10.14.25 - Teams
With door left open, Texas Rattlers win on Saturday and Sunday to grab the third available bye.
By James Phillips | COO & Co-Founder, Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation
This past Friday night in Glendale, fans waited with eager anticipation as the final regular-season stop of the 2025 PBR Camping World Team Series got underway inside Desert Diamond Arena. The stakes were sky-high: a regular-season championship hung in the balance, the $100,000 Horse Soldier MVP race reached its boiling point, and crucial playoff byes were still up for grabs heading toward the Team Series Championship, October 24–26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The energy inside the arena was electric. Every ride, every buckoff, and every qualified score felt magnified under the bright desert lights. With the regular season closing its chapter, Friday night set the tone for what promised to be a dramatic weekend finale in the Valley of the Sun.
Friday, October 10 — Opening Night in the Desert
Top 3 Takeaways:
3. The Texas Rattlers’ fall and the shadows of injury.
Texas’s hopes for a bye took a major hit Friday when they fell to the Carolina Cowboys, making their path to one less day of riding bulls in Vegas increasingly difficult. But beyond the loss, the biggest concern came in the form of Brady Fielder, who went down hard during his ride. Depending on how healthy he is heading into Las Vegas, his condition could prove pivotal to the Rattlers’ fortunes — or their downfall. Still, Texas holds on by the slimmest of hopes for a playoff run, clinging to whatever momentum they can salvage as the postseason approaches.
2. New York Mavericks make franchise and league history.
The Mavericks etched their name into both franchise and league record books by going a perfect 5-for-5 Friday night against the Nashville Stampede. In doing so, New York became one of only ten teams in PBR Teams history to post a flawless game — and did so with the fourth-most game points in league history. The catalyst? Hudson Bolton, who delivered clutch rides when it mattered most. This kind of performance doesn’t just shift expectations; it redefines them. New York may end up in the play-in bracket, but they’ll now carry momentum – and belief – into Championship weekend.
1. Florida Freedom’s commanding statement.
The Florida Freedom dismantled the Missouri Thunder by a bull count of 4–2, clinching not only a bye but putting themselves firmly in the running for the regular-season title. With teammates Thiago Salgado and John Crimber both having strong claims in the MVP mix, Friday night made it crystal clear: Florida isn’t coming to Las Vegas to make noise – they’re coming to win.
Saturday, October 11 — The Momentum Builds in Glendale
If Friday night felt like ignition, Saturday was the full-blown fire. The tension only intensified as teams battled not just bulls but the weight of playoff implications. The Arizona Ridge Riders knew exactly what was on the line — a first-round bye that could mean the difference between a short postseason and a title run. Would they step up to the mounting pressure? Every second in the chutes mattered. Every point in the aggregate could decide destiny.
Top 3 Takeaways:
3. The New York Mavericks are really on a roll. On Friday, they went 5-for-5; Saturday evening, they went 3-for-5 — for a total of 8 out of 10. That level of consistency, coming from where they were earlier this season, is dangerous. I wouldn’t want to face them in a play-in game, for sure.
2. The Texas Rattlers won Saturday against the Missouri Thunder — and more importantly, Brady Fielder, after the brutal stomp he took Friday night, showed up and competed. I fully expected (or at least assumed) he’d be out for the rest of the weekend. But he’s arguably one of the toughest men in bull riding, right in the middle of a three-man MVP battle: Brady Fielder (3rd), Thiago Salgado (2nd), and John Crimber (1st). The MVP race would come down to the Sunday finale.
1. The Florida Freedom clinched the regular-season championship on Saturday night — and with that, they secured a $200,000 bonus for the team. Their dominance throughout the desert stop left little doubt: Florida not only earned the bye, they made the boldest statement heading into Las Vegas.
Sunday Slate, October 12 — One Last Ride in the Desert
Sunday afternoon in Glendale was less about celebration and more about survival. The regular-season curtain finally closed under the Arizona sun as teams left everything they had in the dirt, knowing this was the last chance to shape the bracket before Las Vegas. The home-state Ridge Riders faced immense pressure in front of their fans, while Texas looked to build on Saturday’s momentum and punch their ticket to a bye.
Top 3 Takeaways:
3. Congratulations to Justin McBride and the Nashville Stampede.
For much of the past four seasons, the Stampede have been an easy target for criticism — statistically one of the most inconsistent and underperforming teams in PBR Teams history. But credit where it’s due: Nashville has a knack for finding its rhythm when it matters most. Under the steady leadership of two-time PBR World Champion (2005 and 2007) Justin McBride, they’ve completely turned their season around, winning seven of their last nine games to finish the regular season higher than ever before in sixth place.
Let’s not forget — McBride also led Nashville to the inaugural PBR Camping World Team Series Championship in 2022. Coming into that postseason, the Stampede were dead last in the league standings but went on an incredible run in Las Vegas to claim the first-ever team title. Since then, the road has been rough; the team’s record over the following seasons was among the worst in the league. But now, Nashville appears to have rediscovered its fire. With momentum on their side, they look poised to be dangerous once again heading into Championship weekend.
The official byes are now set: Florida Freedom at No. 1, Austin Gamblers at No. 2, and Texas Rattlers at No. 3.
Why are byes so valuable? Instead of riding on Friday, the teams have the night off and can rest and recover, playing their first games on Saturday. Arizona had its chances and let them slip away, while Texas proved that grit under pressure still counts for something.
1. The MVP race comes down to the final day.
Few storylines captured fans’ attention this season like this year’s MVP race — and fittingly, it was decided on the final day of the regular season. Heading into Sunday, it was a three-man battle between John Crimber, Thiago Salgado, and Brady Fielder. Salgado came up short of the whistle, leaving the door open for Fielder to climb. Then, in a remarkable show of toughness, Brady Fielder — just 48 hours removed from being trampled by Rank Hank on Friday night — climbed aboard that very same bull and made the whistle for 86 and change, momentarily seizing the lead. But John Crimber, riding with the poise and consistency that have defined his season, did exactly what he needed to do: make a qualified ride to seal the deal.
In doing so, Crimber not only locked up the MVP award and its $100,000 bonus but became just the second rider in PBR Teams history — alongside José Vitor Leme — to win the award in back-to-back seasons. It’s an accomplishment that cements his status among the sport’s elite.
As for the Florida Freedom, the regular-season champions now face one final test: closing strong in Las Vegas. They’ve been brilliant all season, but recent inconsistencies – including losses to teams they were expected to beat (paging Kody Lostroh!) – have raised questions about their ability to finish. Still, none of it truly matters until the last bull bucks inside T-Mobile Arena. The stage is set. The ride to the championship begins now.
Final PBR Camping World Team Series Regular Season Standings:
These are the official PBR Camping World Team Series standings following the conclusion of the 2025 regular season.
BEYOND THE DIRT
The Midwest Outdoors Adaptability Foundation brings the grit of bull riding to real life, helping people with mobility challenges regain freedom with the Action Trackchair — an all-terrain wheelchair that unlocks the outdoors.
At $25,000 and not covered by insurance, it’s out of reach for many. MOAF bridges that gap, offering access, independence, and dignity.
From trails to pastures to family time, the Trackchair makes the impossible possible — just like PBR riders taking on every ride.
Learn more or get involved at www.moafoundation.org.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media