The Cinch Playoff Series has reached its final stop in Sioux Falls for The Governor’s Cup. It’s the very last chance for participants to secure an NFR bid and put themselves in a position for a Gold Buckle come December. A record $1,393,336 in prize money is up for grabs.

12 of the top athletes from each event will participate in Sioux Falls. Four contestants from each event earned a bid by finishing in the top four of the Cinch Playoffs at Puyallup. The next top eight athletes in the overall PRCA Playoff Series Standings filled out the remaining spots.

The 2026 regular season is coming to a close, and The Governor’s Cup serves as the ultimate send-off.

Here’s who and what you need to know before the action begins Friday:

Bareback Riding:

Current World Rank, Contestant, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Bradlee Miller, $291,867.05
• 2nd, Jacob Lees, $222,968.25
• 3rd, Jess Pope, $215,506.44
• 4th, Kade Sonnier, $200,850.35
• 5th, Keenan Hayes, $175,820.36
• 6th, Cooper Cooke, $167,660.46
• 7th, Leighton Berry, $165,087.83
• 8th, R.C. Landingham, $156,555.29
• 10th, Cole Reiner, $152,157.58
• 12th, Garrett Shadbolt, $141,274.55
• 13th, Jayco Roper, $137,188.43
• 15th, Clayton Biglow, $124,867.55

The Bareback event is the only event this year where all 12 of its contestants are already inside the top-15 of the World Standings.

Only Jayco Roper rode in last year’s Cup Finals, whereas Bradlee Miller, Jacob Lees, and Jess Pope were cut after the Semifinals. Roper placed 4th in the Finals, but earned a crucial $13,956 overall that, without it, he would have missed the NFR cut.

Pope won the event in 2024 and is the only contestant this year to have won the event previously.

No one has been more than 89 points in the event’s history, and not since 2024. The winning scores from the Finals since 2023 have been 87.5, 88, and 88.5. Bradlee Miller leads all Bareback riders with 27 87.5+ rides this season, and they account for a massive 30% of his total rides. Miller has made the Semifinals each of the last two years, once leading and once 2nd in the Average through the first two rounds, but has yet to make the Finals.

Bull Riding:

Current World Rank, Contestant, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Noah Lee, $358,507.21
• 2nd, Tristen Hutchings, $328,763.60
• 3rd, Stetson Wright, $268,676.21
• 4th, Luke Mackey, $258,612.08
• 5th, T.J. Gray, $254,147.79
• 6th, Hayden Welsh, $234,431.83
• 7th, John Crimber, $218,938.84
• 9th, Qynn Andersen, $183,521.77
• 10th, Lane Vaughan, $177,630.69
• 13th, Colten Fritzlan, $156,709.21
• 17th, Jace Trosclair, $125,755.28
• 22nd, Dakota Hill, $111,442.84

Stetson Wright will enter the Bull Riding event at The Governor’s Cup, having already earned $69,511 in September. He could set a new record for most money earned in a month during the PRORODEO regular season for a single event, but he’ll need to win at least three rounds. Last year’s winners who won one of the first two rounds, the Semifinals, and the Finals won $43,911. That would put Wright at $113,422 and $237 behind the record of $113,659 set by Noah Lee this July. Wright won the inaugural Governor’s Cup back in 2023, but even if he doesn’t, he’s just over $30,000 from breaking the $300,000 season-earning mark and will have a great opportunity to do so.

Only three Bull Riders who are participating this year, Tristen Hutchings, Qynn Andersen, and Hayden Welsh, rode in last year’s Governor’s Cup. Hutchings and Andersen placed 2nd and 4th in the Finals.

Noah Lee is just $124 from breaking the all-time regular-season earnings record for Bull Riders of $368,630 set by Stetson Wright in 2023. He’s a near lock to break the record, and the Rookie will have a real shot at surpassing $400,000 in regular-season earnings.

At the same time, Tristen Hutchings has the opportunity to take the record for himself. He’d need to, at the very least, replicate his $29,956 2nd-place finish, which would bring his season total to $358,719.60, just barely over Wright’s record. He’d likely need an extra round win, or to win the Finals outright, to outpace Lee and take the World Leader spot for himself heading into the NFR.

Saddle Bronc Riding:

Current World Rank, Saddle Bronc Rider, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Rusty Wright, $265,485.80
• 2nd, Ryder Wright, $251,828.00
• 3rd, Stetson Wright, $250,030.33
• 4th, Zeke Thurston, $225,889.39
• 6th, Brody Wells, $215,505.28
• 7th, Kade Bruno, $199,515.35
• 8th, Wyatt Casper, $195,844.49
• 10th, Waitley Sharon, $179,035.54
• 15th, Damian Brennan, $145,962.41
• 16th, Zachary Dallas, $137,177.66
• 17th, Brody Cress, $126,557.37
• 18th, Statler Wright, $124,050.29

Damian Brennan is the only rider in this year’s group to have ridden in last year’s Finals and placed 3rd. The only riders who have previously won the Cup and are riding this year are Ryder Wright, who won in 2024, and Kade Bruno, who won in 2023.

Top Resistol Rookie Waitley Sharon has shot up to 10th place after a $44,963 September. He’s less than $20,000 away from breaking the all-time Saddle Bronc earnings record for a single month of $64,558 set by Wyatt Casper this July. A top-3 finish would get him there.

The Wright brothers are flying high above the rest, with Rusty Wright leading Ryder and Stetson by $14,000 and $15,000, respectively. Stetson leads 4th-place Zeke Thurston by nearly $25,000.

The Saddle Bronc event features three athletes currently behind the NFR cut line. Zachary Dallas, Brody Cress, and Statler Wright are about $9,000, $19,000, and $21,000 behind 15th-place Damian Brennan, who’s also participating this year.

Tie-Down Roping:

Current World Rank, Tie-Down Roper, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Riley Webb, $320,894.17
• 2nd, Haven Meged, $232,426.14
• 3rd, Kincade Henry, $201,614.36
• 4th, Joel Harris, $198,271.19
• 5th, Ty Harris, $172,234.08
• 6th, Shane Hanchey, $170,670.73
• 8th, Trevor Hale, $154,861.95
• 9th, John Douch, $149,500.87
• 13th, Shad Mayfield, $130,499.69
• 15th, Cory Solomon, $122,701.98
• 17th, Dylan Hancock, $119,719.84
• 19th, Buck Calhoun, $115,491.81

Shad Mayfield has had an incredibly resilient season coming back from injury and is currently 13th in the world. He won The Governor’s Cup back in 2024 and 2023, but just missed the Finals in 2025, despite leading the average after the first two rounds.

2025 Governor’s Cup Champion Kincade Henry and runner-ups Dylan Hancock and John Douch will participate once again.

Riley Webb has yet to appear in a Governor’s Cup Final. He made the Semifinals the last two years, but each time failed to record a qualified time. Even without a great Cup performance, Webb has essentially locked up the World No. 1 spot with a nearly $90,000 lead over 2nd-place Haven Meged.

Unless Meged, or someone else, can cut into Webb’s lead, Webb will enter the NFR a favorite to win his fourth-straight Gold Buckle.

Barrel Racing:

Current World Rank, Barrel Racer, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Carlee Otero, $202,388.99
• 2nd, Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, $195,155.40
• 3rd, Emily Beisel, $184,989.48
• 6th, Michelle Alley, $165,512.26
• 7th, Tayla Moeykens, $160,288.22
• 8th, Sydney Graham, $157,780.59
• 9th, Lisa Lockhart, $143,033.00
• 11th, Megan McLeod-Sprague, $134,901.01
• 12th, Katelyn Scott, $127,455.77
• 13th, Tricia Aldridge, $125,613.74
• 14th, Makenzie Mayes, $118,782.77
• 19th, Andrea Busby, $94,693.26

Emily Beisel won the inaugural Governor’s Cup back in 2023 and is the only participant in this year’s class to have won the event at all.

Tricia Aldridge, Megan McLeod-Sprague, and Carlee Otero finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in last year’s Finals and are returning this year for their shot at 1st.

Andrea Busby is the only contestant entering Sioux Falls outside the top-15. She’s currently $12,000 behind the cut line. Busby has made the last two consecutive NFRs, finishing top-5 in the average each time. She’s never qualified for the NFR better than 12th place; to do so, she’d have to win the Finals.

Steer Wrestling:

Current World Rank, Steer Wrestler, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Tyler Waguespack, $205,875.53
• 2nd, Jesse Brown, $193,114.53
• 3rd, Cash Robb, $151,670.33
• 5th, J.D. Struxness, $134,117.85
• 6th, Tristan Martin, $133,256.59
• 7th, Seth Peterson, $132,101.68
• 9th, Mike McGinn, $124,257.16
• 10th, Rowdy Parrott, $123,482.10
• 12th, Bridger Anderson, $119,539.45
• 16th, Eli Lord, $108,587.10
• 17th, Justin Shaffer, $108,316.23
• 18th, Dalton Massey, $106,478.38

The Steer Wrestling event features an event high three athletes who are currently outside the top-15.

Eli Lord, Justin Shaffer, and Dalton Massey are ranked 16th through 18th and are no more than $3,000 behind Will Lummus in 15th, who has $109,386. Lummus won’t be participating in The Governor’s Cup, and the smallest check earned last year in the Steer Wrestling event was $4,000. Chance Howard and Gavin Soileau each earned $4,000 at last year’s Governor’s Cup, which was crucial to them qualifying for their first career NFR’s. This puts Lummus in an uncomfortable situation, while Lord, Shaffer, and Massey are in the driver’s seat.

Shaffer won The Governor’s Cup last year, including three of its four rounds, and earned $43,911.

5x World Champion Tyler Waguespack broke the all-time regular-season earnings record for Bull Doggers, surpassing Dalton Massey’s $199,263 earned in 2024. He currently has $205,875.53 and could extend his earnings record to close to $250,000 with a successful Cup finish. Waguespack’s only $12,000 ahead of Jesse Brown, however, and is at risk of losing his No. 1 spot and earnings record to him.

Waguespack has been sub-5.5 seconds in all ten of his outs this month, and is well prepared for Sioux Falls.

Team Roping:

Current World Rank, Team Roping Header / Heelers, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Kaleb Driggers, $206,552.88 / 1st, Junior Nunes Nogueira, $206,552.85
• 3rd, Tyler Tryan, $154,980.62 / 3rd, Nicky Northcott, $156,331.62
• 4th, Tanner Tomlinson, $146,459.73 / 5th, Coleby Payne, $136,724.38
• 5th, Lightning Aguilera, $141,689.48 / 8th, Ross Ashford, $124,287.03
• 6th, James Arviso, $140,165.04 / 4th, Levi Lord, $141,349.86
• 7th, Jake Smith, $134,867.38 / 10th, Douglas Rich, $121,983.48
• 8th, Cody Snow, $127,831.17 / 7th, Lane Mitchell, $125,128.12
• 11th, Andrew Ward, $121,515.85 / 12th, Jake Long, $121,515.85
• 15th, Dawson Graham, $107,277.89 / 15th, Dillon Graham, $114,572.89
• 20th, Cory Kidd, $100,208.65 / 25th, Carson Johnson, $97,419.99
• 21st, Luke Brown, $97,726.56 / 26th, Hunter Koch, $88,024.56
• 39th, Garrett Tonozzi, $59,482.66 / 9th, Trey Yates, $123,488.75

Seven of the eight Team Ropers in last year’s Final Round are returning this year, including last year’s champions Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira. Tanner Tomlinson and Coleby Payne, Jake Smith and Douglas Rich, and Lane Mitchell make up the rest of the 2025 Finals group.

Mitchell roped with Cyle Denison last year, who won’t be competing this year. Instead, Mitchell is roping with Cody Snow.

Snow and Mitchell have been the most profitable team this month, pulling in $27,380 so far. They’ve each earned about $127,000 so far this season, and a win in Sioux Falls would give them each the chance for 3rd place in the World Standings.

Seven duos earned at least $10,000 last year. Seven of the participant Headers are within $11,000 of each other, and six of the Heelers are close to each other. Most are separated by much less, however.

Steer Roping:

Current World Rank, Steer Roper, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Taylor Santos, $103,371.89
• 2nd, Cole Patterson, $94,962.04
• 3rd, Riley O’Rourke, $80,229.40
• 4th, Cody Lee, $79,593.50
• 5th, Scott Snedecor, $67,180.34
• 8th, Chet Herren, $56,225.92
• 9th, Troy Tillard, $54,286.35
• 10th, Roger Nonella, $52,440.92
• 12th, Vin Fisher, $50,688.26
• 14th, Tony Reina, $46,401.76
• 22nd, Tanner Stec, $31,533.16

• • 46th, Wade Shoemaker, $10,672.29

Cole Patterson was an event-fastest 9.3 seconds to win the First Round last year. However, he didn’t make the Finals.

Chet Herren won the Cup last year along with $15,500 total. He and Cody Lee are the only returning contestants who made it to last year’s Final Round.

That $15,000+ grand prize would change the entire landscape, depending on who won. Furthermore, six contestants earned at least $3,500 last year, and six of the contestants this year are within $3,500 of another contestant.

Breakaway Roping

Current World Rank, Breakaway Roper, Season Earnings:

• 1st, Cheyanne McCartney, $194,056.02
• 2nd, Hali Williams, $177,056.96
• 3rd, Rylee George, $146,503.38
• 4th, Josie Conner, $145,630.09
• 6th, Jordi Edens-Mitchell, $129,684.16
• 8th, Danielle Lowman, $116,856.79
• 9th, Haiden Thompson, $114,831.51
• 15th, Bradi Good, $89,626.95
• 17th, Jill Tanner, $88,421.78
• 18th, Martha Angelone, $86,102.13
• 21st, Jackie Crawford, $77,954.20
• 22nd, Jordan Hollabaugh, $76,026.73

The Breakaway Roping event features the most contestants outside the top-15 of any event this year, with four.

All four of those riders are all within, at most, $13,500 of 15th-place Bradi Good. Jill Tanner and Martha Angelone are within $3,500 of Good. Six contestants earned at least $14,400 last year and nine earned at least $5,400.

Angelone is the only contestant this year who has participated in multiple Governor’s Cup Finals. She was 3rd in both 2025 and 2023.

Besides Angelone, Josie Conner and Rylee George also participated in last year’s Finals. Conner came 2nd, and George 4th.

Last year was the first time at The Governor’s Cup that no athlete produced a sub-2.0 second out. 2024 had two outs sub-2.0, while 2023 had three.