First place receives 40 points, second 30, third 20 and fourth 10. The most points a contestant can earn at one rodeo is 120. Ten events are scheduled at each college rodeo, six for men and four for women. The events are classified as roughstock and timed. The three roughstock events are bull, bareback and saddle bronc riding.
Bull riding is the most popular and the most dangerous of the rough stock events.
To keep his position and balance, a bull rider is constantly grabbing for new holds with his feet. The more powerful a bull bucks and the faster he spins, the more points the ride is worth. Bareback riding is a wild spurring event. The contestant grips the riggin with one hand and keeps his other hand high and free in the air. Ideally, bareback riders want to try to spur the horse with each jump.