Round 9 has the moniker of Freaky Friday at the NFR, but things got a little weird 24 hours prior in multiple events.

Let’s begin with where things have changed the most in recent day, bareback riding and team roping.

In bareback riding, there’s been a swing of over $100,000 in just two nights between Rocker Steiner and Jess Pope.

Pope has won the last two Go-Rounds to earn himself $73,336. He also moved from No. 2 to No. 1 in the Average.

All the while Rocker, Steiner made rides of 77 and 80.25 points to drop five spots from No. 3 to No. 8 in the Average, wiping away about $50,000 in potential earnings.

After all of that, Jess Pope is suddenly your Projected World Champion by a very slim margin over Rocker Steiner.

Whether it’s as a spoiler or as the World Champion himself, Sam Petersen is not done yet either as he sits second in the Average, 2.75 points behind Pope. If he is able to catch him, Petersen could be the one with the Gold Buckle when it’s all said and done.

If the NFR had ended after Round 8, the final money totals would have been: Pope at $434,228, Steiner at $430,056, and Petersen at $425,098.

In team roping, Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres won their third Go-Round of the 2025 NFR and have surged from No. 14 and 15 respectively to No. 1 in the Projected World Standings.

“It’s just one steer at a time,” Schmidt said. “I feel like we’re just trying to do our job every time we back in there. We put all our focus on the steer in the chute and trying to rack up as much money as we can.”

They got there in part because Clint Summers/Jade Corkill missed, allowing them to move to the No. 1 in the Average. To make the comeback event crazier, consider Schmidt/Torres were not each other’s regular season partners.

They have already made $159,000 in the Thomas & Mack and could another $94,000 with an Average win.

There’s still much to sort through, but as it stands right now, Schmidt/Torres are the leaders in the clubhouse for the World Title with Summers/Corkill and Ward/Long giving chase.

Let’s now take it back to the steer wrestling, where Tucker Allen is doing everything he can to take the drama out of the big man’s event.

He won a third Go-Round at the 2025 NFR with a 3.9-second run and has opened up a lead of more than nine seconds in the Average. He is also No. 1 in the World Standings now and leads the Projected Standings by more than $100,000.

Weston Patterson won his first career Go-Round at his first NFR in the saddle bronc riding and another very interesting World Title race is taking shape in that event.

Right now, Zeke Thurston leads Statler Wright by two points in the NFR Average Standings and $20,000 in the Projected Final Standings. However, if Statler can catch him that would be a $36,000 swing not including the day money.

Also, the reigning World Champion Ryder Wright could be a factor. He is currently ninth in the Average and about $35,000 back in the Projected Standings, making a fourth Gold Buckle well within reach via moving up in the Average or a pair of Top 3 finishes in the last two rounds.

All that to say, it will come down to either Thurston, Statler, and Ryder, and it’s anyone’s for the taking among that elite trio.

Tie-down roping and barrel racing are a little less murky in the World Title race.

While Kincade Henry won another Go-Round in the tie-down with a 7.0-second run, Riley Webb picked up a check and put himself in position where if he has two clean runs, he will likely three-peat.

The same is true for Kassie Mowry, who, like Riley, leads the Average and World Standings. Two clean runs is probably all it will take for her to win a second straight Gold Buckle.

As for Round 8 in the barrel racing, Tricia Aldridge and Adios dashed to a second Go-Round win.

In the bull riding, TJ Gray made a second straight 90+ Point Ride, this one worth 90.75 on Rafter G’s Doze You Down.

In the World Title race, the battle between Stetson Wright and Ky Hamilton raged on. Both rode on Thursday night with Ky taking third in the round with 88.5 and Stetson coming in fourth with 88. Ky remains one bull up on Stetson, but Stetson leads by $73,000 in the Projected World Standings. We already saw ground money come into play earlier in the NFR in the bull riding and that remains a way a massive wrench could be thrown into the race between two good pals.

Bareback Riding 

Eighth Round: 1. Jess Pope, 88.25 points on Four Star Rodeo’s Deep Springs, $36,668; 2. Sam Petersen, 87.25, $28,980; 3. Dean Thompson, 86.25, $21,882; 4. Mason Clements, 85.25, $15,377; 5. Waylon Bourgeois, 84, $9,463; 6. Cole Franks, 83.75, $5,914; 7. Bradlee Miller, 82.75; 8. Garrett Shadbolt, 82.5; 9. Kade Sonnier, 81.5; 10. Rocker Steiner, 80.25; 11. Tilden Hooper, 79.5; 12. Jacek Frost, 77.5; 13. Wacey Schalla, 74; 14. Cooper Cooke, NS.

Average Leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 684.5 points on eight head; 2. Sam Petersen, 681.75; 3. Wacey Schalla, 678.5; 4. Cole Franks, 676.75; 5. Kade Sonnier, 676; 6. Bradlee Miller, 670.25; 7. Garrett Shadbolt, 670; 8. Rocker Steiner, 668.75; 9. Dean Thompson, 591.75 on seven head; 10. Waylon Bourgeois, 586.25; 11. Tilden Hooper, 580.25; 12. Mason Clements, 504.25 on six head; 13. Jacek Frost, 485; 14. Cooper Cooke, 423.5 on five head; no other qualified rides.

World Standings: 1. Rocker Steiner, $421,185; 2. Sam Petersen, $348,805; 3. Jess Pope, $340,193; 4. Wacey Schalla, $286,275; 5. Kade Sonnier, $273,571; 6. Cole Franks, $263,787; 7. Bradlee Miller, $244,088; 8. Waylon Bourgeois, $243,476; 9. Dean Thompson, $230,848; 10. Cooper Cooke, $218,241; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, $202,805; 12. Mason Clements, $180,939; 13. Jacek Frost, $155,514; 14. Jayco Roper, $149,775; 15. Tilden Hooper, $139,951.

Steer Wrestling

Eighth Round: 1. Tucker Allen, 3.9 seconds, $36,668; 2. Jesse Brown, 4.0, $28,980; 3. Chance Howard, 4.1, $21,882; 4. Bridger Anderson, 4.2, $15,377; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 4.3, $9,463; 6. J.D. Struxness, 4.4, $5,914; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 4.5; 8. Ty Erickson, 4.6; 9. Tyler Waguespack, 4.9; 10. Gavin Soileau, 5.1; 11. Justin Shaffer, 5.2; 12. Stetson Jorgensen, 7.4; 13. Scott Guenthner, 9.8; 14. Kyle Irwin and Will Lummus, NT.

Average Leaders: 1. Tucker Allen, 36.6 seconds on eight head; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 46.4; 3. J.D. Struxness, 52.9; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 56.5; 5. Ty Erickson, 29.5 on seven head; 6. Jesse Brown, 31.6; 7. Justin Shaffer, 34.0; 8. Scott Guenthner, 38.4; 9. Dakota Eldridge, 39.1; 10. Kyle Irwin, 45.4; 11. Gavin Soileau, 69.1; 12. Bridger Anderson, 26.6 on six head; 13. Tyler Waguespack, 36.1; 14. Chance Howard, 41.9; 15. Will Lummus, 20.8 on five head.

World Standings: 1. Tucker Allen, $298,964; 2. Will Lummus, $290,871; 3. Jesse Brown, $267,671; 4. Ty Erickson, $246,270; 5. J.D. Struxness, $212,545; 6. Rowdy Parrott, $208,486; 7. Justin Shaffer, $205,694; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, $200,439; 9. Bridger Anderson, $198,873; 10. Tyler Waguespack, $193,138; 11. Kyle Irwin, $175,265; 12. Dakota Eldridge, $169,218; 13. Scott Guenthner, $168,738; 14. Chance Howard, $141,659; 15. Gavin Soileau, $123,981.

Team Roping 

Eighth Round: 1. Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres, 3.8 seconds, $36,668 each; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.9, $28,980; 3. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 4.1, $21,882; 4. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 4.5, $15,377; 5. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.9, $9,463; 6. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.5, $5,914; 7. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 8.6; 8. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd Todd, 9.1; 9. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 9.2; 10. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 14.1; 11. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, Riley Minor/Brady Minor, Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, Clint Summers/Jade Corkill and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, NT.

Average Leaders: 1. Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres, 28.7 seconds on seven head; 2. (tie) Andrew Ward/Jake Long and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 31.3 each; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 45.8; 5. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd Todd, 52.4; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 33.8 on six head; 7. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 36.3; 8. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 39.2; 9. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 24.6 on five head; 10. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, 25.3; 11. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 29.8; 12. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 33.2; 13. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 34.6; 14. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 30.9 on four head; 15. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 38.2.

World Standings (Headers): 1. Kolton Schmidt, $279,074; 2. Tanner Tomlinson, $276,606; 3. Clint Summers, $253,055; 4. Kaleb Driggers, $252,854; 5. Andrew Ward, $244,022; 6. Dawson Graham, $239,321; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $237,829; 8. Lightning Aguilera, $208,914; 9. Tyler Wade, $195,653; 10. Jake Smith, $194,087; 11. Clay Smith, $193,921; 12. Cyle Denison, $190,445; 13. Derrick Begay, $188,030; 14. Luke Brown, $174,111; 15. Riley Minor, $172,186.

World Standings (Heelers): 1. Jonathan Torres, $270,808; 2. Jade Corkill, $253,380; 3. Junior Nogueira, $252,854; 4. Travis Graves, $242,717; 5. Jake Long, $242,275; 6. Dillon Graham, $239,321; 7. Levi Lord, $235,448; 8. Kaden Profili, $207,714; 9. Wesley Thorp, $195,653; 10. Lane Mitchell, $191,474; 11. Colter Todd Todd, $185,678; 12. Coleby Payne, $184,724; 13. Douglas Rich, $183,337; 14. Trey Yates, $174,111; 15. Brady Minor, $172,186.

Saddle Bronc Riding 

Eighth Round: 1. Weston Patterson, 89 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool, $36,668; 2. Brody Wells, 87.5, $28,980; 3. (tie) Brody Cress and Statler Wright, 87.25, $18,630 each; 5. Zachary Dallas, 87, $9,463; 6. Sage Newman, 86.75, $5,914; 7. Lefty Holman, 86; 8. (tie) Q Taylor and Ryder Wright, 85 each; 10. Zeke Thurston, 84.75; 11. Damian Brennan, 83.5; 12. Stetson Dell Wright, 82.75; 13. Ben Andersen, 82; 14. Kade Bruno and Dawson Hay, NS.

Average Leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 690.75 points on eight head; 2. Statler Wright, 688.75; 3. Lefty Holman, 684; 4. Brody Cress, 680; 5. Zachary Dallas, 675.5; 6. Ben Andersen, 673.25; 7. Sage Newman, 668; 8. Stetson Dell Wright, 610.5 on seven head; 9. Ryder Wright, 608.25; 10. Damian Brennan, 604.75; 11. Weston Patterson, 599.25; 12. Q Taylor, 594.75; 13. Kade Bruno, 591.75; 14. Brody Wells, 515 on six head; 15. Dawson Hay, 502.5.

World Standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $392,017; 2. Damian Brennan, $361,489; 3. Zeke Thurston, $332,336; 4. Statler Wright, $329,968; 5. Stetson Dell Wright, $308,997; 6. Dawson Hay, $306,418; 7. Kade Bruno, $303,921; 8. Brody Cress, $272,003; 9. Brody Wells, $269,064; 10. Weston Patterson, $258,846; 11. Zachary Dallas, $239,946; 12. Sage Newman, $221,872; 13. Lefty Holman, $192,132; 14. Q Taylor, $188,853; 15. Ben Andersen, $181,248.

Tie-Down Roping 

Eighth Round: 1. Kincade Henry, 7.0 seconds, $36,668; 2. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Joel Harris, 7.5, $25,431 each; 4. (tie) John Douch and Brushton Minton, 8.2, $12,420 each; 6. Riley Mason Webb, 8.5, $5,914; 7. Zack Jongbloed, 8.6; 8. (tie) Haven Meged, Riley Pruitt and Marty Yates, 9.4 each; 11. Shad Mayfield, 9.9; 12. Ty Harris, 11.4; 13. Dylan Hancock, 14.2; 14. Kyle Lucas, 17.2; 15. Tom Crouse, NT.

Average Leaders: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 67.1 seconds on eight head; 2. John Douch, 67.2; 3. Brushton Minton, 68.1; 4. Haven Meged, 74.7; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 76.7; 6. Dylan Hancock, 82.7; 7. Joel Harris, 53.5 on seven head; 8. Kincade Henry, 56.5; 9. Shad Mayfield, 57.3; 10. Marty Yates, 70.2; 11. Riley Pruitt, 50.2 on six head; 12. Shane Hanchey, 63.0; 13. Tom Crouse, 68.9; 14. Ty Harris, 74.9; 15. Kyle Lucas, 59.4 on five head.

World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $417,743; 2. Shad Mayfield, $388,931; 3. Kincade Henry, $320,916; 4. Joel Harris, $313,495; 5. John Douch, $265,107; 6. Dylan Hancock, $248,540; 7. Marty Yates, $201,701; 8. Riley Pruitt, $200,430; 9. Tom Crouse, $198,321; 10. Brushton Minton, $183,440; 11. Haven Meged, $182,937; 12. Zack Jongbloed, $181,784; 13. Ty Harris, $176,767; 14. Shane Hanchey, $171,851; 15. Kyle Lucas, $161,180.

Barrel Racing

Eighth Round: 1. Tricia Aldridge, 13.64 seconds, $36,668; 2. Wenda Johnson, 13.68, $28,980; 3. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 13.76, $21,882; 4. Kassie Mowry, 13.80, $15,377; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.81, $9,463; 6. Julie Plourde, 13.89, $5,914; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 13.95; 8. Andrea Busby, 13.98; 9. Katelyn Scott, 14.10; 10. Tayla Moeykens, 15.31; 11. Hailey Kinsel, 18.50; 12. Halyn Lide, 18.68; 13. Emily Beisel, 19.03; 14. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 19.46; 15. Carlee Otero, 23.93.

Average Leaders: 1. Kassie Mowry, 109.53 seconds on eight head; 2. Julie Plourde, 111.52; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 112.19; 4. Tricia Aldridge, 114.28; 5. Andrea Busby, 116.38; 6. (tie) Hailey Kinsel and Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 119.13 each; 8. Emily Beisel, 125.11; 9. Halyn Lide, 126.30; 10. Lisa Lockhart, 129.44; 11. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 130.72; 12. Wenda Johnson, 131.92; 13. Carlee Otero, 144.31; 14. Katelyn Scott, 96.42 on seven head; 15. Tayla Moeykens, 118.30; no other qualified runs.

World Standings: 1. Kassie Mowry, $353,611; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $308,096; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $270,955; 4. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, $267,133; 5. Carlee Otero, $251,830; 6. Tricia Aldridge, $251,132; 7. Emily Beisel, $251,050; 8. Lisa Lockhart, $236,243; 9. Halyn Lide, $209,025; 10. Katelyn Scott, $208,777; 11. Megan McLeod-Sprague, $198,577; 12. Anita Ellis, $156,992; 13. Andrea Busby, $154,927; 14. Tayla Moeykens, $152,561; 15. Wenda Johnson, $148,428; 16. Julie Plourde, $137,739.

Bull Riding

Eighth Round: 1. TJ Gray, 90.75 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Doze You Down, $36,668; 2. Mason Moody, 89.5, $28,980; 3. Ky Hamilton, 88.5, $21,882; 4. Stetson Dell Wright, 88, $15,377; 5. (tie) Colorado kid Mackey and Jesse Petri, 87, $7,688 each; 7. Qynn Andersen, 81.5; 8. Bryce Jensen, 81; 9. Hudson Bolton, Tristen Hutchings, Rawley Johnson, Wacey Schalla, Jordan Spears and Hayes Weight, NS.

Average Leaders: 1. Ky Hamilton, 522 points on six head; 2. Stetson Dell Wright, 444.25 on five head; 3. TJ Gray, 443.25; 4. Colorado kid Mackey, 427; 5. Bryce Jensen, 418.75; 6. Hudson Bolton, 342.25 on four head; 7. Qynn Andersen, 340.5; 8. Mason Moody, 261.25 on three head; 9. Tristen Hutchings, 260.75; 10. Jesse Petri, 248; 11. Jordan Spears, 227.75; 12. Wacey Schalla, 177 on two head; 13. Hayes Weight, 86.75 on one head; no other qualified rides.

World Standings: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $514,535; 2. Ky Hamilton, $423,723; 3. Wacey Schalla, $413,458; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $370,895; 5. TJ Gray, $360,041; 6. Bryce Jensen, $293,902; 7. J.R. Stratford, $263,020; 8. Hudson Bolton, $217,866; 9. Mason Moody, $213,669; 10. Qynn Andersen, $212,795; 11. Hayes Weight, $196,365; 12. Colorado kid Mackey, $193,866; 13. Jordan Spears, $176,627; 14. Jesse Petri, $167,683; 15. Rawley Johnson, $158,778.