PUEBLO, Colo. — The end of the road is officially in sight as the PBR Camping World Team Series prepares to enter its 12th and final week of intense action.

And while this weekend’s PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days serves as the final stop on the tour’s ever-electric regular season slate, the 2024 PBR Teams Championship in Las Vegas Oct. 18-20 is merely right around with the corner, with eight of the league’s 10 teams receiving a chance to compete for the shiniest gold buckle in all the land.

Naturally, the 5-on-5 landscape will fuel the postseason stretch with a bit of additional drama this time around, as team’s ranked No. 7 through 10 at the end of this weekend’s showdown will be forced to compete at the Ride In Round inside Sin City’s South Point Hotel & Casino.

While some teams practically know they’re destined for the round, others have gone on record going as far as claiming they would very much embrace the opportunity to not only prove their worth but get an extra night of “warm-up” reps under their belt.

However, knowing four of the six automatic postseason berths have already been earned (with the Carolina Cowboys and Kansas City Outlaws officially qualifying for the playoffs back in Greensboro, North Carolina, and both the Florida Freedom and Texas Rattlers most recently locking up their spots in Fort Worth, Texas.

The No. 5 Austin Gamblers, who enter this weekend’s finale with an even 13-13 record, represent the team with the largest odds of securing one of these last two spots. From there, each of the Missouri Thunder, Nashville Stampede, Oklahoma Wildcatters and New York Mavericks are mathematically capable of claiming what would be the sixth and final spot. But everything comes down to how these desperate squads show up in Week 12.

Even the 8-17 Arizona Ridge Riders are mathematically still in the mix ahead of the opening night of games in Glendale, Arizona. So, fans will have to see if teams choose to rest up and get as healthy as possible for the Ride In Round or decide to continue playing their starters in attempting to drum up some momentum for the “win or go home” round.

The simplest way to spell out this weekend’s drama?

Five teams. Two spots left.

One weekend for teams to show they deserve the chance to represent inside T-Mobile Arena.

So, get your popcorn. Get your favorite team swag on. Make sure you’ve got your tickets secured to the 2024 PBR Teams Championship and get ready for the most dramatic event of the 2024 summer!

With the 12th of 12 regular season showdowns quickly approaching, the epic 5-on-5 action continues this weekend inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with all of this weekend’s action set to air on Merit Street and the Merit+ App, starting Friday night at 8 p.m. MST.

Fans can stay tuned to the league’s official 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Series standings here throughout the action-packed season and are encouraged to share their own rankings with us on @PBR social media channels!

No. 1: Kanas City Outlaws (Week 11 Rank: No. 1)
After seeing 2024 World Champion Cassio Dias team up with 2024 YETI World Champion Bull Man Hater last weekend, there’s zero chance we’re moving the Kansas City Outlaws out of the No. 1 spot. That kind of stardom doesn’t grace PBR circuits every year and this is an absolute star in the making.

Despite entering the final regular season showdown of the summer one game back from the No. 1 Carolina Cowboys, the team’s star power is too bright to have the orange and black contingent ranked anywhere other than as top dawgs. Even with Sandro Batista cooling off a bit here lately, just 2-for-4 in Fort Worth, the team has plenty of talented riders ready to give their all. Going 1-1 on the weekend en route to successfully defending their No. 2 rank in the official league standings, they’ll have their final shot of the summer to finally surpass Carolina this weekend as the tour heads southwest to Glendale, Arizona. Dias may not be able to ride down the likes of Brady Fielder, John Crimber and company when it comes to the 2024 PBR Teams MVP race. But his squad is 100% still alive for a regular season title – exactly what he and the Outlaws will look to grasp this weekend, beginning with a Saturday night showdown against the No. 3 Florida Freedom after enjoying the opening night of PBR Teams: Ridge Rider days on the sidelines via a bye game.

No. 2: Carolina Cowboys (Week 11 Rank: No. 2)
There’s definitely a case for the Cowboys to be sitting atop the final PBR Camping World Team Series power rankings. But there’s also a case where they remain No. 2, as is the deal here ahead of the final regular season showdown of the 2024 campaign. The racing stripe-fueled contingent has had plenty of opportunities over these last few weeks to seal the deal on what would be the team’s first-ever regular season championship title. But having dropped at least one contest in each of the league’s last six events reveals they may be losing some of their early-season magic, dropping games to teams they don’t have any business losing to. At the same time, they’ve looked just fine these last couple of weeks, most recently picking up a spicy victory over the No. 10-ranked Arizona Ridge Riders in Fort Worth, 244.25-170.75. As long as Cooper Davis, Daylon Swearingen and Sage Steele Kimzey are healthy and available for the season-ending gauntlet, Carolina will be just fine. The question remains whether they’ll be able to put a shiny bow on their standout season this weekend in Glendale, as they look to outlast the Kansas City Outlaws in the last-second sprint.

No. 3: Florida Freedom (Week 11 Rank: No. 3)
Originally ranked No. 7 during the preseason power rankings (eventually moved up to No. 6 once the Week 1 slate rolled around), the Florida Freedom have proven they’re more than worthy of competing in the 2024 PBR Teams Championship. So qualified that they became the third team this season to officially lock up their spot. While the team faltered during its initial chance on Friday night, dropping an odd decision to the Arizona Ridge Riders, the squad was able to recollect itself when Sunday’s slate dawned. Taking down the Missouri Thunder via a slim 265.25-262.5 edge, they picked up their 15th win of the season en route to officially clinching their spot inside T-Mobile Arena. The craziest part of their 1-1 weekend? MVP contender John Crimber went an uncharacteristic 0-for-2 during game play, as Alex Cerqueira, Joao Lucas Campos, Yan Victor Cunha, Elizmar Jeremias and Thiago Salgado took turns contributing for the Freedom. Able to turn things around during Sunday’s Shootout Round, Crimber retained his No. 2 spot in the MVP race courtesy of a quality 89.75-point ride aboard Tulsa Time while reminding fans exactly why the red, white and blue squad should be viewed as a sincere threat come the postseason.

No. 4 Texas Rattlers (Week 11 Rank: No. 4)
There’s an alternate reality where the Texas Rattlers are ranked as high as No. 2 in the final power rankings of the 2024 season. But when you consider the team is still ranked No. 4 in the official league standings after enduring a few rough patches earlier this season, we have to keep them at the No. 4 spot here, as the Freedom, Outlaws and Cowboys have been performing in their own tier for most of the season. There’s no denying that the Rattlers are entering this weekend’s PBR Teams: Ridge Rider Days showdowns as one of the fiercest teams on tour right now, however. After improving to an unthinkable 9-0 all-time record in Fort Worth last weekend, courtesy of a flawless 3-0 showcase, the Rattlers are on fire.

Victorious in 13 of the team’s last 17 contests, they couldn’t have chosen a better time to be firing on all cylinders. Despite losing Brady Oleson midseason due to a career-ending wreck and executing tons of personnel swaps throughout the 2024 season, the defending PBR Teams Champions joined the Freedom in becoming the fourth team to clinch their spot at the 2024 PBR Teams Championship last weekend on home dirt. This is a scary squad, and one to keep an eye on.

No. 5: Austin Gamblers (Week 11 Rank: No. 5)
Most of this summer’s deeper mysteries begin at the No. 6 spot. But with the 13-13 Austin Gamblers occupying the No. 5 spot ahead of the circuit’s 12th and final regular season showdown, the question marks have creeped up a bit higher. This isn’t your grandfather’s Gamblers team by any means. But when you consider their roster is largely the same as in seasons past, not to mention the addition of 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco, we’re left wondering what the biggest difference has been for Michael Gaffney’s green and black unit. Sure, Dalton Kasel has missed some time due to injury over the home stretch. But two-time PBR Teams MVP Jose Vitor Leme hasn’t missed much of a step, continuing to keep his name in the hat for a potential third time. Pacheco, himself, has been red-hot lately, converting in seven of his last nine attempts.

It just hasn’t been the typical, ever-dominant version of the team that we’ve gotten used to seeing this time around. But as long as they can take care of business this weekend inside Desert Diamond Arena, needing a win and a little bit of a help from teams below them, they’ll find themselves dancing inside T-Mobile Arena with a shot at the real prize: the shiniest gold buckle in all of sports.

No. 6: Missouri Thunder (Week 11 Rank: No. 8)
If the first five rankings in the Week 12 power rankings seem a bit chalky, nearly identical to the league’s official standings, it’s because that’s exactly the case, as it’s hard to argue against established squads and runaway contingents. But outside the Top 5 right now, there’s no telling which other three squads are likely to find themselves competing at the 2024 PBR Teams Championship. Of course, the bottom 4-ranked teams will receive a last chance opportunity during the Ride In Round, set to invade South Point Casino & Hotel Oct. 17. But that’s not where Luke Snyder, Ross Coleman and the Missouri Thunder want to be competing next month. Nor do any of the four teams ranked below them this week. That will become the reality for most, though, as only six teams are earning automatic postseason berths when this weekend’s showdown in Glendale, Arizona, concludes. The Thunder surpassed the Nashville Stampede last weekend inside Dickies Arena despite rocking identical 11-15 records. Which is a spicy note to hit on, as several different tie-breaking scenarios could come into play given how close each of these teams currently sit. Splitting a pair of decisions in Week 11, the Thunder are in control of their own destiny, as they can outlast the Stampede and a pair of 10-win contenders in the New York Mavericks and Oklahoma Wildcatters if everything plays out well during the regular season finale. Drawing an opening night showdown against Nashville, both teams’ postseason odds could be decided by the time night one in Glendale comes to an end. The Thunder have the depth to make a long run in Sin City. They just have to ensure they’re invited to the dance, even if it means storming through the Ride In Round.

No. 7: Oklahoma Wildcatters (Week 11 Rank: No. 9)
We wanted to put the Wildcatters a bit higher this week after seeing a variety of guys meet the 8 last weekend. But that’s exactly the reality – they don’t have an “ace” who’s a walking conversion. They’ve got the likes of Eduardo Matos, Clay Guiton and Cort McFadden, who remain one of the league’s top-performing trios, no doubt. But the gentlemen have been taking turns finding the buzzer lately, rather than completing their heroic outs within the same game.

Which is fine, all things considered, as Head Coach J.B. Mauney has plenty of up-and-coming talents on his roster as the team continues to navigate its year one waters. But when it comes to throwing down rank rides and making history in the playoffs, someone will need to step up for the Wildcatters. If they can fight their way into the postseason, that is! Picking up a HUGE win over the Kansas City Outlaws, albeit just a 175-85.75 final, was the boost of confidence the brown and blue unit needed last weekend. But with an awkward 10-15-1 record, their tie against the league-leading Carolina Cowboys earlier this season could serve as the ultimate quirk in Oklahoma punching their ticket via regular season success. If that’s the case, they’ll need to embrace next month’s Ride In Round should they want to qualify for the 2024 PBR Teams Championship during their inaugural effort.

No. 8: Nashville Stampede (Week 11 Rank: No. 6)
Since entering last weekend’s showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, tied with the Austin Gamblers in the middle of the pack, the Stampede haven’t witnessed many smiles around the locker room, ending the PBR Teams: Rattler Days event with an unfortunate 0-3 record. Sitting tied with the Missouri Thunder at 11-15, they missed out on their chance of taking the easy road to the playoffs, now needing a pair of victories this weekend in Glendale alongside some potential help from other squads depending on how the Week 12 slate plays out. Which isn’t unfamiliar territory for the 2022 PBR Teams Champions, who have brought unideal regular season records into the postseason gauntlet before. But that was a different Nashville Stampede and this is a different PBR Camping World Team Series landscape. Drawing the Missouri Thunder and Florida Freedom this weekend as they look to make some late-season noise, will Head Coach Justin McBride’s veteran-savvy group have enough left in the tank to avoid the Ride In Round? Only time will tell.

No. 9: New York Mavericks (Week 11 Rank: No. 7)
There are a lot of crazy things that could be said about the expansion unit New York Mavericks as their first regular season comes to a conclusion. The fact that they enter the Week 12 slate with a chance at securing an automatic bid to the 2024 PBR Teams Championship says a lot of about their grit and league parity as a whole this summer. And as one of four teams this weekend with three opportunities to ascend the standings, you bet your ass they’re going to show up and pretend like this weekend inside Desert Diamond Arena is the Ride In Round itself.

It’s 100% been a group effort for New York during their first time around the competitive circuit. Hudson Bolton chipped in last weekend as one of the team’s youngsters continuing to find their way. But they’ve done more “sneaking by” than most teams on tour, currently 1865.25 points BEHIND the No. 10 Arizona Ridge Riders when it comes to the squads’ combined aggregate score. That said, Sin City hasn’t played favorites to regular season Champs much in the past, so maybe it’s in their favor to blend in with the pack amongst the No. 7 or 8 seeds. Head Coach Kody Lostroh will have his guys ready to ride this weekend regardless of what lies in their future. With three games on this weekend’s schedule, including an opening night showdown against the Arizona Ridge Riders and a night two contest against the Austin Gamblers before wrapping up the league’s regular season finale versus the defending Champion Texas Rattlers, anything could happen for the 10-15 Mavericks, who are a mere half game back of the current No. 6 Missouri Thunder when it comes to the 2024 regular season standings.

No. 10: Arizona Ridge Riders (Week 11 Rank: No. 10)
They have more prospective and established talent than several of the squads currently ranked above them. But the 2024 regular season just hasn’t been what Head Coach Colby Yates and company imagined. They’ve got two cowboys ranked in the Top 17 of the MVP race in Eduardo Aparecido and Keyshawn Whitehorse. They’ve got plenty of quality contributors on the bench and scattered throughout their lineup. They just received a breath of fresh air Friday night after defeating the No. 3 Florida Freedom. And they’re heading into their homestand inside Desert Diamond Arena this weekend. More than enough reasons to show up, do their best to drum up some momentum ahead of the postseason and put on one hell of a show for their hometown fans!

Knowing Dener Barbosa is back and making some noise bodes well for the team’s odds of success both this weekend and during a potential Ride In Round appearance. Colten Fritzlan storming back onto the scene in his own epic way brings additional ammo to the black and white squad. If they aren’t able to clinch a spot in the postseason, fans should consider the Ridge Riders a sincere dark horse for the “win or go home” showdown inside South Point Hotel & Casino Oct. 17.

Fans are encouraged to share their feedback and power rankings of their own by tagging @PBR social media channels!

Summer supporters can also stay tuned to PBR.com and Merit Street platforms as we dive into the league’s power rankings, one week at a time!

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media