With two rounds down in an already-fast and smooth Finals, the team ropers will face their last fresh pen of steers in Round 3. National Finals Rodeo header Lane Ivy breaks down what to expect for each team and why with his color commentary going into the third round.

Clay Smith and Jade Corkill
Round 2: 4.4
Round Winnings: $26,230.77
Total NFR Earnings: $36,230.77
World Standings Earnings: $186,742.99 (Smith) ; $144,868.70 (Corkill)
Average: 6
World Standings: 1; 1
Ivy’s take: Last night they showed everyone why they both hold buckles. They made amazing shots and got the day money.

Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira
Round 2: 4.8
Round Winnings: $7,333
Total NFR Earnings: $24,102.56 each
World Standings Earnings: $142,557.86 (Driggers); $139,877.22 (Nogueira)
Average: 1/2
World Standings: 2, 2
Ivy’s take: The two people with the most rope talent in the world, looked like they made a jackpot run and were 4.8. They are going to be fun to watch the rest of the week. Kaleb is unbelievable—anyone who can do as well as he has on as many different horses as he has, it’s just amazing. Kaleb is the most amazing human alive. His horsemanship and talent is not given enough credit. And Junior, well he’s everyone’s hero and there’s a reason.

Coleman Proctor and Ryan Motes
Round 2: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000 each
World Standings Earnings: $114,318.34 (Proctor); $119,166.08 (Motes)
Average: 15
World Standings: 5, 6
Ivy’s take: It’s been kind of a rocky start, but they will turn it around. Coleman always finds away to turn steers for money, and Motes catches two feet when it’s for big money. They both have great horses, and they both like going fast so they should make some noise.

Clay Tryan and Jake Long
Round 2: 4.6
Round Winnings: $20,730.77
Total NFR Earnings: $30,730.77 each
World Standings Earnings: $133,895.53 (Tryan); $137,627.26 (Long)
Average: 13
World Standings: 3
Ivy’s take: Clay’s a three-time world champion, the most dominant jackpot roper in history. After the first one, I knew he’d be coming back with a vengeance. He looked angry at the horns last night. Jake long pulled a unbelievable heel shot off last night. These guys are not going to let someone else have a gold buckle—they are going to make them earn it!

Ty Blasingame and Travis Graves
Round 2: 5.0
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000 each
World Standings Earnings: $111,489.65 (Blasingame); $113,164.76 (Graves)
Average: 4
World Standings: 6, 8
Ivy’s take: Blaster can reach farther than anyone. If he can keep getting good goes, and the steers will stay straight, this team is going to be fast. TG did great job heeling the first one on the fence and with that good bay horse he rides, their finish will cut some tenths off.

Erich Rogers and Kyle Lockett
Round 2: 4.7 +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $25,653.85 each
World Standings Earnings: $99,652.85 (Rogers); $124,383.68 (Lockett)
Average: 7
World Standings: 12, 5
Ivy’s take: Rogers has had two great spins so far, but honestly, after watching him rope all year the last few years, you just get use to it. That guy doesn’t mess up hardly ever; he does his job day in an day out. And Kyle Lockett, well he’s a cowboy everyday. My favorite NFR is 2005, when he heeled for Wade Wheatley and did some grown-man heeling. I expect that he’ll do that the next eight rounds.

Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison
Round 2: 4.4 +10
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000 each
World Standings Earnings: $105,528.72 (Masters); $108,277.59 (Harrison)
Average: 11
World Standings: 10, 9
Ivy’s take: Chad missed the barrier on the first one, changed horses and broke the barrier last night. Joesph didn’t let them hardly turn and had them heeled. I’m betting Chad gets it lined out tonight and these guys win the day money.

Riley and Brady Minor
Round 2: 4.7
Round Winnings: $15,653.85
Total NFR Earnings: $27,769.23 each
World Standings Earnings: $125,418.18 each
Average: 1/2
World Standings: 4
Ivy’s take: Bob looks amazing as always, and Sug looks great. There’s a reason these guys have been at the last 10 NFRs. They rope great and ride great horses. I predict they win the average.

Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp
Round 2: 6.0
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $10,000 each
World Standings Earnings: $105,053.52 (Snow); $97,295.99 (Thorp)
Average: 5
World Standings: 11, 13
Ivy’s take: Cody was a little late on the start, but I bet he nails it tonight and they place high in the day money. That good mare makes it easy, he’s turned two good steers, these guys rope for money, and they are after it. Wesley may be the winningest roper ever, heading, heeling—goat roping—it don’t matter. He’s going to take your money. I think they’re gonna give the Minors a run for that average.

Luke Brown and Paul Eaves
Round 2: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $12,115.38 each
World Standings Earnings: $97,054.57 (Brown); $101,561.92 (Eaves)
Average: 14
World Standings: 13, 12
Ivy’s take: I hated to see that last night, after a perfect run in Round 1. I don’t know what happened. Give that spin to Paul Eaves eight more times and he catches them all eight times. That was just a freak deal. Luke’s old sorrel looks great. Day monies better look out, cause these guys are coming for them.

Brenten Hall and Chase Tryan
Round 2: 5.1
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $21,000 each
World Standings Earnings: $109,926.57 (Hall); $107,345.09 (Tryan)
Average: 3
World Standings: 7, 11
Ivy’s take: Brenten “The Wild Thing” Hall has got more talent in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies. Little rough handle in Round 1, then last night it was jelly. Everyone better get used to seeing Brenten around, he’s a gamer. And Chase? Well Chase is Mr. Cool. He just ropes two feet like it’s no big deal. His roping has gotten so good and his work ethic is top-notch. This team is going to win their fair share.

Matt Sherwood and Hunter Koch
Round 2: 5.7 +5
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $30,730.77 each
World Standings Earnings: $106,934.84 (Sherwood); $115,037.84 (Koch)
Average: 9
World Standings: 9, 7
Ivy’s take: Sherwood is riding a dang good horse, and he’s going to give Hunter plenty of looks this week for big money. Stand back all non-believers, Hunter Koch is here. Everyone better remember this kid’s name. He’s gritty and he’s dangerous with a heel rope. This is going to be a fun team to watch.

Tate Kirchenschlager and Tyler Worley
Round 2: 4.8
Round Winnings: $7,333.33
Total NFR Earnings: $17,333.33 each
World Standings Earnings: $93,070.97 (Kirchenschlager); $88,523.54 (Worley)
Average: 8
World Standings: 14, 15
Ivy’s take: Tate is riding the Head Horse of the Year, Smoke. He just started rodeoing on Smoke last year. Tate’s a great hand and doing a awesome job setting those steers up. Their run is only going to get faster and faster. Worley is a gunslinger and not afraid to fire it down there. They’ll get in a rhythm an it’s gonna be good watching.

Tyler Wade and Cole Davison
Round 2: NT
Round Winnings: —
Total NFR Earnings: $36,230.77 each
World Standings Earnings: $109,625.01 (Wade); $108,140.08 (Davison)
Average: 12
World Standings: 8, 10
Ivy’s take: My man Tyler Cash Wade spinning the two best steers so far, he’s the only header out there that, when he left home this summer was riding his third-string head horse and a 6-year-old green mare due to his two good ones getting hurt. This man is hot, and if he keeps it up he’s going to give those fan there money worth. Cole’s riding one of the best horses out there. They had an amazing first run, and something wasn’t right last night. I don’t know if that horse stumbled or what, but I bet that don’t happen again.

Jake Cooper and Caleb Anderson
Round 2: 4.8
Round Winnings: $7,333.33
Total NFR Earnings: $17,333.33 each
World Standings Earnings: $90,524.28 (Cooper); $89,722.93 (Anderson)
Average: 10
World Standings: 15, 14
Ivy’s take: Jake’s got that determined look on his face. That run last night was outstanding, and that steer was running. Jake is riding my favorite horse (Boogie) for this set up, and I think he’s going to give Caleb plenty chances to let the world see how awesome he heels. TRJ