We are just days away from the start of the College National Finals Rodeo and contestants from all over the country will be coming to Casper to ride for glory! The College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) is the “Best of the Best” of college rodeo. It is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams. The nation’s best college cowboys and cowgirls from eleven different regions will enter into the CNFR arena in Casper, Wyoming this June 9-15.
Over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year. Contestants compete all year in one of the NIRA’s 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR. The top three students in each event, and top two men’s and women’s teams from the NIRA’s 11 regions will qualify for the CNFR.
The “Bulls, Broncs and Breakaway,” performance will be Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 pm. Slack will be held on the mornings of Monday, June 10 and Tuesday, June 11 at 7:00 am. Evening performances begin at 7:00 pm, including the Saturday Championship Round. All performances happen at the indoor arena of the Casper Events Center.
| Venue | Casper Events Center, Casper, Wyoming, United States |
| Start Date | Sunday, 9th June 2019 |
| End Date | Saturday, 15th June 2019 |
| Broadcast | WatchESPN / ESPN3 |
| Live Stream | Watch Here |
So, don’t miss a single moment of the 2019 CNFR live action. Don’t worry, If you can’t attend in Casper, Wyoming, we’ll discuss here how to watch College National Finals Rodeo 2019 online real-time TV coverage.
When is the CNFR?
For individuals who plan on attending the CNFR festivities in Casper Events Center, there are a variety of sponsored activities to get involved with during the 7-day period between 3rd June to 15th June at 7:30AM to 12:30PM (ET). See complete CNFR schedule page.
Where will the CNFR Casper 2019 be held?
All of the CNFR’s main performances will take place at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming. The Casper Events Center is an 8,395-seat multi-purpose arena in Casper, Wyoming in the United States. The arena was built in April 1982, and also seats up to 9,700 for concerts and meetings.
What TV Channel will the CNFR be on?
The entirety of the CNFR’s main performances will air live on the WatchESPN / ESPN3 from June 9th to June 15th beginning at 7:30AM (ET). Because this is an exclusive deal between the network and the NIRA, the CNFR will not be shown on any other TV network during the 12-day period.
Watch College National Finals Rodeo live streaming
The 2019 College National Finals Rodeo will be broadcasting the Monday through Saturday performances live on ESPN3. ESPN3 is a 24/7 live digital network available on WatchESPN. WatchESPN is the app and website that allows you to watch the ESPN networks – live, anytime, and anywhere.
How to watch CNFR live stream 2019 online?
The CNFR will be available on the following devices and platforms: WatchESPN.com, iOS, Apple TV, Android, Chromecast, Kindle Fire, Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Xbox, Windows 8, and Roku. You must receive TV video service from At&T, U-Verse, Charter, Optimum, Bright House, Comcast, Cox, Dish, Timer Warner Cable, Verizon, Midcontinent, or DirectTV. To see if your provider has access to WatchESPN, visit WatchESPN.com/about. You will most likely need your account number to access.
Online registration for WatchESPN is required through your TV service provider. If your TV service provider is not one of our participating providers, you may still have access to ESPN3 on Watch ESPN through you high speed internet provider. The following are some platforms where these strategies could be useful:
FuboTV
FuboTV is a sports-centric streaming service. It offers a 7-day free trial and costs $19.99 for the first month before jumping up to $44.99 a month. It includes a live feed of WatchESPN / ESPN3 in dozens of markets.
DirecTV Now
Allows for the viewing of over 65 live channels at $40/month. In order to take advantage of the free possibilities, one would have to sign up and receive the free 7-day trial. If timed properly, one could watch the majority of the CNFR during the free trial period and cancel free of charge prior to the trial’s expiration.
Sling TV
Sling TV does not cover CBS or any other local broadcast station such as ABC, Fox, or NBC but it covers ESPN3. As a result, this would be a viable option for viewing the CNFR since the events are primarily broadcast through ESPN3.
Hulu TV
Allows for the viewing of over 50 live channels at $39.99/month. In order to take advantage of the free possibilities, one would have to sign up and receive the free 7-day trial. Once the trial is up, one could cancel the service free of charge.
YouTube TV
Allows for the viewing of over 50 live channels at $40/month. In order to take advantage of the free possibilities, one would have to sign up and receive the free 7-day trial. Once the trial is up, one could cancel the service free of charge.
PlayStation Vue
Allows for the viewing of over 75 channels at $49.99/month. In order to take advantage of the free possibilities, one would have to sign up and receive the free 5-day trial. Once the trial is up, one could cancel the service free of charge.
CNFR live online on Social Media
One increasingly popular method of viewing CNFR live stream comes in the form of social media viewing. The way this typically works is through an individual using their mobile device to live stream the event to a social media platform of their choosing. The most popular platforms for this method are as follows:
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YouTube
The most popular video-sharing site on the planet has historically built its name upon uploaded videos. However, the site now allows live-streaming capabilities, making it perfect for free viewing of live events such as CNFR, as long as a streaming user can be found.
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Facebook
Various individual accounts or pages are bound to be streaming the CNFR events. Interested individuals will have to search for these opportunities throughout the platform as it gets closer to the festivities.
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Twitter
This platform has increasingly become the go-to place for action as it happens in real-time. That makes it a prime destination when searching for all things related to College National Finals Rodeo. A quick search bar or hashtag follow will almost assuredly lead to the discovery someone streaming the College National Finals Rodeo.
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Reddit
Mainly known as a news aggregation site, this platform has increasingly become a well-known discussion forum hub. Within those forums, there is undoubtedly discussion concerning how to watch the CNFR events.
2019 CNFR live stream using a VPN
Some countries will not allow the viewing of certain websites and can block them based on the location gathered from an individual’s IP address. In these situations, a reliable and encrypted VPN (Virtual Private Network) can prove to be helpful. A VPN will allow an individual to remotely connect to a server located in a different country that allows the desired website viewing to take place. The following VPNs can prove to be very useful:
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ExpressVPN
- This source offers a selection of servers that spans over 90 countries. Currently, they offer monthly ($12.95/month), semi-annual ($59.95/6-months), and annual ($99.95) plans. Included with each plan is the offer of a 30-day money back guarantee in the event that a user is dissatisfied.
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IPVanish
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- The offering from this source includes servers that span over 60 countries. The current subscription plans consist of monthly ($10/month), quarterly ($26.99/3-months), and annual ($77.99/year) options. Included with each plan is the offer of a 7-day money back guarantee in the event that a user is dissatisfied.
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NordVPN
- While maintaining a selection of servers that spans over 60 countries, this VPN source currently has subscription plans that consist of monthly ($11.95/month), semi-annual ($54/6-months), annual ($83.88/year), and bi-annual ($95.75/2-years) options.
Everything You Need to Know About CNFR
The best of the best from 11 different regions (Big Sky Region, Central Plains Region, Central Rocky Mountain Region, Grand Canyon Region, Great Plains Region, Northwest Region, Ozark Region, Rocky Mountain Region, Southern Region, Southwest Region and West Coast Region) will have a chance to bring home a national championship for their respective schools and school teams will be competing for the overall championships in both men’s and women’s completions.
Main Events
Nine main events have historically taken place at the College National Finals Rodeo. Each event has its own monetary prizes that are paid out, and those payouts are determined by each top-placing competitor’s rank in relation to the event’s overall prize pool. Individuals placed in the top-six of a particular event are paid out accordingly, while individuals placed in the top-eight of the overall CNFR are also paid out. The CNFR’s main events are as follows:
- Saddle Bronc Riding: Bronc riding, either bareback bronc or saddle bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse that attempts to throw or buck off the rider.
- Bareback Riding: Bareback riding is a form of horseback riding without a saddle. It requires skill, balance, and coordination, as the rider does not have any equipment to compensate for errors of balance or skill.
- Bull Riding: Bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider. American bull riding has been called “the most dangerous eight seconds in sports.”
- Tie Down Roping: Calf roping, also known as tie-down roping, is a rodeo event that features a calf and a rider mounted on a horse.
- Steer Wrestling: Steer wrestling, also known as bulldogging, is a rodeo event in which a horse-mounted rider chases a steer, drops from the horse to the steer, then wrestles the steer to the ground by grabbing its horns and pulling it off-balance so that it falls to the ground. The event carries a high risk of injury to the cowboy.
- Team Roping: Team roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer (typically a Corriente) and two mounted riders. The first roper is referred to as the “header”, the person who ropes the front of the steer, usually around the horns, but it is also legal for the rope to go around the neck, or go around one horn and the nose resulting in what they call a “half head”. Once the steer is caught by one of the three legal head catches, the header must dally (wrap the rope around the rubber covered saddle horn) and use his horse to turn the steer to the left.
- Barrel Racing: Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is a rodeo event for women.
- Breakaway Roping: Breakaway roping is a variation of calf roping where a calf is roped, but not thrown and tied. It is a rodeo event that features a calf and one mounted rider. The calves are moved one at a time through narrow runs leading to a chute with spring-loaded doors.
- Goat Tying: Goat tying is a rodeo event that is typically seen in youth, high school and college rodeos in which the participant rides to a tethered goat, dismounts, catches, throws, and ties any three of its legs together. The goat must stay tied for six seconds after the contestant has backed away from the animal.
Contestants
Over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year. Contestants compete all year in one of the NIRA’s 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR. The top three students in each event, and top two men’s and women’s teams from the NIRA’s 11 regions will qualify for the CNFR.
Rose Bowl of College Rodeo
The CNFR has consistently been referred to with this phrase because of the sheer massiveness of its popularity and money-generating power within the context of rodeo. The event is considered to be so big and consistently sold-out that when the 2019 College National Finals Rodeo rides into the Casper Events Center, June 9-15. According to its website, the CNFR is considered the “Rose Bowl” of college rodeo, said Bump Kraeger, one of UNL’s Rodeo Team’s coaches.
CNFR Standings
The 2019 NIRA season has been extremely competitive as a lot of the top cowboys are gunning for glory. There will be a lot of close competitions and many of the world championships could come down to the last day. You can check the current standings here.
CNFR Final Results 2018
See results from the 2018 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming! Results courtesy of www.collegerodeo.com.
***CNFR CAMERA POLICY***
Non-professional still photography and video are permitted from the stands. Cameras with interchangeable lenses or lenses larger than 100 millimeters in length are NOT permitted for use by anyone without a valid Media Credential issued by the CNFR.
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and the CNFR own all rights to photos and video taken during the event. Selling of photos or videos is prohibited.
Media CNFR photography policy:
Photographers with media credentials will be limited in location and may be asked to rotate positions in order for everyone to get the photos they require. Photographs may only be used for publication for which credentials are issued and are not to be sent to any other media outlets without approval from the media department. If credentials are issued for a school or region, only contestants from that entity, photographer agrees to only take photos of that school or region.
If any policies or requests from staff are not adhered to, photographer’s credentials may be removed, and photographer will not be able to shoot for remainder of events or be credentialed for future competitions.
Photographers can share photos through their credentialed outlet’s social media only. They are not to be shared on personal pages or posts.
These policies have been put in place to protect the integrity of the CNFR, the contestants and staff.
Final Words
All in all, the College National Finals Rodeo is a landmark event and a de facto defining period of time within any given rodeo year. For anyone who is a fan of rodeo, the main events and the surrounding festivities are must-see events and must-participate experiences if the financial means allow for it. Don’t miss a minute of the exhilarating CNFR live stream action this year from June 9th until June 15th.