“Helloooo, Houston!”
The iconic introduction once again echoed through NRG Stadium, signaling the arrival of the crown jewel of the Texas Swing — RODEOHOUSTON.
Each spring, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings the spirit of the West to H-Town for nearly three weeks, showcasing the sport’s top rodeo athletes alongside world-class entertainment and one of the largest livestock exhibitions in the country.
At the heart of the rodeo is the RODEOHOUSTON Super Series, a 20-day tournament-style format that crowns a champion in each event while offering some of the largest payouts in professional rodeo. With a total purse of $2,533,500, each event champion earns $65,000, in addition to round winnings, a custom saddle and belt buckle, and an automatic invitation to compete the following year.
The structure rewards both consistency and clutch performances. Contestants compete across three preliminary rounds within their Super Series. The rodeo is divided into five three-day Super Series, followed by two Semifinal rounds, two Wild Card rounds and a Championship.
Each Super Series features eight contestants per event, competing once daily for three days. The top four money winners in each event advance to one of two Semifinal rounds, where 10 athletes compete in each discipline. The top four finishers from each Semifinal move directly to the Championship, while the remaining competitors head to the Wild Card rounds for a final opportunity to advance.
From the Wild Card rounds, one athlete in each event earns the final spot in the Championship round. There, the remaining contenders battle for the title and a payday that can dramatically impact the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world standings.
With every dollar earned counting toward the PRCA world title race, paychecks in Houston have the potential to reshape the leaderboard early in the season.
A Look at the First Two Super Series
With the first two Super Series complete, the Semifinal round rosters are beginning to take shape as several standout performances set the tone for the weeks ahead.
In Super Series I, world champion calf roper Tyson Durfey claimed top honors, earning $4,750 in the opening segment of the tournament.
Million-dollar cowboy Cole Reiner is already building momentum in pursuit of his sixth National Finals Rodeo qualification, banking $5,625 in bareback riding to secure his advancement.
In team roping, veteran partners Clint Summers and Jade Corkill earned $3,750 to move on. Corkill, a past RODEOHOUSTON champion in 2008, looks to add another Houston title alongside the experienced Summers.
Utah saddle bronc rider Allen Boore also delivered a strong showing, capturing the Super Series guitar and $5,500 in earnings.
Steer wrestler Marc Joiner, the 2021 Resistol Rookie of the Year, continues his push toward his first National Finals Rodeo appearance, winning his Super Series with an impressive start to the season.
In barrel racing, Michelle Alley dominated the field, earning $9,000 to secure her spot in the Semifinals.
Breakaway roping standout Jackie Crawford delivered one of the most emotional victories of the series, claiming the Super Series champion guitar and $5,750.
Bull rider Roscoe Jarboe, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier, also advanced after earning $5,000 in the opening Super Series.
Super Series II Continues the Momentum
The second Super Series continued to deliver strong performances and significant payouts as athletes battled for position in the tournament.
Idaho calf roper Bo Pickett advanced to the Semifinals with a consistent performance across the three rounds.
Louisiana bareback rider Waylon Bourgeois rode to the top of the leaderboard, collecting $5,000 during the series.
World champion team ropers Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira continued their dominant 2026 campaign, earning $9,000 each to advance.
Saddle bronc rider Easton West also delivered a strong performance, banking $7,000 to move forward.
Californian steer wrestler Grant Peterson added $4,125 to his season earnings as he begins what he hopes will be his first National Finals Rodeo campaign.
In the barrel racing, Sydney Graham topped the aggregate to advance after earning $5,500.
Breakaway roper Summer Williams matched that total with $5,500 of her own to secure her Semifinal berth.
Bull rider Trevor Reiste rounded out the list of Super Series II standouts, earning $6,750 to advance.
Looking Ahead
As the remaining Super Series unfold, the field will continue to narrow and the storylines will only intensify.
With massive payouts and PRCA world standings on the line, every ride and every run inside NRG Stadium carriesgreat weight and impact.
Fans can follow the action throughout the tournament on The Cowboy Channel and its digital and broadcast platforms as RODEOHOUSTON marches toward its championship round.