​After the 2026 PBR World Finals, Cowboys on the PBR circuit enjoyed a few months of rest, using the time to prepare for the new season or to concentrate on the PRCA competition circuits. Yet the wait for PBR fans has ended, as the 2026 PBR Teams Series officially kicked off at Colorado State University with the Bulls and Beats event. Day 1 of competition was packed with energy and served as a strong opening for the fifth season of Teams in PBR history. Given that Teams is a relatively new format in the sport, some fans may still have questions about how the events run and how the scoring works, but the system is straightforward. Each PBR Teams event features a series of head-to-head games where two teams compete, with five riders from each team riding on competition day. At the end of the event, the team with the higher composite score earns points for its side. Across the season, the teams with the top scores advance to Las Vegas for the PBR Teams championship.
Today’s pairings delivered a mix of results, ranging from tightly contested performances to games decided by a clear margin. Each of the five games featured its own standout moments. In one close matchup, both teams notched two qualified rides apiece. Guilherme Valleiras rode Red Rebellion for an 87.75 that sparked Carolina Cowboys to respond as Nashville Stampede answered with Daniel Feitosa’s 87.05 ride aboard Feel the Magic. Carolina then added a second qualified ride when Jess Lockwood delivered an 88.80 on Mayor of Hogeye. The final qualified ride of the game came from Rogério Venâncio, who posted an 88.10 for Nashville. In the close finish, the Carolina Cowboys edged ahead with a total of 176.55 points to Nashville’s 175.15, delivering an entertaining opening matchup with two well-matched teams.
Another tight contest saw Texas Rattlers prevail 265.45 to 260.90. The game kicked off with excitement as No. 1 and No. 2 in the 2026 standings, John Crimber and Brady Fielder, rode back-to-back but did not secure a qualified ride. Both sides managed three qualified rides, with Daniel Keeping delivering the night’s high score at 90.10 on Tigger for the Texas Rattlers. Keeping’s performance earned him the Night 1 MVP honors and propelled his team to victory in a competitive clash.
The action continued with a compelling showing from Sage Steele Kimzey, who opened with an 89.60 on Wicked Solo for the Austin Gamblers. Austin built a clear lead by claiming three qualified rides, while the Outlaws managed only two on Day 1. The final tally stood at 263.60 for the Gamblers to 177.45 for the Outlaws, a result that reinforced the Gamblers’ momentum and confidence as the 2026 season began in earnest.
Day 4 brought one of the most intriguing matchups of the day: the Arizona Ridge Riders stood out by posting four qualified rides on the opening day, the lone team to achieve this mark. With such strong execution across multiple riders, Arizona set itself apart and signaled a potential run for the Teams championship as the season progressed. The competition on Day 1 demonstrated the depth of talent across the league and offered fans a glimpse of what to expect as the Teams Series unfolds across the year, culminating in Las Vegas for the championship where the top teams will battle for the title.