The NFR headlines are usually stolen by the world champions and average victors, but as the payouts continue to rise, there are plenty of competitors bringing home life-changing money even if they aren’t winning first place. One such athlete is Cole Franks.
Franks has been a member of the PRCA since 2021 and has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo four out of five times. Although he just missed the cut-off in 2023, finishing at No. 17 in the world, that doesn’t diminish what he is accomplishing inside the Thomas & Mack Center. One can only dream of being as consistent as Franks has been in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old has nodded his head 40 times inside that building—and each time, he has earned a score. That consistency is nearly unbelievable.
Thanks to his ability to compete on the biggest stage, Franks has finished no worse than sixth in the world all four years he has qualified for the NFR. Let’s take a closer look at his journey so far.
### First Two Trips (2021 & 2022)
As an NFR rookie in 2021, Franks couldn’t have asked for much more. He placed in seven of the 10 rounds, finishing third in the average and bringing home over $140,000. These performances propelled him to third in the world standings behind legends Kaycee Field and Jess Pope.
In 2022, Franks improved his average, scoring 85.2 points on 10 head and finishing just shy of Jess Pope. He placed in eight of the 10 rounds and earned nearly the same amount of money as the previous year. Although the Texas native hadn’t yet won a round, he had earned close to $300,000 at the finals alone across his first two NFR appearances.
### 2024 & 2025 Seasons
After narrowly missing the finals in 2023, Franks came back strong, securing his spot in the NFR for two consecutive years once again. For the second year in a row for him, Franks took home the reserve average title—this time trailing Dean Thompson.
As the paydays continue to grow, Franks is winning more money—even though he has yet to claim his first go-round buckle. However, that milestone seems inevitable and likely to happen sooner rather than later.
Over the last two years, Franks has placed in 11 rounds, earning second and fourth place average checks. Altogether, his NFR earnings for 2024 and 2025 have totaled $244,121.
### Looking Ahead
The NFR has proven to be a stage where Franks’ talent, dedication, and hard work shine brightly. Without these qualities, he wouldn’t be performing at such a high level. While his gold buckle hasn’t come yet, the rodeo world is confident that day is fast approaching.
Stay tuned for more rodeo news and updates on Cole Franks and other top competitors.
https://www.si.com/fannation/rodeo/news/4x-nfr-qualifier-quietly-dominating-perfect-outings-no-buck-offs