Cinch Playoffs Timed Events Analysis: World Standings and Puyallup Qualifiers

The Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., play a key role in National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifications. With the professional rodeo season coming to an end in a little over 30 days, the Playoffs Series is a focal point.

Not only are the payouts in Puyallup important, the top four competitors will earn a spot in the Governor's Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., September 26-28. Paying $11,000 to round winners and $30,000 to the finals winner, the Cup can cause huge changes to the standings in the final few days of the season.

Steer Wrestling

In the steer wrestling, No. 6 in the World and reigning World Champion J.D. Struxness and No. 9 in the World, Scott Guenthner, did not qualify for Puyallup. Within the top 25, the majority of cowboys did earn a seat in the Cinch Playoffs. Dalton Massey (No. 19) and Ryan Shuckburgh (No. 25) are the only cowboys who will not have this opportunity.

In an already tight race, this will continue to heat things up as athletes chase an NFR qualification. With cowboys like Seth Peterson and Marc Joiner ranked No. 31 and No. 34, they are still within striking distance of the top 15. Sitting roughly $30,000 out of the top 15 could change with the large amount of money still on the table.

Team Roping

The team roping may be one of the most unpredictable events we have analyzed. There are several teams who are split quite drastically in the standings and we could easily see some team changes from the season to the NFR. With the No. 30 position in the World roughly $40,000 out of the top 15, many of these athletes could make big moves.

Lightning Aguilera (HDR No. 10), Wyatt Cox (HLR No. 12), and Sid Sporer (HLR No. 16) did not qualify for the Cinch Playoffs and will be trying to earn an NFR qualification through another route. On the heading side, Aguilera is the only roper currently ranked in the top 20 in the World who will not compete in Puyallup. Cox and Sporer are the only heelers ranked in the top 20 who will not compete in the Playoffs.

Tie-Down Roping

The top 15 cowboys in the World in the tie-down roping all qualified for the Cinch Playoffs. In a tight race, the only cowboy in the top 20 who will not compete in Puyallup is No. 18, Haven Meged. Meged was out for approximately a month in the midst of the summer run, due to injury.

Several cowboys will have a big change to move up with large Playoffs payouts, including Marcos Costa, Michael Otero, Blane Cox, Britton Bedke, and Bryce Derrer. At No. 37, Derrer may seem like a long shot, but he is only $40,000 out of the No. 15 spot. When we consider that the finals of the Governor's Cup will pay $30,000 and rounds will pay $11,000, the context of the numbers changes drastically.