Top 10 VEX V5 Teams (October)

Global Shake-Up in the 2025-2026 VEX V5 Challenge: Pushback

Top 10 Teams Redefine the Global Order in the October RFORCE Rankings

The Pushback season of the VEX V5 Robotics Challenge continues to electrify the global STEM community. As October’s RFORCE Index rankings roll in, the competitive landscape has dramatically evolved. With new international leaders, returning powerhouses, and shifting regional dominance, this month’s top 10 reveal just how dynamic and unpredictable the 2025-2026 season is becoming.

Top 10 V5 Teams (October – 2025-2026)

Key Highlights

United States Dominates the Leaderboard

The U.S. has staged a commanding comeback, claiming 8 of the top 10 positions—a stark rise from just four teams in September. California alone contributes two major contenders: Cognitaur, which skyrocketed to #1 with an unmatched RFORCE of 98.83, and Knight Time Bots – A, who hold steady in the elite top three.

Overclock, last month’s global leader, now sits at #5. Despite the drop, their consistency proves that KG Computech remains among the world’s best-performing organizations.

Australia Holds Strong

The Australian powerhouse King’s Team Delta continues to impress, climbing from a strong debut in September to a world-class #2 ranking this month. Representing The King’s School in New South Wales, they remain the only non-U.S. team capable of directly challenging the American surge.

New Faces and Regional Depth

Several teams make their first appearance this month, signaling new energy in the global circuit:

• Havøc (#6) and B>U (#7) showcase regional growth in Nebraska and Florida.
  
• Apollo (#8) and Gheese (#9) highlight the emerging Southern and Midwestern U.S. robotics scenes.
  
• Iron Eagles – Vitality (#10) rounds out the list, ensuring Tennessee joins the growing list of high-performance states.
  

This geographic diversity across the United States reflects the widening influence of the VEX V5 program and the increasing balance between powerhouse states and rising regions.

RFORCE Trends

Metric	RFORCE
Highest	98.83
Lowest	84.68
Top 3 Average	96.22

With a 14.15-point spread from top to bottom, October’s leaderboard is considerably tighter than September’s. Competition between positions #4–#10 is especially fierce, separated by just 3.75 points—a razor-thin margin that hints at potential shake-ups in the November update.

Global Representation

• United States: 8 teams
  
• Australia: 1 team
  
• No Chinese teams appear this month after holding five spots in September, marking one of the largest regional shifts in recent RFORCE history.
  This dramatic reshuffle underscores the intensity of early-season tournaments and the unpredictability of Pushback, where precision and driver skill are key.

Grade Level Breakdown

Level	Teams
High School (HS)	10
Middle School (MS)	0

After a balanced September that included two middle school contenders, October’s leaderboard is exclusively dominated by high school teams, reflecting advanced engineering and strategy refinement as the season heats up.

Season Outlook

October’s data reveals a fast-changing landscape defined by innovation, consistency, and adaptation. The rise of Cognitaur sets a new performance benchmark, while Overclock’s experience and King’s Team Delta’s international excellence ensure global competition remains fierce.

Expect a rebound from Chinese and Middle School programs in November as teams refine their robots for the upcoming regional qualifiers. With Pushback’s complex field dynamics, the coming months promise even tighter scores, fresh challengers, and evolving alliances.

About VEX V5 Challenge

The VEX V5 Challenge is the premier robotics competition for middle and high school students worldwide. Combining mechanical design, coding, and teamwork, it pushes participants to create high-performance robots capable of adapting to new challenges each year. The 2025-2026 game, Pushback, emphasizes precision control, collaborative engineering, and advanced tactical play, preparing students for future STEM excellence.

Check out the full RFORCE team leaderboards and explore all divisions at rforce.vision.
Stay tuned for next month’s update and see who will rise, fall, or redefine the global standard in robotics.
Questions or media inquiries? Contact us at customer-support@rforce.vision.