After seven action-packed rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Round Eight delivered more high-stakes competition, further shaping world title and aggregate races. Here is your Round Eight recap, presented by Mahindra.
Steer wrestler Tucker Allen continued his storybook week under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack Center, capturing his third go-round victory of the week with a 3.9-second run in Round Eight.
The California cowboy has now earned $148,096 at the 2025 NFR and maintained his commanding lead in the average, sitting 9.8 seconds ahead of the field. His Round Eight win also pushed him to the top of the world standings heading into Round Nine.
Bareback rider Jess Pope extended his aggregate lead with an impressive 88.25-point ride aboard Four Star Rodeo’s Deep Springs, earning the Round Eight victory and $36,668.
In team roping, Kolton Schmidt and Jonathan Torres secured their second go-round win of the week with a 3.8-second run. The pair now leads the aggregate race by 2.6 seconds over Andrew Ward and Jake Long.
The team roping world title races appear poised to come down to the wire. Canadian header Schmidt holds a slight lead on the heading side, while Torres leads on the heeling side entering Round Nine. Meanwhile, heartbreak struck Clint Summers and Jade Corkill, who suffered a costly miss after being the only team to catch all steers through seven rounds.
Saddle bronc riding delivered its own dose of drama, with Weston Patterson claiming the Round Eight win after an 89-point ride aboard Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool. Zeke Thurston continues to lead the aggregate, keeping the saddle bronc world title race highly competitive and fans on edge.
Tie-down roper Kincade Henry earned his second go-round buckle of the week with a blazing 7.0-second run, adding to an already lucrative NFR. Riley Webb continues to lead both the average and world standings as he inches closer to defending his world title and capturing his third gold buckle.
Barrel racer Tricia Aldridge and her standout stallion, Adios Pantalones, claimed their second round win of the week with a 13.64-second run. Kassie Mowry also posted her eighth clean run of the NFR, extending her lead in both the average and world standings as she looks to defend her 2024 world title.
Bull riding brought the crowd to its feet as T.J. Gray topped the leaderboard with a 90.75-point ride aboard Rafter G Rodeo’s Doze You Down. Ky Hamilton covered his sixth bull of the week to extend his aggregate lead, while Stetson Wright made another qualified ride to maintain his lead in the bull riding world title race.
The all-around cowboy race remains highly competitive, with Wright currently holding a $129,678 lead over Wacey Schalla. While the margin is significant, standings could shift following aggregate calculations. Schalla currently sits third in the bareback riding aggregate and outside the bull riding race, while Wright is second in the bull riding average and eighth in saddle bronc riding, setting up multiple scenarios heading into the final rounds.
As fans and athletes look ahead to Round Nine of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, The Cowboy Channel continues daily coverage beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern. Programming includes Deep Dive and Zero In presented by Cinch, NFR Tailgate, Western Sports Roundup presented by Ariat, and Rodeo Live presented by Tractor Supply. Coverage continues with the Wrangler NFR at 8:30 p.m., NFR Final presented by Mahindra at 11:30 p.m., and the nightly NFR Buckle Ceremony at 12:30 a.m.