The best way to view the NFR from home.
Clear your evenings for December 4 through 13 because once again, it’s time for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Every cattle rancher, cowboy and wannabe who went to one branding nine years ago and brags to his buddies about that one (branded) calf he roped will be glued to the TV for 1½ weeks of top-notch rodeo action.
I’ve worked as a cowboy and roped my share of branded calves, and I’ve already canceled my plans so I can be home in time to watch the first bareback rider come out of the chute at approximately 6:00 p.m. PST/9:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 4. It was pretty easy, since I live an hour from town and didn’t have any evening plans to begin with.
Here are some tips for making the most of your home viewing experience for the 2025 NFR.
Cowboy Channel
Gone are the years of watching the NFR on ESPN and having the bull riding randomly cut off because a basketball game started. Rodeo fans now have a whole channel, all to ourselves! All year long! Even if most of us only watch it 10 days a year! But we still have to pay for all 12 months because those cowboys in charge may wear jeans and boots, but they’re as sharp as any suit-wearing network executive. I’m not even grumpy about it — kind of proud, really.
The Cowboy Channel provides pre- and post-rodeo coverage, along with in-depth stories on contestants that give us the behind-the-scenes info we crave as sports fans. Plus, Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles provide the commentary, so the NFR of today sounds just like the NFR of my childhood, which is nice because I don’t like change.
Hand-held dinners only
Stock up on burritos, cheeseburgers, pizza or other entrees that can be eaten with one hand while sitting on the couch in front of the TV and holding the remote with the other. Side dishes, cooked produce and anything that requires utensils are discouraged during NFR viewing. We’ll eat our vegetables after Vegas, thank you very much.
Fantasy rodeo league
Move over, football fans — rodeo has a fantasy league, too. Because if there’s one thing that cowboys know how to do, it’s throw away money betting that the horse can be rode and the cow can be roped.
Guess roughstock scores
Calling out your prediction of each roughstock rider’s score within three seconds after the whistle blows is mandatory for armchair NFR viewing. If you’re not sure how to mark a particular ride, buy yourself some time by furrowing your brow and saying, “Hmmmm….” until a more knowledgeable viewer calls out a score.
Adjust that number by plus or minus three points and claim it as your own prediction. Chances are good that you’ll both be wrong, but you’ll probably be less wrong than if left to your own guess.
Speed watch
No, I’m not talking about Speed Williams and Rich Skelton, the legendary team-roping duo of the late ’90s and early aughts. However, I would watch one of their runs anytime. The saying still rings true after all these years: “You gotta have Speed to get Rich.”
I’m talking about a new NFR-watching technique you may not be familiar with. My dad figured out that if he fast-forwards through the commercials, instant replays and round winner interviews, he can watch an entire go-round performance in 45 minutes. It’s quite impressive, even though it’s a little disorienting to the viewer’s nervous system.
I prefer to enjoy the full 2 1/2 hour viewing experience. I like the round winner interviews that show exuberant, nervous cowboys and cowgirls who just achieved a lifelong dream and are still out of breath from the accomplishment. These winners wearing cowboy hats remind me to tell my kids, “Keep after your goals and, no matter what, don’t give up.”
