PUEBLO, Colo. – Rivalries have run deep in the south for hundreds of years.

Specifically in the Lone Star State of Texas. This isn’t news, or new, by any means.

So, when the Texas Rattlers take on a pair of established rivals this weekend during their homestand PBR Teams: Rattler Days Sept. 26-28, they understand this is far from just another event.

This is their time to shine – And they’ve got plenty to fight for.

Drawing a showdown against their rivals to the north in the Oklahoma Wildcatters Thursday night, the Rattlers know fans will be in town from areas other than the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Which means they may have some folks rooting for their in-state rival Austin Gamblers come Friday night but shouldn’t hear too much support for the guys hailing one state north.

Which should only fuel the home team to get the job done when the second night of action rolls around. Nothing against their Red River Rivalry reunion with Oklahoma … but the Rattlers and Gamblers have some unfinished business to take care of.

The 2024 Texas Cup competition will come to a close when the team takes on the Gamblers Friday night inside Dickies Arena. The best-of-three series is set to conclude with one of the Lone Star State’s teams exiting the matchup with the Texas Cup itself, alongside bragging rights until the 2025 slate arrives.

Knowing Austin earned the early series advantage back in Sunrise, Florida, in early August courtesy of a 259.5-175 final meant Texas needed a sincere effort during the teams’ second showdown. That contest happened to come during PBR Teams: Gambler Days, featuring an opportunity for Austin to seal the deal in front of their home crowd.

However, the Rattlers had other plans, eventually forcing a Game 3-deciding showdown this weekend after securing a clutch 174.25-0 victory over the Gamblers last month inside Moody Center.

Bringing a perfect 6-0 record from their first two homestand events into the tour’s Week 11 showcase, the Rattlers have already defeated the Gamblers on home turf each of the past two years, officially 2-0 against the two-time regular season champs in Fort Worth.

Of course, last year’s record and head-to-head showdowns are in the past. Hell, games that occurred earlier this season are irrelevant at this point, to a certain extent. It’s all about what the Rattlers can do with their final five games of the season.

More importantly, how they handle their trio of contests this weekend.

RELATED: Where to Watch: Rattler Days

Becoming the only team in PBR Teams history to host a single homestand event in two different venues (with Thursday’s opening slate taking place inside the legendary Cowtown Coliseum before shifting gears to Friday and Saturday to close things out in state-of-the-art fashion), the Rattlers will embrace the lore-forward scenes of the Fort Worth Stockyards before settling into their typical home of Dickies Arena.

Which shouldn't be a problem for the tour’s “stone-cold” contingent.

Considering how serious the demeanor inside Texas’ locker room is on any given weekend reassures us of the idea that they will be rather focused and ready to ride.

If the Rattlers locker room was a family, it would be the band of brothers who don’t need the theatrics and pregame routines some of the league’s other teams embrace.

Generally speaking, they’re one of the quieter groups on tour – Mostly because they spend that time focusing in on their upcoming task.

And as Head Coach Cody Lambert would say, each night that task is to “ride em’ all.”

Exactly what the team did last weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina, courtesy of the league’s fifth perfect game.

It hasn’t always been the star-studded, 100% riding group that’s showed up for Texas in 2024.

But as one of just four squads currently sitting above the 4,500-point mark when it comes to combined team aggregate score (currently rocking with 4,512.25 points and trailing only the Cowboys, Outlaws and Freedom), they’ve averaged roughly two ride scores per game this season, officially pacing around the 196.2-point mark.

It’s definitely been a team effort when it comes to the season-long scope of things. But lately, it sure seems like it’s been Brady Fielder and Daniel Keeping who have been featured on the big board more than most Rattlers’ riders.

Fielder, who’s amassed a whopping 19-for-26 record this summer, trails only John Crimber in the 2024 PBR Teams MVP race. Which says A LOT about how well the Aussie has been performing within the 5-on-5 landscape.

Pacing the squad, if not league, in most statistical categories, he’s not only ranked No. 2 in the MVP race, as the tall talent continues to lead the Great 8 Award pack, which is set to reward $25,000 to the cowboy with the highest riding percentage at the end of the regular season (minimum 20 attempts).

Fielder has found the 8 in five of his last six outings as he continues to help his squad stay relevant in the top half of the standings. Winners in five of their last seven games, they’ve enjoyed seeing the international cowboy set the bar.

But if there’s been one guy hotter than Fielder lately, it’s Daniel Keeping, who’s preparing to defend his eight-out ride streak Thursday night inside Cowtown Coliseum.

Up to 10-for-19 on the season, most of his conversions have come over the past few weeks. Which is fine for a team who wants to be rounding into their top form both leading into their homestand and with the 2024 PBR Teams Championship less than a month away.

Joining Fielder and Keeping inside the Top 17-ranked riders in the MVP race, veteran Joao Ricardo Vieira hasn’t backed down during his age-40 season one bit. Technically two spots ahead of Keeping, ranked No. 15 to Keeping’s No. 17 spot, the elder statesman is a similar 11-for-20 as he continues to excel in the team’s closer role.

Just like Fielder, the team’s locker room leader has recorded a qualified ride in five of his last six outs. Furthering the formula of red-hot momentum the team looks to bring into their three-day showcase on home dirt.

If Claudio Montanha Jr., Marcelo Procopio Pereira and company can continue chipping in here and there, this is 100% a squad fans need to keep an eye on here as the team looks to secure a postseason spot this weekend down south.

The defending 2023 PBR Teams Champions will look to stay hot in Week 11 with matchups looming against the (9-14-1) Oklahoma Wildcatters, (11-12) Austin Gamblers and (11-12) Nashville Stampede.

With the Carolina Cowboys and Missouri Thunder enjoying an opening night bye game, the Rattlers will suit up alongside the New York Mavericks, Kansas City Outlaws, Arizona Ridge Riders, Florida Freedom, Austin Gamblers, Nashville Stampede and Oklahoma Wildcatters in getting the show started Thursday night inside Cowtown Coliseum.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for the latest news, league updates and beyond. And be sure to catch all of this weekend’s action on Merit Street and the Merit+ App as the PBR Camping World Team Series rages on!

JOHN CRIMBER ASSUMES LEAD IN MVP RACE – AND HE ISN’T SLOWING DOWN
19-year-old budding superstar John Crimber, who rides for the Florida Freedom, has made it clear over the past year that his intention is to challenge the best bull riders in the world. And after just 13 months, it’s utterly clear that the youngster is already well on his way to achieving said idea. Barely coming up short for the 2024 PBR World Champion honors during his rookie Unleash The Beast campaign, we’ve already seen the talent sprint to the top of the popularity contest. But after coming up 200-some points shorts of his ultimate goal, he’s been red-hot riding in the PBR Camping World Team Series. Which, isn’t shocking anyone

And wouldn’t you know, the young star’s teammates have been gifted a motivational boost themselves, with the team bringing a six-game winning streak into their Week 11 affair in Fort Worth, Texas. Now 14-9 on the season while continuing to be the squad with the highest chance of advancing to the postseason (with the No. 1 Carolina Cowboys and No. 2 Kansas City Outlaws remaining the only two teams to clinch thus far), Head Coach Paulo Crimber’s red, white and blue contingent is firing on all cylinders. However, his son has been doing such for a majority of the regular season.

Officially surpassing Sandro Batista of the Kansas City Outlaws last weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina, he now paces the pack with the most combined aggregate score points on tour (1908.25 points), now ahead of Australian standout Brady Fielder by 242.5 points. He’s also become the man who’s led the charge for the most weeks, now leading the circuit at the end of four different events (including Weeks 3, 4, 8 and 10). Two-time PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme, who continues to represent the Austin Gamblers, remains the only other cowboy who’s been atop the race for three weeks, with the veteran leading the way in Weeks 5, 6 and 7.

Officially 22-for-33 on the season, he’s attempted more bulls than any other man on tour. Part of that comes from his team’s willingness to regularly allow him to compete in Shootout Round contests. Most of it comes from the kid’s grit and determination to become the best in the business (if he hasn’t already). Easily one of the favorites to be crowned the 2025 PBR World Champion, the question remains whether he’ll be able to power his Florida unit to what would be a bit of an unexpected Championship run. At the same time, the team has proven they’re here to compete at a high level, coming into this weekend’s showcase down south ranked No. 3 overall.

Knowing Leme is the only competitor to bring home the prestigious PBR Teams MVP honors means Crimber has one more reason to finish the job. He has, after all, looked up to Leme and company for most of his life, dreaming of being the man who challenges said company. Well, it turns out those days are already here, as he continues to go head-to-head with the two-time World Champion and tons of talented contestants. The Crimber Era is here. All we have to do is sit back and enjoy!

2024 PBR TEAMS: RATTLER DAYS MATCHUPSThursday, September 26:New York Mavericks vs. Kansas City Outlaws
Arizona Ridge Riders vs. Florida Freedom
Austin Gamblers vs. Nashville Stampede

Friday, September 27:Carolina Cowboys vs. Arizona Ridge Riders
Nashville Stampede vs. Kansas City Outlaws
Missouri Thunder vs. New York Mavericks
Austin Gamblers vs. Texas Rattlers

Saturday, September 28:Florida Freedom vs. Missouri Thunder
Carolina Cowboys vs. Austin Gamblers
Oklahoma Wildcatters vs. Kansas City Outlaws
Nashville Stampede vs. Texas Rattlers

FOLLOW ALONG
This weekend’s PBR Teams: Rattler Days showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, is set to begin Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7:45 p.m. CT as the New York Mavericks and Kansa City Outlaws get the three-day showcase started. Thursday night’s opening slate is set to take place inside the historic Cowtown Coliseum, which is set to host the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast, before the tour shifts gears to Dickies Arena for nights two and three.

With competition set to continue Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:45 p.m. CT and conclude Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1:45 p.m. CT, the ninth homestand of the regular season will see the world’s best bull riders lay it all on the line with just three weeks remaining until the 2024 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct. 18-20!

Fans can tune into Merit Street and the Merit+ App on Thursday, Sept. 26 beginning at 8 p.m. CT to take in the four opening night games. The first three games from night two’s slate, airing on Friday, Sept. 27, will also air on Merit Street and the Merit+ App starting at 8 p.m. CT, with all of Sunday’s showdowns concluding the weekend’s coverage on Merit Street and the Merit+ App beginning at 8 p.m. CT.

Spanish broadcasts of all three days of action will also air on TUDN, with night one’s action airing on Friday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. CT, Friday’s slate airing on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. CT and Saturday’s showdowns airing on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. CT.

Fans can keep an eye on PBR.com and @PBR social media channels for the latest news, scores, wrecks and more! And be sure to download the Merit+ App to watch all of this season’s exclusive action!

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media