After more than a month on the sidelines with a torn groin, Tristen Mize is ready to get back in the arena with a shot at making his first NFR still within reach.
It might be the downhill slide of the 2026 season but bull rider Tristen Mize is not running out of opportunity.
The 29 year old bull rider from Bryan, Texas, is set to return to the chutes on August 19 at the Caldwell Night Rodeo in Idaho after spending more than a month sidelined with a torn right groin.
Mize was injured on July 9 during the opening round of the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. He got hurt just days after one of his biggest checks of the summer, when he won more than $5,000 at the Oakley Xtreme Bulls Tour on July 6th.
Now, after taking the necessary time away from the arena to let the injury heal and working through physical therapy to rebuild his strength, Mize is ready to make a late- season comeback, and there is still plenty of money up for grabs.
Mize currently sits No. 17 in the PRCA World Standings with more than $106,000 won. Cullen Telfer sits No. 15 at roughly $115,000, meaning the gap is close enough that one big win could completely change Mize's position.
Mize has already shown he knows how to win in 2026 and belongs with the best of them.
He won the Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale, Arkansas, the West of the Pecos Rodeo in Texas, the Music City Rodeo in Nashville, Tennessee, the Helotes Festival Association Rodeo in Texas, and the Bell County PRCA Rodeo in Belton, Texas.
Those wins have carried him into the final stretch of the season with a legitimate chance at the NFR again. Last year, Mize finished inside the top 20 in the world after missing some time off mid-summer for a different injury. This year, he wants to take the next step and make it all the way to the Thomas & Mack Center.
The injury did not take the goal away, or the ability to accomplish it. Mize's injury did not require surgery; instead, he spent the last several weeks allowing his body to heal while working through rehabilitation and rebuilding his strength. Now he feels healthy again and ready to get back to doing what got him into the NFR conversation in the first place.
The timing leaves very little room for a slow return, however. With the regular season winding down, every ride might have a little more pressure. Mize doesn't have weeks to ease back into competition, he has to make every ride count.
The good news is that he has already proven he can turn one opportunity into a big check this season. Five rodeo wins and many other placings along the way have helped build his $106,000 plus season total, and another major payday could be enough to move him into the top 15.
A year ago, Mize was knocking on the door of the Thomas and Mack, and just barely missed it In 2026, despite the setback, he is ready to climb in those yellow chute and accomplish his lifelong goal.
His return to Caldwell on August 19th will be the first step. From there, the goal is to stay healthy, and keep grinding. One bull at a time, Mize might just find himself in the top 15 once again. Las Vegas is still well within reach.
