PBR Pittsburgh: The 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast season storms into Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the ninth premier series event of the year inside PPG Paints Arena. Following two sold-out nights during its 2025 debut in The Steel City, the U.S. Border Patrol PBR Pittsburgh presented by Ariat marks just the second visit in the tour’s 33-year history — and arrives at a pivotal moment following the season’s third rider cut.
Action begins Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:45 p.m. ET with Round 1 and concludes Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:45 p.m. ET with Round 2 and the Championship Round. All rounds will be available on Paramount+, with the Monster Energy Team Challenge games (Florida Freedom vs. Nashville Stampede and Austin Gamblers vs. Arizona Ridge Riders) airing on CBS Television Network on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 12 p.m. ET.
FRESH OFF THE CUT
The riders buck into Pittsburgh fresh off the season’s third cut, following roster trims in New York (Jan. 9–11), Tampa (Jan. 23–24) and Salt Lake City (Feb. 6–7). Riders ranked below No. 35 in the Unleash The Beast standings, excluding those with exemptions, were relegated to Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour competition, opening the door for top Velocity Global performers to step onto the sport’s biggest stage.
Felipe Furlan enters Pittsburgh for his final guaranteed event, while Austin Richardson returns from injury for his second guaranteed appearance of the 2026 season.
Invites for the weekend include Grand Forks, North Dakota, event winner Caic Cassio Carvalho and Hampton, Virginia, champion Elijah Jennings, who surged into the Top 5 of the Velocity Global standings. Also receiving invites by way of their Top 5 positions are Ezekiel Mitchell, Wyatt Rogers, Kase Hitt and Grayson Cole.
The 2026 World Championship race remains razor thin:
• The Top 3 — John Crimber, Dalton Kasel and Clay Guiton — are separated by just 34.5 points.
• The Top 11 riders are within 250 points of the lead.
• Every rider ranked inside the Top 10 is converting at 50% or better this season.
NOTABLE RIDERS TO WATCH
Paulo Eduardo Rossetto — Fresh off his Salt Lake City victory, Paulo Eduardo Rossetto sits No. 4 in the UTB standings through eight events. With four Top 5 and five Top 10 finishes, he trails leader John Crimber by just 103 points. After strong showings in Manchester, Chicago, Boston, Tampa and Salt Lake City, Rossetto arrives in Pittsburgh red-hot and within striking distance of the top spot.
John Crimber — The 20-year-old claimed the No. 1 ranking for the first time this season following a runner-up finish in Salt Lake City, missing his second straight win by just 2.65 points. Crimber has ridden seven of his last eight bulls dating back to Tampa, including a perfect 4-for-4 performance in Sacramento. As the tour heads east, the question remains whether the momentum continues in The Steel City.
Dalton Kasel — After missing Salt Lake City due to injury and surrendering the No. 1 ranking by 22 points, Kasel returns to action in Pittsburgh. The 2025 World Championship runner-up remains the only rider with multiple wins this season, capturing victories in Manchester and Milwaukee, and will look to reclaim ground immediately.
Sage Steele Kimzey — Consistency has defined Kimzey’s 2026 campaign. He has covered at least one bull in six of seven events, highlighted by a victory in New York City and podium finishes in Tampa and Sacramento. He has earned 284 of his 319 points across that three-event stretch and remains a steady force in the standings.
Julio Cesar Marques — After making Championship Round appearances in the season’s first four events, Marques looks to rebound from a recent dip in form. He rode Bayou Boy for 86.05 points in Salt Lake City before bucking off and now aims to regain his early-season rhythm.
Jose Vitor Leme — The three-time World Champion returns to action after missing Salt Lake City. Leme has posted three consecutive Top 15 finishes, including an eighth-place tie in Sacramento. He also sits on the cusp of history, tied for third all-time in Championship Round 90-point rides (34) alongside Chris Shivers and Guilherme Marchi. Only Justin McBride (37) and the J.B. Mauney (38) stand ahead.
MONSTER ENERGY TEAM CHALLENGE RETURNS
The Monster Energy Team Challenge continues throughout the 2026 UTB season, adding team strategy to the individual title race. At 10 designated events, teams compete in two head-to-head games per stop featuring 4-on-4 matchups and 16 total outs.
Friday night in Pittsburgh opens with the reigning regular-season champion Florida Freedom (0-1) squaring off against the undefeated Nashville Stampede (1-0). Immediately after, the Austin Gamblers (2-0) face the Arizona Ridge Riders (0-2) as Austin looks to join Missouri as the league’s next 3-0 team.
Teams accumulate records across the 10-event slate, with the Top 4 advancing to the METC Championship Tournament, culminating in elimination-style 7-on-7 matchups during the UTB stretch run in Albuquerque (March 27), Billings (April 17) and Tacoma (April 24).
REMATCH RECAP
Round 1 of the U.S. Border Patrol PBR Pittsburgh presented by Ariat will feature eight rematches as riders get another crack at some familiar animal athletes.
Sage Steele Kimzey remains a perfect 4-for-4 aboard Mike’s Motive dating back to 2023, most recently capitalizing on the matchup during the 2025 World Finals, and will look to keep the streak alive Friday night inside PPG Paints Arena.
Afonso Quintino seeks his first qualified ride against Mr. Jimmy after the bull bucked him off in 7.50 seconds during their meeting in Tampa three weeks ago.
Andrew Alvidrez previously bested Dark Thoughts for 89.25 points during the 2024 World Finals Eliminations and now looks to stay perfect in the rematch.
Cassio Dias and Hoobastank first crossed paths during PBR Teams competition in Duluth, where the encounter resulted in a re-ride. This weekend marks their first official premier series showdown.
Ezekiel Mitchell prepares for his third rematch in a row, a renewed meeting with Muddy Jake after their Lexington matchup in January 2024 ended in a 5.96-second buckoff.
John Crimber draws Mystified after their initial attempt in Albuquerque last March resulted in a re-ride, setting the stage for their first scored meeting.
Julio Cesar Marques looks to remain flawless against Project X after posting 85.25 points on the bull during the season opener in Manchester.
Fresh off his Salt Lake City victory, Paulo Eduardo Rossetto seeks redemption aboard Chico, who bucked him off in 2.47 seconds during a 2025 Last Cowboy Standing event in Fort Worth.
With the cutline freshly drawn and the standings separated by inches, Pittsburgh’s matchups could turn into a match made in heaven — or end in eight seconds of heartbreak — catch it live on Paramount+.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media