It’s honestly a little unfair, you get on badass bucking horses and bulls for over a year, only for the stress to spike in September. As if riding 1,500 pound animals wasn’t already stressful enough.

That, however, is the game we’re playing. And the goal of the game is simple every year, make it to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

You’ll be sick of the word bubble in two weeks, but for now, it’s all that matters to these guys below. They’re trying to fight their way off it any way they can until Sept. 30, hoping that when the calendar flips to October, they’re still in the Top 15.

BAREBACK RIDING

No. 14 Mason Clements – $116,841

The 33-year-old was No. 16 on Aug. 29 but has done the necessary work to get on the right side of the bubble in September by winning a round in Puyallup and adding a win at the Othello PRCA Rodeo in Washington the next weekend. Clements made three NFRs from 2017-2020, but has only been back once since in 2023.

No. 15 Nick Pelke – $116,487

The Wisconsin native who got in contention early with a win at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is hoping to hang on for his first trip to Las Vegas. He, however, did not win any money in Pendleton or Puyallup and hasn’t cashed a check since Aug. 31.

No. 16 RC Landingham – $116,419

Less than $100 behind Pelke is Landingham, who was on the right side of the bubble going into Pendleton. He, as well as several others, were jumped by Jacek Frost when he went from No. 16 to No. 10 for his victory in Oregon. In September, Landingham has totaled $3,948 and no checks bigger than $1,918. Landingham notched his third career Top 10 finish last season.

No. 17 Jacob Lees – $113,496

Lees dramatically rose from the No. 17 spot at the Governor’s Cup to make his first National Finals in 2023 and is hoping for some similar late-season magic in ’25. And momentum is on his side. Lees has gone from No. 23 to No. 17 in September thanks to a Final Four appearance in Puyallup along with wins at the Iron County Fair (Utah) and West Texas Fair and Rodeo.

No. 18 Richmond Champion – $110,436

The 32-year-old is hoping to make it to double digits in NFR appearances in 2025 and has made all but one since 2016. His odds have gotten a little worse over the last two weekends, though as he dropped from No. 15 to 18 after no rides better than 81 points in Pendleton and Puyallup.

No. 19 Orin Larsen – $107,956 

Larsen kicked off September strong with a pair of second place finishes at the Meagher County Labor Day Rodeo (Montana) and Tri-State Rodeo (Iowa) while also winning the Lake County Round-Up (Oregon). All of those came in the first six days of the month and he has since added another $2,500 in Pendleton.

No. 20 Clay Jorgenson – $105,397

Jorgenson is still in the race thanks to a win a the Tri-State Rodeo which paid him $7,238 of the $11,579 he has won in September.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

No. 13 Lefty Holman – $137,094

Just two weeks ago, Holman was over $13,000 behind No. 15 and looking at missing the NFR for the first time since 2021. He changed his fortune quickly, and showed how fast things can change in the process. Since Sept. 5, he has won over $25,000 and was the champion of the Lewiston Roundup, Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo, and the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo.

No. 14 Wyatt Casper – $135,784

Casper has made very NFR since 2020 and is the reigning Average Champion. With a limited schedule due to a fracture in his ankle, he has only gotten on 11 horses since Aug. 12. He did ride in Puyallup, and won about $3,800 there.

No. 15 Ben Andersen – $132,552

Andersen is the poster child for what it’s like to be on the bubble, holding down either the 15th or 16th spot since Aug. 1. He recently helped his case for a fourth NFR by making the Finals in Puyallup, which punched his ticket to the Governor’s Cup, and taking third in the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo over the weekend.

No. 16 Chase Brooks – $130,259

Brooks was No. 14 at the beginning of September but was passed by Andersen and Holman as he has failed to win a check on his last five outs.

No. 17 Kolby Wanchuk – $122,033

Wanchuk has made three of the last four NFRs, but hasn’t been able to get past the No. 16 over the last three weeks. He had a big weekend to close August, taking first at the Sanders County Fair and Rodeo (Montana) and third at Walla Walla Frontier Days.

No. 18 Q Taylor – $116,827

In order to have a real shot to make the NFR, Taylor had to have a good showing in Pendleton, so he won it with a 91-point ride in the Finals. It won him over $16,000 and he has tallied almost $30,000 total in September.

BULL RIDING

No. 13 Bryce Jensen – $137,591

Jensen is in position for his first career NFR after winning three checks of at least $3,000 in September, the largest of them was $6,768 for an 89.5-point ride that got him second place at the Lewiston Xtreme Bulls

No. 14 Jesse Petri – $135,494

At 27, Petri is also looking to break through and get to the NFR for the first time. He won more than $5,000 in Puyallup, but more importantly, that punched his ticket to the Governor’s Cup.

No. 15 Luke Mackey – $131,699

The 19-year-old has covered more than half of his bulls in September and that has resulted in a win a the West’s Most Western Rodeo in Arizona and more than $10,000 at the Pendleton Xtreme Bulls Finale.

No. 16 Luke Mast – $121,512

Mast has made just two qualified rides in September, but they have resulted in almost $7,000.

No. 17 Jace Trosclair – $115,091

Trosclair is 1-for-12 in September, but has not lost any ground in the World Standings.