While seven teams were forced to battle their way through the opening round, three of the league’s powerhouses — the Florida Freedom, Austin Gamblers, and Texas Rattlers — enjoyed a well-earned night off after finishing the regular season in the top three positions. That strong finish secured each of them a coveted bye directly into Saturday night’s bracket action, leaving the rest of the field to fight tooth and nail for survival on opening night.

The Play-In Games were set. The Bracket Battles were locked. Every team, every coach, every rider had a seat and a chip at the table. Which one would still be standing when Championship Sunday rolled around?

But before we ride too far ahead, let’s take a look back on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025, where this historic weekend began and the race for a Team Championship only intensified.

3. Three-Way Ride-to-Advance Game Sets the Stage

The first matchup of the night featured the three lowest-ranked teams in the league by regular-season record — the Kansas City Outlaws (No. 8), the Oklahoma Wildcatters (No. 9), and the New York Mavericks (No. 10) — all locked in a tense three-way Play-In Game. One team would move forward, and two would see their seasons end early.

The Mavericks managed to rise to the occasion, riding four of their five bulls, with Hudson Bolton scoring 88.5 points on Black Harbor to clinch the win.

However, New York’s momentum ran out in the Last-Chance Bracket — another three-way contest, this time against the Nashville Stampede who had fallen to the surging Carolina Cowboys, and the Missouri Thunder, downed by the Arizona Ridge Riders.

The Thunder won that game to close out Friday night inside T-Mobile Arena, led by Paulo Eduardo Rossetto’s massive 90.75 score.

2. How About Them Carolina Cowboys?

The Carolina Cowboys went a perfect five-for-five against the Nashville Stampede on night one, becoming only the 11th team in league history to pull off a flawless 5-0 during a game. In doing so, the Cowboys also marked the third time in franchise history they’ve achieved that perfect mark — cementing their reputation as one of the most resilient and consistent squads in the league.

1. A Phenomenal Night of Bull Riding

The entire arena felt electrified from start to finish. The Arizona Ridge Riders executed with precision and composure, advancing confidently while sending the Missouri Thunder to the Last-Chance Game.

But Missouri wasn’t ready to head home just yet. In one of the grittiest performances of the night, the Thunder clawed their way back — edging out not only the Nashville Stampede but also the New York Mavericks in the Last-Chance round — to keep their title hopes alive and move forward to join Arizona in Saturday’s action.

It was a statement performance across the board — one that showcased the depth of every roster, the toughness of every bull, and the resilience that defines PBR at its core. Night One wasn’t just about survival; it was about setting the tone for the war still to come.

Honorable Mention

Hats off to a phenomenal bucking bull — Preacher’s Kid, owned by Kenny McElroy and K-Bar-C. On Friday night, this remarkable animal once again reminded the world why some athletes have four legs instead of two. Few bulls have carried themselves with such power and consistency, and in making seven PBR World Finals appearances and boasting an 89% buckoff rate, Preacher’s Kid proved that true legends aren’t always wearing cowboy hats — sometimes, they’re wearing horns.

Saturday Night — Oct. 25, 2025

As the sun set beyond the Las Vegas skyline, the glow of T-Mobile Arena once again lit up the desert. With the championship field now complete — and the top three teams entering the action — the atmosphere inside the building reached a fever pitch.

This was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The Austin Gamblers, the league’s defending champions, returned to the dirt to face the Carolina Cowboys in a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s Championship Game. Two powerhouse rosters. One unfinished story. The air was thick with tension, the crowd electric, and the sense of history unmistakable.

Top 3 Takeaways from Saturday Night

3. Arizona Rises — Ridge Riders Stun Texas
The No. 4 Arizona Ridge Riders came to Las Vegas with something to prove, and they did just that — outperforming the No. 3 Texas Rattlers, who had earned a first-round bye after finishing among the league’s elite.

Arizona delivered four qualified rides to Texas’s three, capitalizing on a rare early buckoff from Brady Fielder, who led the league in riding percentage at 75%. That single moment likely cost the Rattlers the win, proving how razor-thin the margins are during championship weekend. Arizona’s composure, timing, and teamwork set the tone for one of the biggest statement victories of the weekend.

2. Carolina Cowboys Deliver a Masterclass
When the lights burn brightest, the Carolina Cowboys seem to find another gear. Their 3 rides to 1 domination over the Austin Gamblers — last year’s defending champions — was both clinical and commanding. Clay Guiton, Jess Lockwood, and Derek Kolbaba, with a fifth-frame clinching ride, each came up huge for Carolina.

Few expected such a decisive outcome between two of the most well-coached and talent-laden rosters in the sport. Carolina made it look effortless, reminding the world why they’re among the most complete and disciplined teams in PBR history.

The Gamblers were sent to the Last-Chance Bracket alongside the Texas Rattlers, both now forced to fight for their championship lives. The loser of the Florida-Missouri game would join that shootout.

1. A Cinderella Story in the Making
In what will go down as the most shocking upset of the 2025 Team Series postseason, the No. 7-seeded Missouri Thunder toppled the top-ranked Florida Freedom by a narrow 4-3 margin. The Freedom, fresh off their dominant regular-season campaign, found themselves stunned by Ross Coleman’s Thunder squad that simply refused to yield and went a sizzling 4-for-5.

The ultimate clincher for Missouri was Andrew Alvidrez going for 88.25 points on Rockville in the top of the fourth to put the Thunder ahead by two bulls. That meant John Crimber’s magnificent 92 on Man Hater in the bottom of the fifth could not be enough for Florida to win.

The result sent Florida, Texas, and Austin — all three of the teams that had enjoyed first-round byes — into the dreaded Last-Chance Game. When the dust settled, it was the Missouri Thunder advancing with momentum, while the Texas Rattlers, led by Cody Lambert, narrowly survived elimination to keep their hopes alive of becoming the first franchise in PBR Team Series history to win two championships in four years of competition.

Honorable Mention

One of the most emotional moments of Saturday night’s performance was a farewell to a true legend. The iconic bucking bull I’m Legit Too, owned by David Hale and J.W. Hart, made his final lap around the arena after a phenomenal career spanning 122 outs. Raised by Lance Boyd, I’m Legit Too leaves behind a legacy that few animal athletes can match — defined by heart, power, and unforgettable moments that helped shape modern PBR history.

Championship Sunday — Oct. 26, 2025

This wasn’t just another Sunday in Las Vegas. The final four teams were set to battle for the 2025 PBR Camping World Team Series crown.

Could the Texas Rattlers make history and become the first franchise to capture two Team Series titles in four seasons? Would the Missouri Thunder complete the ultimate Cinderella run and shock the bull riding world? Could the Carolina Cowboys finally seize the checkered flag and finish what they started? Or would the Arizona Ridge Riders rise from the desert to claim their first-ever championship?

As the gates swung open one last time in 2025, it would be time for some dreamers to become legends — and others to use heartbreak as fuel for another run to Las Vegas in 2026.

Top 3 Takeaways from Championship Sunday

3. The Missouri Miracle
Championship Sunday opened with two semifinal matchups to decide which teams would advance and which would fall short of glory. The format guaranteed at least two games before the championship round, with the losing squads squaring off once more to determine third- and fourth-place finishers.

The first game showcased extraordinary bull riding, with each team scoring on four bulls. A shot at the title game came down to the slimmest of margins, and the Missouri Thunder once again parlayed a gigantic Andrew Alvidrez score into a win. This time, his go-ahead ride was in the top of the fifth for 87.5 points on Sweet Action.

In the bottom of the fifth, Winy dos Santos came within three-hundredths of a second of delivering a walk-off win to the Rattlers. But he was off before the buzzer, the dust cleared, and the scoreboard told the story: Missouri 350 points on four rides, Texas 348. By a mere two points, the Thunder advanced, ending Texas’s bid to become the first in Team Series history to capture two titles.

2. The Tiebreaker Heard ’Round the League
History was made in the second semifinal when the Carolina Cowboys and Arizona Ridge Riders found themselves deadlocked at 174.75–174.75 after both teams rode two bulls — Arizona’s second ride coming in a dramatic Keyshawn Whitehorse bottom-of-the-fifth trip aboard Eyes on Me.

For the first time in PBR Teams Championship history, the game went into a one-out tiebreak overtime.

Each team sent one more rider down the chutes. Carolina turned to their rising star, the young gun Clay Guiton, who had already put up 87.5 on Hoobastank in the top of the third. In the extra frame, the 20-year-old cowboy did it again, riding Milestone for 88 points. Arizona’s last hope came up short, bucking off and sealing their fate. The Cowboys advanced to the Championship Game, and the arena erupted as history unfolded in real time.

It was a moment so electric that fans and analysts alike began calling for PBR Commissioner Sean Gleason to consider implementing the same sudden-death rule during the regular season.

1. How About Them Cowboys?
The Carolina Cowboys are bridesmaids no more.

In the biggest game of the year, the Cowboys squared off against the Missouri Thunder — a team that had already defied every odd to reach the final. Both teams traded blows, but when the dust settled, the Cowboys emerged victorious by a bull count of three rides to two, securing their first-ever PBR Teams Championship.

With the win, the Carolina Cowboys became the 2025 PBR Camping World Team Series champions and also walked away with $600,000 in team earnings, cementing their place atop the sport’s highest stage.

It was redemption, resilience, and reward all wrapped into one unforgettable moment. Hats off to the entire Carolina Cowboys organization — from the riders to the coaches to team owners Richard Childress and Jeff Broin, and team GM Austin Dillon. You finally did it. You are exactly where everyone expected you to be from Year One to Year Four — a powerhouse built on faith, focus, and an unwavering belief that your time would come.

At the center of it all stood Clay Guiton, the breakout superstar whose composure and consistency throughout the weekend helped carry Carolina to the title and also earned him the 2025 PBR Teams Championship MVP, along with a check for $25,000.

In addition to knocking down the biggest ride of his career with 88 points on Milestone to win the first overtime game in Teams Championship history, Guiton rode Ghost Face (83.75), Cherry Shot (87.5), Hoobastank (87.5), El Chapo, and Milestone (88) over the weekend.

In beating Missouri later Sunday afternoon, the Carolina Cowboys became the fourth different PBR Teams champion in the league that began in 2022.

Honorable Mention

As fans stood to celebrate, one of the most emotional scenes of the entire weekend unfolded. Watching Jerome Davis accept the 2025 PBR Teams Championship trophy was a moment that transcended sport. Davis, paralyzed in 1998 after a career-ending accident, has remained one of the most inspiring figures in bull riding history.

There’s no doubt that if fate had played out differently — if not for that life-altering moment in Fort Worth — Jerome Davis might have added one or even two PBR World Championships to his 1995 PRCA World Title. But God had other plans. And on this day, nearly three decades later, Davis lifted that trophy as close to a PBR World Champion as he’s ever been — proof that true champions never quit, no matter what life throws their way.

It was a sight that brought tears to many, including those who’ve long admired Davis’s courage, perseverance, and unwavering faith. To the entire Davis family — Tiffany Davis, the team’s assistant GM, and Jerome — congratulations. This moment belongs to you as much as it does to your Cowboys.

As for the Missouri Thunder, Ross Coleman’s gritty squad finished second in the most grueling tournament on dirt — a proud and valiant performance from a team that refused to back down.

Final Thoughts

As the curtain closes on the fourth season of the PBR Camping World Team Series, one thing is certain — it’s been a grueling battle from start to finish. Every eight-second ride, every bull, and every heartbeat has told a story of courage, sacrifice, and unrelenting determination.

And what an absolute honor it has been to bring that story to you, the fans. You are the heartbeat of this sport — the ones who fill the arenas, buy the tickets, and cheer until your voices are gone. Without you, none of this exists.

As the 2025 Teams season wraps up, remember — there’s never truly an offseason in bull riding. The Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour continues in December, and on Dec. 12–13 in Manchester, New Hampshire, the 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast season begins, where the world’s best bull riders once again square off against the greatest animal athletes on earth to determine who truly is the best in the world.

I’m deeply grateful to PBR for allowing me the opportunity to share not only my passion for this incredible sport, but also the mission of the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation — a mission rooted in resilience, faith, and freedom.

Beyond the Dirt

The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation carries 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 covers 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’s why the Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation exists — to bridge that gap and make the impossible possible.

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.

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.