Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 — Dickies Arena, Fort Worth

No. 3 – Carolina Cowboys find their groove again

Following an uneven summer, the Carolina Cowboys have been hot this September and their momentum has shifted. Cooper Davis, the 2016 PBR world champion, delivered vintage form, showing flashes of his prime. With 2022 PBR world champion Daylon Swearingen expected back next weekend in Kansas City and Clay Guiton riding sharp and confident, Carolina has now won five of its last six games. If they can keep this momentum rolling, they will be a dangerous team racing toward the PBR Camping World Team Series Championships in Las Vegas.

No. 2 – Arizona Ridge Riders can’t stop the slide

Once one of the league’s hottest teams, Arizona stumbled again. Friday marked its fifth loss in six games, slipping out of a coveted first-round playoff bye. Once solidly in third, the Ridge Riders dropped to No. 4 in the standings — a less desirable place to be with October looming.

No. 1 – Rattlers defend home dirt, move into bye position

The Texas Rattlers once again proved that Dickies Arena belongs to them. In a 2-0 bull count win over the Oklahoma Wildcatters, they improved to 18-9 on the season. That victory not only extended their perfect 10-0 record at home but also vaulted them from fourth into third in the standings, reclaiming a playoff bye position.

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 — Dickies Arena, Fort Worth

The intensity only intensified as fans entered Dickies Arena for Night Two of Rattler Days. The reigning champion Austin Gamblers were set for a Texas Cup clash with the home team, while other matchups carried major playoff consequences.

Here are the top three takeaways from Saturday night’s action in Cowtown:

No. 3 – Arizona Ridge Riders finally back in the win column

At long last, the Arizona Ridge Riders returned to the winner’s circle with a much-needed victory over the struggling Nashville Stampede. Nashville, who carries one of the worst regular-season records in league history, did manage to put a few rides on the board. But Arizona, desperate to halt its slide, seized Game 2 on Saturday night and finally stopped the bleeding. The timing could not have been more critical — as the bigger playoff picture would soon reveal.

No. 2 – Outlaws edge Wildcatters in bruising battle

Game 4 delivered a gritty showdown between the Oklahoma Wildcatters and the Kansas City Outlaws. Each team managed only one qualified ride apiece, but Kansas City won solely on points. Both squads are battered and bruised this season, and their records show it. Entering the Sunday finale, they were tied at 10-18, but the Outlaws narrowly claimed the No. 7 seed heading into the final day in Fort Worth.

No. 1 – History made in Texas Cup clash

The headliner of the evening was nothing short of historic. In the nightcap, the Austin Gamblers stunned the home crowd by becoming the first team in four years to defeat the Texas Rattlers on their home dirt. Texas had entered the night a flawless 10-0 at Dickies Arena, but Austin’s depth and execution prevailed in a high-stakes showdown that will be remembered for years to come.

With the win, the Gamblers were crowned 2025 Texas Cup champions — a statement victory deep in rival territory. The result left the Rattlers tied with Arizona at 18-10 overall, but the Ridge Riders currently hold the edge in the standings with a few more qualified rides as a cohesive unit.

Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 — Dickies Arena, Fort Worth

By the time the dust settled on Saturday night, one truth was clear: nothing would be easy at Dickies Arena. The playoff race had tightened, momentum had shifted, and history was written on Texas soil.

Fans and riders alike knew that everything would come to a head less than 24 hours later —Sunday Finale in Fort Worth, where postseason hopes would hang in the balance.

Here are the top three takeaways from the climax of Rattler Days:

No. 3 – A tip of the hat to Mike’s Motive

Sunday marked the 140th out for the bull Mike’s Motive. That is an incredible stat — phenomenal for any bull. Longevity at that level is rare, and it speaks to what a great animal athlete he is. Bull riding has always required two athletes to come together to make a score, and Mike’s Motive has exemplified that partnership time and again.

No. 2 – Texas wins two of three, but depth must step up

The Texas Rattlers showed their grit, winning two out of three games on their home dirt. Arizona holds the tiebreaker over the Rattlers and for now are in the third spot in the standings. If this holds, they will get a playoff bye in Las Vegas.

Texas still boasts the most dominant home record in the league, now 11-1 over four years at Dickies Arena, but questions remain. As Cody Lambert bluntly put it on the CW broadcast, Brady Fielder (who uncharacteristically bucked off in games 2 and 3 in Fort Worth) and Daniel Keeping can’t carry this team alone. The other three riders must rise to the occasion if Texas hopes to contend in Las Vegas. With Lambert’s leadership, the Rattlers still have a championship pedigree. But execution will determine whether their home dominance translates into postseason glory.

No. 1 – Freedom stumble, Stampede shock

The Florida Freedom entered Fort Worth as the league’s top team, but for the second straight week, they fell to one of the league’s lowest squads on Sunday afternoon. For the Nashville Stampede — the 2022 PBR Team Series champions who finished the regular season in last place but got hot when it counted in the playoffs — it was a long-overdue bright spot in an otherwise difficult season.

Florida remains the frontrunner overall, but these late-season stumbles are a reminder that momentum is fragile. Wins and losses happen in sports, just as buckoffs do in bull riding. What matters is how a team responds. The Freedom know how to finish weekends strong, and they know how to shine in Las Vegas. But they will need to tighten up if they want to maintain their edge heading into the playoffs. For the Stampede, meanwhile, Sunday’s upset could be the motivation they need to believe they can shock the world once again.

PBR Camping World Team Series standings
(After Rattler Days — heading into Outlaw Days in Kansas City)

Horse Soldier MVP race

The front-runners in the MVP race had somewhat of an off weekend, especially in the Sunday slate. Not much has changed in the Horse Soldier MVP race leading into Kansas City. But is your favorite rider in contention for the $100,000 bonus — or do you just want to see how they stack up against the rest of the league?

Click HERE to view the full Horse Soldier MVP standings after Rattler Days heading into Outlaw Days in Kansas City.

Beyond the dirt

The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation is carrying forward the same spirit of resilience seen in bull riding — but in a way that changes lives off the dirt. The foundation provides access to the Action Trackchair, a groundbreaking all-terrain wheelchair designed to give people with mobility challenges the freedom to experience the outdoors without limits.

But here’s the harsh truth: no insurance will cover these life-changing pieces of equipment, and their hefty $25,000 price tag puts them out of reach for the very people who need them most. That is why the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation exists — to bridge that gap and make the impossible possible. Because you can’t put a price on freedom, independence and living life to the fullest.

Whether it’s navigating rough pastures, rolling through wooded trails, or simply enjoying time with family in places a standard wheelchair can’t reach, the Action Trackchair opens doors to a level of independence many thought was lost. It’s not just equipment — it’s freedom, dignity and the chance to live fully.

Just as PBR athletes push themselves to conquer challenges eight seconds at a time, the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation helps others overcome obstacles of their own, ensuring no one is left behind when it comes to the Western lifestyle and the outdoors.

To learn more — and to be part of helping someone reclaim that freedom — visit www.moafoundation.org.