The Super Bowl of Rodeo kicks off Dec. 4, inside the Thomas & Mack with Round 1 of the 2025, and Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira lead the way for the team roping pack.
Driggers and Nogueira won the regular season with $198,497.72, but the field of the Top 15 in the world remains in world championship range.
As we prepare for the 10-head marathon, we crunched the numbers to see what it would take in the rounds for each header and heeler to catch Driggers and Nogueira, as well as how they’ve faired at NFRs past and how, hypothetically, their best NFR appearances on record would put them in the final 2025 world standings.
2025 NFR Headers
| Top 15 Headers | Money Won on Regular Season | Money Behind No. 1 | Most Won at a Single NFR | Highest Earning Year | If Best Match | Hypothetical Rank | |
| 1 | Kaleb Driggers | $198,497.72 | $143,896 | 2021 | $342,393.72 | 3 | |
| 2 | Tanner Tomlinson | $183,807.11 | $14,690.61 | $199,727 | 2022 | $383,534 | 1 |
| 3 | Derrick Begay | $166,201.94 | $32,295.78 | $131,010 | 2023 | $297,211.94 | 7 |
| 4 | Clint Summers | $161,241.61 | $37,256.11 | $199,355 | 2024 | $360,597 | 2 |
| 5 | Dustin Egusquiza | $160,703.39 | $37,794.33 | $104,769 | 2017 | $265,472.39 | 9 |
| 6 | Clay Smith | $158,489.89 | $40,007.83 | $174,577 | 2018 | $333,067 | 4 |
| 7 | Andrew Ward | $149,054.75 | $49,442.97 | $155,113 | 2023 | $304,167.75 | 6 |
| 8 | Tyler Wade | $143,366.47 | $55,131.25 | $169,742 | 2024 | $313,108 | 5 |
| 9 | Cyle Denison | $142,002.37 | $56,495.35 | $29,560 | 2024 | $171,562.37 | 14 |
| 10 | Dawson Graham | $131,934.01 | $66,563.71 | $131,934 | 15 | ||
| 11 | Jake Smith | $125,537.03 | $72,960.69 | $95,848 | 2024 | $221,385.03 | 11 |
| 12 | Riley Minor | $125,025.27 | $73,472.45 | $138,192 | 2016 | $263,217 | 10 |
| 13 | Luke Brown | $123,302.92 | $75,194.80 | $162,542 | 2023 | $285,844.92 | 8 |
| 14 | Kolton Schmidt | $119,938.20 | $78,559.52 | $93,038 | 2016 | $212,976 | 12 |
| 15 | Lightning Aguilera | $114,735.75 | $83,761.97 | $62,464 | 2022 | $177,199.75 | 13 |
What’s this mean for the 2025 NFR headers?
Kaleb Driggers leads the way with $198,497.72 entering Round 1. His best NFR came in 2021 when he won his first gold buckle and $143,896 inside the Thomas & Mack. A similar NFR appearance would put him roughly third in the world if everyone had their best NFRs on record, too. How quickly could each man catch him?
Tanner Tomlinson is $14,690.61 behind Driggers. That deficit can be erased in one round: fourth pays $15,376.88 per man. If he repeats his best NFR, which came in his breakout appearance in 2022 when he rewrote the NFR aggregate record and raked in a whopping $199,727, he would finish No. 1 in 2025.
Derrick Begay is $32,295.78 back, which equals a round win of $36,667.95. His best NFR came in 2023 with $131,010 in Las Vegas, and duplicating that would place him seventh overall. Two third-place finishes, worth $21,882.48 each, would also cover his deficit.
Clint Summers is $37,256.11 behind Driggers—equal to a round win plus at least a sixth-place win. Summers had a career NFR last year, winning the average and $199,355. A similar Finals would project him into second for 2025.
Dustin Egusquiza trails by $37,794.33. A round win nearly does it, and pairing that with a sixth-place round secures it. His best NFR was in 2017 when he won $104,769 in Las Vegas, which would put him ninth this year.
Two-time World Champ Clay Smith is $40,007.83 behind Driggers. A round win and a fifth-place finish would surpass the deficit. Matching his 2018 NFR where won $174,577 and won his first world title projects Smith to fourth.
Andrew Ward is $49,442.97 back. He needs either two round wins or a first-place win and a second-place to make up that ground off the bat. The 2021 NFR average champ had his best Thomas & Mack performance in 2023 winning $155,113. Replicating that NFR in 2025 would put him sixth.
The reigning and back-to-back World Champ Tyler Wade trails Driggers by $55,131.25. Two round wins would more than cover it, as would a win and a third-place. Wade collected $169,742 en route to his second gold buckle, making his best NFR appearance to date. A similar one this year would move him to fifth.
Cyle Denison is heading into his second NFR $56,495.35 behind. Two round wins or a win plus a top-three round would close the gap. He won $29,560 in his first NFR, which would keep him deep in the pack at 14th in 2025.
Dawson Graham sits $66,563.71 back. He needs at least two round wins and a fifth-place round to catch Driggers. As an NFR rookie, his Thomas & Mack story is yet to be written.
Jake Smith is $72,960.69 behind Driggers. His quickest route: two round wins and a sixth-place round. Last year at his breakout NFR he won $95,848, and if he repeated that he’d finish 11th.
Riley Minor returns to the Thomas & Mack $73,472.45 behind and would need the same combination as Jake: two round wins and a low round placing. His best NFR came in the form of $138,192 in Las Vegas in 2016, which would project him 10th.
NFR veteran Luke Brown trails by $75,194.80. Two round wins and a sixth-place round finish would close the gap. Brown had his best Finals in 2023 to the tune of $162,542, which would move him to eighth.
Kolton Schmidt is $78,559.52 back in his return to the Thomas & Mack. The Canadian would need two round wins and a fourth-place round finish to catch Driggers. Schmidt had his best NFR in his breakout appearance in 2016 winning $93,038, and a similar Finals puts him 12th.
Lightning Aguilera is $83,761.97 behind. To catch Driggers, he needs two round wins and a third-place round finish. He won $62,464 in his only other NFR trip, and that would put him 13th in 2025.
2025 NFR Heelers
| Top 15 Heelers | Money Won on Regular Season | Money Behind No. 1 | Most Won at Past NFR | Highest Earning Year | If Best Match | Hypothetical Rank | |
| 1 | Junior Nogueira | $198,497.72 | $143,896 | 2021 | $342,393.72 | 2 | |
| 2 | Colter Todd | $163,849.59 | $34,648.13 | $131,010 | 2023 | $294,859.59 | 4 |
| 3 | Jade Corkill | $161,566.83 | $36,930.89 | $120,292 | 2022 | $281,858.83 | 6 |
| 4 | Levi Lord | $158,321.88 | $40,175.84 | $133,685 | 2022 | $292,006.88 | 5 |
| 5 | Travis Graves | $149,918.88 | $48,578.84 | $110,269 | 2017 | $260,187.88 | 8 |
| 6 | Coleby Payne | $149,293.26 | $49,204.46 | $101,825 | 2024 | $251,118.26 | 10 |
| 7 | Jake Long | $147,308.20 | $51,189.52 | $199,355 | 2024 | $346,663.20 | 1 |
| 8 | Wesley Thorp | $143,366.47 | $55,131.25 | $169,742 | 2024 | $313,108.47 | 3 |
| 9 | Lane Mitchell | $143,031.89 | $55,465.83 | $143,031.89 | 14 | ||
| 10 | Dillon Graham | $131,934.03 | $66,563.69 | $131,934.03 | 15 | ||
| 11 | Brady Minor | $125,025.29 | $73,472.43 | $138,192 | 2016 | $263,217.29 | 7 |
| 12 | Trey Yates | $123,302.91 | $75,194.81 | $129,308 | 2018 | $252,610.91 | 9 |
| 13 | Douglas Rich | $114,787.02 | $83,710.70 | $95,848 | 2024 | $210,635.02 | 12 |
| 14 | Kaden Profili | $113,535.55 | $84,962.17 | $95,848 | 2024 | $209,383.55 | 13 |
| 15 | Jonathan Torres | $111,672.10 | $86,825.62 | $113,778 | 2024 | $225,450.10 | 11 |
What’s this mean for the 2025 NFR heelers?
Junior Nogueira enters the 2025 NFR as the top heeler, leading the way with $198,497.72. The three-time world champ had his best NFR in 2021, winning $143,896 inside the Thomas & Mack. If he were to replicate that in 2025 he would end up roughly second in the world if everyone had their best NFRs on record, too.
Colter Todd sits $34,648.13 behind Nogueira. A round win covers the gap immediately for the NFR switchender. Two third-place round finishes do it as well. His best NFR came in 2023 at $131,010, and a similar trip places him fourth.
Three-time World Champ Jade Corkill trails by $36,930.89. A round win nearly covers it, and a sixth-place round finish on top seals it. Repeating his 2022 NFR of $120,292 ranks him sixth.
Levi Lord is $40,175.84 back. One round win and one sixth-place round finish does it. He won $133,685 at the 2022 NFR which would slot him fifth.
Travis Graves trails by $48,578.84. A combo of a round win and a third-place round finish closes the gap. His best NFR of $110,269 in 2017 would project him eighth.
Coleby Payne heads into his second NFR $49,204.46 down. He needs two round wins or a win coupled with a second-place round finish. He won $101,825 in his first NFR in 2024 which would place him 10th.
Jake Long trails by $51,189.52. A round win and a second allows him to catch Nogueira. With his massive best NFR coming in at $199,355, he becomes the projected leader.
Three-time and reigning World Champ Wesley Thorp is $55,131.25 back. Two wins or a win and a third would erase the deficit. Matching last year’s Finals which saw him rake in $169,742 places him third.
NFR rookie Lane Mitchell sits $55,465.83 behind. A win and a third-place round finish is his easiest route.
Dillon Graham is in a similar situation in that his NFR earnings are yet to come. He sits $66,563.69 behind Nogueira, and two wins and a fifth would close the gap.
Brady Minor is returning to the Thomas & Mack $73,472.43 back. Two wins and a sixth-place round finish would help him catch Nogueira. His best NFR came in the form of $138,192 in 2016, and a similar scenario places him seventh.
Trey Yates trails by $75,194.81, which can be covered by two wins and a sixth. He won the 2018 NFR in his rookie appearance to rake in $129,308, which would put him ninth.
Douglas Rich is $83,710.70 down. Two wins and a third-place finish puts him above the line. His best NFR was in 2024 with $95,848, and a similar experience places him 12th.
Kaden Profili sits $84,962.17 behind Nogueira. Two wins and a third covers the gap between him and Nogueira. He won $95,848 in his breakout NFR in 2024 which would rank him 13th.
Jonathan Torres is $86,825.62 behind. He needs two round wins and a third-place finish in a round to catch Nogueira off the bat. Torres won $113,778 at last year’s NFR, his career best, which would place him 11th.
How much does the 2025 NFR pay?
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
