With four split teams in the mix, the team roping field for the 2025 NFR will feature some fresh pairings and battle-tested teams.
The 2025 NFR will feature four split teams, the most in the sport’s recent history. Some teams are reuniting in Las Vegas Dec. 4-13, for another shot, while a handful of teams will take their first spin together inside the Thomas & Mack.
These are the 2025 NFR team roping teams.
Who’s roping with who in the team roping at the 2025 NFR?
| Header | Heeler |
|---|---|
| Lightning Aguilera | Kaden Profili |
| Kolton Schmidt | Jonathan Torres |
| Luke Brown | Trey Yates |
| Riley Minor | Brady Minor |
| Jake Smith | Douglas Rich |
| Dawson Graham | Dillon Graham |
| Cyle Denison | Lane Mitchell |
| Tyler Wade | Wesley Thorp |
| Andrew Ward | Jake Long |
| Clay Smith | Coleby Payne |
| Dustin Egusquiza | Levi Lord |
| Clint Summers | Jade Corkill |
| Derrick Begay | Colter Todd |
| Tanner Tomlinson | Travis Graves |
| Kaleb Driggers | Junior Nogueira |
Dustin Egusquiza (fifth in the world with $160,703.39) will reunite with Levi Lord (fourth with $158,321.88) in Las Vegas. Egusquiza and Lord roped together from 2023 spring of 2025. In 2024, they won the regular season and finished fifth in the world standings after earning $77,918 apiece at the NFR.
Clay Smith (sixth with $158,489.89) and Coleby Payne (sixth with $149,293.26) will team back up in Las Veas after a no-time in Round 10 cost them the NFR aggregate title in 2024. Smith, with 11 qualifications, and Payne, with just one before this, split this spring, with Smith heading for Resistol Rookie of the Year Nicky Northcott all summer. Together they won $101,825 a man at last year’s NFR.
Now three-time NFR header Kolton Schmidt (14th with $119,938.20) will head back to Las Vegas for the first time since 2020, heading for Jonathan Torres (15th with $111,672.10). This will be Torres’ fourth trip to Las Vegas, and his fourth time making it without his regular season partner. In Schmidt’s last NFR appearance, he pocketed $26,654. Torres placed in three rounds at the 2024 NFR and won second in the average to win $113,778 at the Finals.
Lightning Aguilera (15th with $114,735.75) and Kaden Profili (14th with $113,535.55) will round out the final split team. This marks Profili’s second-straight NFR qualification, and Aguilera’s second as well. At the 2022 NFR, Aguilera won $62,464, and at the 2024 NFR, Profili pocketed $95,848.
The 2023 NFR champs Derrick Begay and Colter Todd will be back inside the Thomas & Mack at No. 3 and 2 in the world with $166,201.94 and $163,849.59 won on the regular season. A year ago, Todd just narrowly missed the Finals finishing 16th in the world. Begay qualified at No. 14 and finished second in the average with Jonathan Torres.
Reigning and back-to-back World Champs Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp are returning yet again to the Thomas & Mack to defend their gold titles. They’ll enter the 2025 NFR eighth in the world with $143,366.47. They currently sit $55,131.25 behind the world standings leaders, which can be made up in two go rounds.
Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira lead the way into the 10-head battle. The 2021 and 2022 world champs are hunting their third gold buckle (Nogueira’s fourth including his all-around win in 2016. A year ago, it all came down to Round 10 for Driggers and Nogueira and Wade and Thorp.
Official team roping world standings heading into the 2025 NFR
Heading
| Rank | Name | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaleb Driggers | $198,497.72 |
| 2 | Tanner Tomlinson | $183,807.11 |
| 3 | Derrick Begay | $166,201.94 |
| 4 | Clint Summers | $161,241.61 |
| 5 | Dustin Egusquiza | $160,703.39 |
| 6 | Clay Smith | $158,489.89 |
| 7 | Andrew Ward | $149,054.75 |
| 8 | Tyler Wade | $143,366.47 |
| 9 | Cyle Denison | $142,002.37 |
| 10 | Dawson Graham | $131,934.01 |
| 11 | Jake Smith | $125,537.03 |
| 12 | Riley Minor | $125,025.27 |
| 13 | Luke Brown | $123,302.92 |
| 14 | Kolton Schmidt | $119,938.20 |
| 15 | Lightning Aguilera | $114,735.75 |
Heeling
| Rank | Name | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junior Nunes Nogueira | $198,497.72 |
| 2 | Colter Todd | $163,849.59 |
| 3 | Jade Corkill | $161,566.83 |
| 4 | Levi Lord | $158,321.88 |
| 5 | Travis Graves | $149,918.88 |
| 6 | Coleby Payne | $149,293.26 |
| 7 | Jake Long | $147,308.20 |
| 8 | Wesley Thorp | $143,366.47 |
| 9 | Lane Mitchell | $143,031.89 |
| 10 | Dillon Graham | $131,934.03 |
| 11 | Brady Minor | $125,025.29 |
| 12 | Trey Yates | $123,302.91 |
| 13 | Douglas Rich | $114,787.02 |
| 14 | Kaden Profili | $113,535.55 |
| 15 | Jonathan Torres | $111,672.10 |
What will the team roping pay at the 2025 NFR?
2025 NFR Go-Rounds Payout
- $36, 667.95 per man
- $28,979.51
- $21,882.48
- $15,376.88
- $9,462.70
- $5,914.19
2025 NFR Average Payout
- $94,035.54
- $76,292.99
- $60,324.69
- $44,356.39
- $31,936.60
- $23,065.32
- $15,968.30
- $8,871.28
