Decided by a tiebreaker
Tie
identical totals at the top
The top two teams finished on identical totals — the Grand Championship came down to the KCBS tiebreaker rules.
Smoke on the Falls 2024
Apr 12–13, 2024 · Gadsden, AL · 📍 1500 Noccalula Rd · State championship
Reps: Carol Bigler, Janet Appleton, Randy G Bigler, Sam Appleton · Prize money: $11,200
WE WILL ROCK QUE won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls on April 12, 2024 in Gadsden, AL at 1500 Noccalula Rd, scoring 699.9428 in a field of 31 teams. FRED VEGAS SMOKERS took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.9428. Category winners: Chicken — COOL HAND QUE (179.4400); Pork Ribs — Heavy Smoke BBQ (177.7144); Pork — FRED VEGAS SMOKERS (178.8572); Brisket — ZIPS BBQ (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by Smokey Bees BBQ - MS with 356.5716. This is the 10th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2023 edition was won by We Will Rock 'Que; the next was held in 2026.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
614.17
median 683.30
699.94 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 179.44
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 177.71
- Master Series — Pork 178.86
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 176.57
135.87
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
6 judged meats · 2 ancillary
Top score
699.9428
Winning margin
Tie
identical totals — KCBS tiebreaker
Field average
677.76
614.17699.94
median 683.30 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
689.6460
614.17699.94
10th place overall
Field spread
85.7716
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,200
on the line
Double threats
7
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 34%
beats 66% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
37%
32 of 86 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.59 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,578
avg power rating going in · stronger than 62% of contests
Storylines (9 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
An upset on the books
22-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 78 times in 100
WE WILL ROCK QUE came in rated below the field's top team, ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 22-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1680
- top seed 1896
Back-to-back
2 in a row
editions of this contest
We Will Rock 'Que won here last time out too — 2 straight editions of this contest.
- 2023
- 2024
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
WE WILL ROCK QUE won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 8th
- Pork Ribs 4th
- Pork 14th
- Brisket 3rd
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 11 tracked editions
The Specialists has won this contest 2 times across its 11 tracked editions.
- 2015
- 2018
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 24 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 2–3: CONTAGIOUS Q and BAD ROOSTER BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: ZIPS BBQ and FRED VEGAS SMOKERS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 8–9: WE WILL ROCK QUE and TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 2–3 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 8–9 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
Smokey Bees BBQ - MS won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Contagious Q (won 2019), We Will Rock 'Que (won 2023).
- Contagious Q · 2019
- We Will Rock 'Que · 2023
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Smokey Bees BBQ - MS · Chicken
- ZIPS BBQ · Brisket
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2013 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL | 34 | 696.5718 | SWIGGIN PIG | BIG BLUE QUE |
| Apr 10, 2015 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35904 | 34 | 699.9884 | The Specialists | UNCULTURED SWINE |
| Apr 7, 2017 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 704.5488 | SMOKIN BUTT CREW | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 13, 2018 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 38 | 697.1084 | THE SPECIALISTS | Organizer Portal |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 30 | 699.9656 | Contagious Q | CHOOCHOO BBQ |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 28 | 699.3944 | Rooters-N-Tooters | UNDER THE RADAR |
| Apr 9, 2021 | Gadsden, AL | Gadsden, AL 35901 | 38 | 699.3600 | chicken fried bbq | LC BBQ |
| Apr 8, 2022 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 34 | 700.5028 | Smoke Me Silly | GETTIN' BASTED |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 39 | 690.8000 | We Will Rock 'Que | COOL HAND QUE |
| Apr 12, 2024 ← this one | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 31 | 699.9428 | We Will Rock 'Que | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Gadsden, AL | 1600 Noccalula Rd | 36 | 714.2628 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | COOL HAND QUE |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 179.4400 | 177.7028 | 176.5600 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 177.7144 | 175.4172 | 171.9772 |
| Master Series — Pork | 178.8572 | 174.8456 | 173.1200 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 174.2744 | 173.1200 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 180 | 173.1316 | 171.9656 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 173.7144 | 168.5372 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 699.9428 · median 683.3028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 2 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 3 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 4 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 5 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 6 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 7 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 8 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 9 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 10 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 11 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 12 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 13 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 14 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 15 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 16 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 17 | Bar B Quterie | |
| 18 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 19 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 20 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 21 | Willingham's | |
| 22 | Smoke Busters | |
| 23 | JCs GOOD OL BOYS | |
| 24 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 25 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 26 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 27 | Blair Brothers | |
| 28 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 29 | POSSE BBQ | |
| 30 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 31 | Airmedic Smokers |
Chicken
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 174.2628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 2 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 3 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 4 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 5 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 6 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 7 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 8 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 9 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 10 | Willingham's | |
| 11 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 12 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 13 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 14 | Smoke Busters | |
| 15 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 16 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 17 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 18 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 19 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 20 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 21 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 22 | Blair Brothers | |
| 23 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 24 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 25 | Bar B Quterie | |
| 26 | POSSE BBQ | |
| 27 | JCs GOOD OL BOYS | |
| 28 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 29 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 30 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 31 | Airmedic Smokers |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 177.7144 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 2 | Bar B Quterie | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 5 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 6 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 7 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 8 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 9 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 10 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 11 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 12 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 13 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 14 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 15 | JCs GOOD OL BOYS | |
| 16 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 17 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 18 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 19 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 20 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 21 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 22 | Blair Brothers | |
| 23 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 24 | Smoke Busters | |
| 25 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 26 | POSSE BBQ | |
| 27 | Willingham's | |
| 28 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 29 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 30 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 31 | Airmedic Smokers |
Pork
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8112
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 2 | JCs GOOD OL BOYS | |
| 3 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 4 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 5 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 6 | Willingham's | |
| 7 | Bar B Quterie | |
| 8 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 9 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 10 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 11 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 12 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 13 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 14 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 15 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 16 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 17 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 18 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 19 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 20 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 21 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 22 | Airmedic Smokers | |
| 23 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 24 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 25 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 26 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 27 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 28 | POSSE BBQ | |
| 29 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 30 | Smoke Busters | |
| 31 | Blair Brothers |
Brisket
31 entries · top 180 · median 169.6684 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 2 | CONTAGIOUS Q | |
| 3 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 4 | OFF THE CHAIN | |
| 5 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 6 | TEXAS WARPIG BBQ | |
| 7 | Wine Me, Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 8 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 9 | Smoke Busters | |
| 10 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 11 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 12 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 13 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 14 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 15 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 16 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 17 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 18 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 19 | JCs GOOD OL BOYS | |
| 20 | K & E's Little Smokers | |
| 21 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 22 | RUB MY RACK | |
| 23 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 24 | Bar B Quterie | |
| 25 | Willingham's | |
| 26 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 27 | POSSE BBQ | |
| 28 | Blair Brothers | |
| 29 | Rub'd -N- Smoke | |
| 30 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 31 | Airmedic Smokers |
Backyard Series
Overall
22 entries · top 356.5716 · median 337.6400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 2 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 3 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | RIBLIFE | |
| 5 | Pork Life | |
| 6 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 7 | 931 BBQ | |
| 8 | Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | |
| 9 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 10 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 11 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 12 | B.G.Q. | |
| 13 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 14 | Modest Meats | |
| 15 | LEE LA Q | |
| 16 | J.T.'s Smoke Shack | |
| 17 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 18 | GOIN HAWG WILD | |
| 19 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 20 | Circle W Meats | |
| 21 | WildSmoke BBQ | |
| 22 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin |
Chicken
22 entries · top 180 · median 169.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 2 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 3 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | 931 BBQ | |
| 5 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 6 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 7 | B.G.Q. | |
| 8 | Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | |
| 9 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 10 | RIBLIFE | |
| 11 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 12 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin | |
| 13 | Pork Life | |
| 14 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 15 | Modest Meats | |
| 16 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 17 | LEE LA Q | |
| 18 | GOIN HAWG WILD | |
| 19 | J.T.'s Smoke Shack | |
| 20 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 21 | Circle W Meats | |
| 22 | WildSmoke BBQ |
Pork Ribs
22 entries · top 176.5716 · median 167.9600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | |
| 2 | Pork Life | |
| 3 | Deviant Smoke | |
| 4 | RIBLIFE | |
| 5 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 6 | Southern Life BBQ | |
| 7 | NORALA BBQ TEAM | |
| 8 | 931 BBQ | |
| 9 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 10 | Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | |
| 11 | J.T.'s Smoke Shack | |
| 12 | Modest Meats | |
| 13 | Cluckin’ Crazy BBQ | |
| 14 | Slingin Pig Meat | |
| 15 | LEE LA Q | |
| 16 | Circle W Meats | |
| 17 | B.G.Q. | |
| 18 | GOIN HAWG WILD | |
| 19 | Ghost Hill BBQ | |
| 20 | BAMA BOYS BBQ | |
| 21 | WildSmoke BBQ | |
| 22 | Eastside Grillin & Chillin |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 11+
4 entries · top 175.4172 · median 170.5428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bam Burgers | |
| 2 | Dunn Right Burgers | |
| 3 | Donovan (Don't Beef With Me) | |
| 4 | Beefcakes By The Beef Cake |
Kids-Q — Kids-Q 5-10
9 entries · top 180 · median 175.4172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lil' ChooChoo | |
| 2 | Pop N Squeeze | |
| 3 | Mason's Maniacs | |
| 4 | Rylee Pardum | |
| 5 | Braxton's Battalion Burgers | |
| 6 | Bunnies Burger | |
| 7 | The Jalape�o Hottie | |
| 8 | CK Cameron | |
| 9 | The Charcoal Monkey |