2026 Media Guide

STEER ROPING

C linging to a mere $546 lead in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings over 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year Riley O’Rourke, Patterson clocked an 8.5-second time to win Round 10 and capture his third world championship in a row and fourth overall at the Kansas Star in Mulvane, Nov. 15. COLE PATTERSON Steer Roper Patterson Stared Down Pressure And Delivered Again By Tracy Renck

“I knew I held off (Scott) Snedecor’s charge, and it all came down to me and Riley in Round 10,” said Patterson, 30, whose time was the quickest of his career at the NFSR and the first time he broke the eight-second barrier. A couple of guys slipped up in the average and I had a chance to move up to sixth. I didn’t necessarily have to beat Riley (in Round 10), but I had to be right on his tail. “He went out there with ice in his veins and clocks (9.1 seconds) to tie for the lead in the round (with Slade Wood). I had no option but to just go for it. This feeling that I have right now is the reason that I do this and the reason that I work so hard to get here and be in moments like this because this feeling is worth more than any buckle and any amount of money. It feels like you conquered the world.” Patterson finished atop the world standings with $159,940 to edge O’Rourke ($150,670) and Snedecor ($136,141). The phenom O’Rourke tried to etch his name in the PRORODEO history books by becoming the first cowboy in the event’s history to win the world championship in his Resistol Rookie year. He applied the heat by clocking his 9.1-second run right in front of Patterson - but Patterson didn’t flinch. “You got to sell tickets,” Patterson said. Patterson earned $34,860 at the NFSR, including $5,808 for finishing sixth in the average with a 112.8-second time on eight head. O’Rourke finished eighth in the average and just out of the money – it paid six spots – with an 81.0-second time on seven head. Veteran Jess Tierney won the NFSR average for the first time in his career with a 148.3-second time on 10 head. Chet Herren was second with a 129.9-second time on nine head. Tierney and Herren collected $33,684 and $27,876 average checks, respectively. Snedecor ($61,037); O’Rourke ($54,134) and Jake Clay ($50,394) were the top money winners at the NFSR. Patterson became only the third cowboy to win three steer roping world championships in a row, joining ProRodeo Hall of Famers Guy Allen (1991-2001, 11 in a row) and Trevor Brazile (2013, 2014 and 2015). “No matter whether it is playing checkers or dice or whatever, any time you’re mentioned in the same category as Trevor Brazile and Guy Allen that’s elite company,” Patterson said. “Steer roping has a long, coveted history and to join a class of only two other guys to do that is a pretty special feeling.” Patterson’s fantastic finish is note worthy since he only placed in three rounds at the 2025 NFSR - third in Round 4 (10.3 seconds) and Round 9 (10.6 seconds) and then he won Round 10. It also was the second year in a row that Patterson parlayed a clutch Round 10 run to win a gold buckle.

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World Champions