he’s doing everything he can in order for his team, family and Rattlers fans around the globe to embrace said celebrations once again. Just 15-for-46 on the season confirms he had a bit of a down year. But his 14-for-25 record from the 2024 PBR Teams campaign suggests he’s got plenty of room to rebound when he returns to the shared space. Having used the 5-on-5 platform to originally announce himself back in 2022 reminds us the right guys and the right mentorship can go a long way for hungry riders. Fans can expect Keeping to step up this summer, especially knowing veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira has departed, set to suit up for the Freedom next month.

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media