Rodeo News · September 16, 2026
Puyallup’s top finishers have claimed the first positions in the 2026 Governor’s Cup, setting up a 12-athlete-per-event showdown in Sioux Falls during the final weekend of the PRCA regular season.
A selective field with a championship format
The Governor’s Cup runs September 25–27 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Each event is limited to 12 competitors, concentrating the field and making every position in the opening rounds valuable.
The format begins with two go-rounds, then moves to a semifinal and final. Six athletes advance into the semifinal before the field is cut to four for the championship round. In barrel racing and breakaway roping, world-standing position is used to resolve qualifying ties.
Puyallup champions bring momentum
The latest playoff results established several of the most visible names heading toward Sioux Falls. Bareback winners Jess Pope and Keenan Hayes, steer wrestling champion Jesse Brown, saddle bronc winner Ryder Wright, tie-down roping champion Riley Webb, barrel racer Carlee Otero and bull rider John Crimber all left Puyallup with valuable momentum.
Team roping produced a shared title between James Arviso and Levi Lord and the team of Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira. Breakaway roping also finished with co-champions as Josie Conner and Jackie Crawford split top honors.
When the Governor’s Cup begins
| Date | Start time | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, Sept. 25 | 8:30 p.m. ET | Opening competition |
| Saturday, Sept. 26 | 8:30 p.m. ET | Second performance |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 | 3:00 p.m. ET | Semifinals and finals |
The final NFR push
The Sioux Falls event sits only days before the October 1 regular-season close. Athletes safely inside the top 15 can use the weekend to improve their position and potential NFR earnings path. Those near the bubble may see the Governor’s Cup as their best remaining chance to reach Las Vegas.
That combination—small fields, substantial money and a multi-stage finish—makes the Governor’s Cup one of the most consequential rodeos of September.
