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Begay Withdrew From Governor's Cup for NFR Push

Derrick Begay skipped the Cinch Playoffs to help Colter Todd secure a spot at the National Finals Rodeo.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Rodeo

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Derrick Begay has withdrawn from the Cinch Playoffs Governor's Cup to compete alongside Colter Todd, aiming to secure a qualification spot for the National Finals Rodeo. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Derrick Begay has withdrawn from the Cinch Playoffs Governor's Cup in Sioux Falls to compete with Colter Todd. The pair aims to secure enough prize money to help Todd climb into the top 15 of the world heeling standings.

Why it matters

Todd currently ranks 16th and sits just outside the qualification cut for the National Finals Rodeo. By skipping the playoffs, the team is focusing on five high-stakes rodeos to close a $4,239 earnings gap before the season ends.

Colter Todd ranks 16th with $110,334, while Dillon Graham holds the 15th spot with $114,573. Todd and Begay recently earned $28,016 each between Sept. 14 and Sept. 20.

The players

Derrick Begay

Derrick Begay is a professional team roper who has multiple qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo.

Colter Todd

Colter Todd is a professional heeler currently striving to reach the top 15 in the PRCA world standings.

Dillon Graham

Dillon Graham is a professional heeler currently holding the final qualification spot for the National Finals Rodeo.

The details

Begay declined his spot at the 12-team Governor's Cup, where the prize money per side is $166,667, to prioritize competing at five other events across the country. Jake Smith and Doug Rich will now compete as a team in the playoff event.

Timeline

  1. Sept. 14-20, 2026: Begay and Todd earned $28,016 each.

  2. Sept. 24, 2026: The duo begins competing at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo slack.

  3. Sept. 25-27, 2026: The Cinch Playoffs Governor's Cup takes place in Sioux Falls.

  4. Sept. 30, 2026: The final competition occurs at the 377 Last Hoorah rodeo.

Season Trajectory

This maneuver alters the competitive landscape for the final NFR qualification spot as Todd bypasses a high-purse playoff to pursue multiple smaller events. The decision highlights the high-stakes trade-off riders face between high-risk tournament play and volume-based rodeo entries.

Todd must earn at least $4,240 more than the current 15th-ranked rider to break into the NFR qualification zone. He is banking on the $78,750 in added prize money available across his final five events to make up the difference.

The takeaway

Professional ropers often manipulate their end-of-season schedules to maximize potential earnings when trailing the NFR cutoff. Strategizing for multiple events can be more effective than relying on a single, high-purse tournament performance.

Further reading

For more on the current standings and qualification races, visit the Rodeo section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Team Roping Journal.

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Is it better to sacrifice immediate financial gains to pursue a long-term professional goal?