The Backyard Series
KCBS runs two tracks, and almost every leaderboard in this app is about the other one. It has to be — Backyard is usually two meats, out of 360, and Master is four out of 720, so pooling them would be nonsense. This page is the other half: the same questions, asked of the Backyard boards only.
Contests
731
with a Backyard board on record
This season
90
so far in 2026
Teams
4,294
have cooked one
Typical field
20
teams; the biggest was 69
Perfect 180s
238
meat scores that could not be beaten
States & provinces
35
have run one
Seasons
8
of Backyard results on file
Backyard is where a lot of them started
1,273 teams have cooked in both series, and 407 of them cooked Backyard first. These went on to win a Master contest: Optimus Swine, Damn Fine Beef & Swine, BAD ROOSTER BBQ, Off The Rack BBQ, COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ, Dog Bite Barbecue, DANG GOOD BBQ, Mispillion Meat Works.
Backyard Team of the Year — 2026
The points race, straight from the KCBS standings. The official board →
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAWGS BBQ | 1,356 |
| 2 | PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | 1,349 |
| 3 | Rough Cut Q | 1,340 |
| 4 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | 1,331 |
| 5 | Rudes BBQ | 1,316 |
| 6 | Dogpatch Q | 1,303 |
| 7 | FENDER BENDER BBQ | 1,302 |
| 8 | All Smoked Up BBQ | 1,286 |
| 9 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | 1,270 |
| 10 | FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 1,260 |
| 11 | Smoked By The Brooks | 1,245 |
| 12 | Kick Ash BBQ | 1,222 |
| 13 | Southern Swine | 1,221 |
| 14 | WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | 1,183 |
| 15 | Hot Thang BBQ | 1,182 |
| 16 | The Swine Doctor's BBQ | 1,163 |
| 16 | Castleton Q | 1,163 |
| 18 | SMOKIN E'S BBQ | 1,162 |
| 19 | Big Ten Bones | 1,158 |
| 20 | Big Fluff BBQ | 1,154 |
The record board
Every score here is a Backyard score, ranked only against other Backyard scores. A Backyard contest is usually two meats, out of 360, and those are the overall totals ranked here. KCBS has also run three-meat Backyard boards (2019, out of 540) and four-meat open-format ones (out of 720): they count as Backyard contests and wins everywhere on this page, but their totals are on a different scale and aren’t compared. Each meat is out of 180, exactly as in the Master series — a 180 is a 180 in either track.
Best overall
| # | Score | Team | Contest | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 360 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) NY | Jun 7, 2025 |
| =1 | 360 | DAWGS BBQ | Iowa State BBQ Championship IA | Apr 3, 2026 |
| =1 | 360 | Big Fluff BBQ | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) AL | Jun 12, 2026 |
| =1 | 360 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | RTrowbridge Memorial Cook Flyin (BACKYARD) KS | May 17, 2024 |
| 5 | 359.4400 | SWEET CHEEKS BBQ | Mission Q (Backyard Only) AL | Nov 22, 2019 |
| =6 | 358.8572 | Dogpatch Q | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) TN | May 16, 2025 |
| =6 | 358.8572 | Mind if I Smoke? | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) AL | Jun 13, 2025 |
| =6 | 358.8572 | Electro-Que-ted | Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) MO | Oct 3, 2025 |
| =6 | 358.8572 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship TN | Mar 20, 2026 |
| =6 | 358.8572 | Big James Kitchen | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship TN | Mar 20, 2026 |
Chicken
| # | Score | Team | Contest | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Dogpatch Q | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) TN | May 16, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Mad Hatter BBQ | Big Knob BBQ Fest PA | May 23, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | T-Dawg BBQ | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) TN | May 25, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Electro-Que-ted | Honeybee BBQ Competition GA | May 30, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Grillbilly Holland | Honeybee BBQ Competition GA | May 30, 2025 |
Pork Ribs
| # | Score | Team | Contest | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Leaning Jowler BBQ | Catskills Barbeque - Backyard Competition (Day 2) NY | Jun 7, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Mind if I Smoke? | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) AL | Jun 13, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | SMOKE RING AND BARK | Poosa Q AL | Jun 20, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | East Bow Que | Goose's 1st Annual Pitmaster Showdown NE | Jul 11, 2025 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | Smoke on the Mountain VA | Jul 25, 2025 |
Pork
| # | Score | Team | Contest | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Breaking Slabs BBQ | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) MO | Jul 21, 2023 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Swine-O-Licious BBQ | Boats Beats & BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) OK | Sep 1, 2023 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | LOVE 2 Q | Holmes Drywall Grilling BBQ Contest (INVITATIONAL ONLY) MO | — |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | HICKORY HANGOVER | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD ONLY) AL | Aug 7, 2020 |
| =1 | 180 🔥 | Geaux 2 bbq | Georgia BBQ Championship Throwdown GA | Nov 20, 2020 |
Brisket
| # | Score | Team | Contest | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 178.8572 | Pig Timers | Plant City Pig Jam FL | Nov 19, 2021 |
| 2 | 177.7144 | Matt's Backyard BBQ | Grand American Barbecue New York State Championship Open (OPEN FORMAT) NY | May 2, 2026 |
| 3 | 176.5828 | Valtek | Permian Basin Barbeque Cook-off (BACKYARD ONLY) TX | Sep 29, 2022 |
| =4 | 176.5600 | Chester's Twisted Que | SmokeHouse Barbeque Showdown (OPEN FORMAT) (REGISTRATION FULL) IA | May 1, 2026 |
| =4 | 176.5600 | MAGNOLIA | Bands & BBQ at the Point KY | Sep 8, 2023 |
Who wins them
First place on a Backyard board. This is not the contest’s Grand Championship — that is the Master result — so it is counted here from the boards themselves.
| Team | Wins | Podiums | Contests | Avg score | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | 16 | 38 | 72 | 344.67 | 357.14 |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 14 | 29 | 75 | 341.07 | 360 |
| Ham Squad | 12 | 28 | 52 | 338.40 | 353.12 |
| Furlongs Smoke & Seafood | 12 | 25 | 56 | 339.10 | 357.71 |
| LEE LA Q | 11 | 37 | 148 | 341.04 | 355.42 |
| Dogpatch Q | 11 | 27 | 149 | 336.01 | 358.86 |
| Swine-O-licious BBQ | 11 | 23 | 43 | 345.57 | 360 |
| Too Sauced BBQ | 11 | 21 | 46 | 345.60 | 356 |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 10 | 27 | 85 | 344.88 | 358.86 |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 10 | 22 | 65 | 340.79 | 357.70 |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 10 | 20 | 55 | 347.37 | 358.86 |
| Electro-Que-ted | 10 | 18 | 40 | 349.32 | 358.86 |
| Damn Fine Beef & Swine | 10 | 14 | 19 | 328.13 | 351.42 |
| Hickory Hangover | 9 | 32 | 76 | 342.91 | 356.57 |
| Rudes BBQ | 9 | 24 | 63 | 343.56 | 356 |
| Rough Cut Q | 8 | 19 | 39 | 342.17 | 356.57 |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 7 | 32 | 88 | 343.43 | 356.58 |
| Capt. Blue BBQ | 7 | 16 | 86 | 336.46 | 354.88 |
| POOR BOYS BBQ | 7 | 14 | 37 | 336.83 | 351.45 |
| PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | 7 | 13 | 34 | 341.84 | 357.15 |
The regulars
Most Backyard contests cooked, win or lose. For most of this division this is the truer list.
| Team | Contests | Avg finish | Avg score | Last cooked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogpatch Q | 149 | 10.9 | 336.01 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| LEE LA Q | 148 | 8.3 | 341.04 | Oct 16, 2026 |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 88 | 7.4 | 343.43 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| Capt. Blue BBQ | 86 | 8.2 | 336.46 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 85 | 7.6 | 344.88 | May 24, 2026 |
| RIBLIFE | 84 | 8.8 | 340.02 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| REDBONES BBQ | 81 | 10.3 | 334.14 | Sep 19, 2025 |
| Uncle Dubby's Backyard BBQ | 78 | 11.5 | 333.57 | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Hickory Hangover | 76 | 7.3 | 342.91 | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Leaning Jowler BBQ | 75 | 6.6 | 341.07 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| WEEZ'S GROOVIN' BBQ | 72 | 5.1 | 344.67 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| Gold-N-Blue Barbecue | 71 | 5.9 | 339.10 | Oct 26, 2024 |
| 2 Swine Crew | 67 | 11 | 338.99 | Mar 20, 2026 |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 65 | 7 | 340.79 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Rollin Smoke BBQ | 63 | 8.6 | 345.02 | Oct 16, 2026 |
Where to cook one next
Upcoming contests that have run a Backyard division before. The public listings carry no division field, so a contest’s own history is the only evidence there is — check with the organiser before you enter.
| Date | Contest | Where | Backyard editions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2026 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 1) State championship | Oak Grove, MO | 5 |
| Oct 30, 2026 | Roast N Boast State championship | Columbus, MS | 6 |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Boo-B-Que BBQ Championship (Day 2) State championship | Oak Grove, MO | 5 |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) | Scottsboro, AL | 5 |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Plant City Pig Jam State championship | Plant City, FL | 5 |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship State championship | Demopolis, AL | 5 |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Lakeland Pig Festival State championship | Lakeland, FL | 7 |
| Mar 5, 2027 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival State championship | Lawrenceville, GA | 7 |
| Mar 19, 2027 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 1) State championship | Urbanna, VA | 10 |
| Mar 19, 2027 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship State championship | Lebanon, TN | 4 |
| Mar 20, 2027 | BBQ Gives Back (Day 2) State championship | Urbanna, VA | 10 |
| Mar 26, 2027 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge State championship | St. Robert, MO | 3 |
| Apr 2, 2027 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) | Athens, AL | 3 |
| May 14, 2027 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 1) State championship | Morgantown, PA | 10 |
| May 14, 2027 | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) | Winchester, TN | 3 |
| May 15, 2027 | Twin Valley Fire and Smoke (Day 2) State championship | Morgantown, PA | 10 |
| May 15, 2027 | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) | Winchester, TN | 3 |
| Jun 11, 2027 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) State championship | West Salem, WI | 7 |
| Jun 11, 2027 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest State championship | Derby, KS | 2 |
| Jun 12, 2027 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) State championship | West Salem, WI | 6 |
| Jul 16, 2027 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1) State championship | Osceola, MO | 2 |
| Jul 16, 2027 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 1) | Miles, IA | 5 |
| Jul 17, 2027 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) State championship | Osceola, MO | 2 |
| Jul 17, 2027 | Great River Threshers BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) (Day 2) | Miles, IA | 5 |
| Jul 23, 2027 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 1) State championship | New Freedom, PA | 6 |
| Jul 24, 2027 | Smoke on the Rail BBQ Festival (Day 2) State championship | New Freedom, PA | 6 |
| Sep 10, 2027 | September Fest State championship | Coldwater, MI | 3 |
| Sep 10, 2027 | Bands & BBQ at the Point State championship | Carrollton, KY | 6 |
| Mar 24, 2028 | BBQ Gives Back State championship | Urbanna, VA | 10 |
Latest Backyard winners
| Date | Contest | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2026 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) West Creek, NJ |
Beefy Bros BBQ 350.2628 · beat 14 other teams |
| Oct 23, 2026 | The Butcher's Smoke & Flames Barbeque Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Cullman, AL |
Smokey Bee's BBQ 354.2744 · beat 23 other teams |
| Oct 23, 2026 | Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) West Creek, NJ |
Backwooder BBQ 347.3828 · beat 17 other teams |
| Oct 16, 2026 | The MoCo Smoke Show Silver Spring, MD |
Better Half Barbecue 343.3828 · beat 9 other teams |
| Oct 16, 2026 | WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL |
Big Fluff BBQ 356.5600 · beat 42 other teams |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Stover, MO |
Smoked By The Brooks 352.5484 · beat 9 other teams |
| Oct 9, 2026 | MD State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD |
Castleton Q 349.6800 · beat 39 other teams |
| Oct 2, 2026 | Octoberfest (BACKYARD ONLY) Argos, IN |
Holy Cow 354.8800 · beat 18 other teams |
| Oct 2, 2026 | Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) Pleasant Hill, MO |
SMOKED BY THE BROOKS 354.2856 · beat 14 other teams |
| Sep 27, 2026 | First State BBQ Bash (BACKYARD SUNDAY) Milford, DE |
Rough Cut Q 350.2744 · beat 15 other teams |
Season by season
| Season | Contests | Teams | Avg overall score | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 90 | 783 | 331.65 | 360 |
| 2025 | 113 | 898 | 331.12 | 360 |
| 2024 | 110 | 1,000 | 329.54 | 360 |
| 2023 | 107 | 977 | 328.61 | 357.71 |
| 2022 | 97 | 1,052 | 321.95 | 358.86 |
| 2021 | 84 | 851 | 319.99 | 356.58 |
| 2020 | 29 | 401 | 323.51 | 356 |
| 2019 | 82 | 1,098 | 312.22 | 359.44 |
Backyard totals are never pooled with Master totals anywhere in this app, and only the two-meat totals out of 360 are ranked against one another — see Scoring explained. Data from the public results at kcbs.us.