Oct 11–12, 2024 · Topeka, KS · 📍 3435 SE East Edge Rd · State championship
Reps: Clara Williams, Jonathan B Williams · Prize money: $6,250
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Water on October 11, 2024 in Topeka, KS at 3435 SE East Edge Rd, scoring 700.5372 in a field of 31 teams. Bocephus BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 700.4912. Category winners: Chicken — Barking Dog BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Fergolicious BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Cow Creek BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — Lucky D's BBQ (177.7028). This is the 12th of 14 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by Kith n Kin; the next was held in 2025.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Bocephus BBQ holds the KCBS record for the 180 grand slam — 4 different meats scored perfect in, first in 2023 · 18 contests to complete the set, set right here. Nobody has beaten it since.
Closer than 96% of the 4,722 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.0460 points — closer than 96% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 67 times in 100
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SHIGGIN & GRINNIN, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
Colorado Bulldawg BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
5 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
2 of 14 tracked editions
Thunder Hog BBQ has won this contest 2 times across its 14 tracked editions.
Chicken places 1–2: Barking Dog BBQ and Bocephus BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Colorado Bulldawg BBQ and Blaz'n Weazel BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 8–9: Blaz'n Weazel BBQ and UNFAMOUS DAVE'S tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Cow Creek BBQ (won 2022).
What happened at this contest that stands in the all-time KCBS record book. A gold line is a record nobody has beaten.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2013 | Topeka, KS | Topeka, KS | 43 | 687.4516 | CHICKHOOVENSWINE BBQ | BLACK EYE BBQ |
| Oct 9, 2015 | Topeka, KS | Topeka, KS 66605 | 33 | 696.5600 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | BOXER Q BBQ |
| May 6, 2017 | Liberty, IN | 3801 West Old Dunlapsville RD | 26 | 695.9084 | VICTORY SMOKERS | GREY STREET BBQ |
| May 5, 2018 | Liberty, IN | 3801 West Old Dunlapsville RD | 28 | 693.6684 | GREY STREET BBQ | BANKIN BABY BBQ |
| May 4, 2019 | Liberty, IN | 381 W Old Dunlapsville | 26 | 696.5140 | Thunder Hog BBQ | SLIPPERY PETE'S BBQ |
| May 1, 2021 | Liberty, IN | 3801 W Old Dunlapsville Rd | 27 | 706.2400 | The BBQ Bus | GETTIN PIGGY WITH IT BACKYARD BBQ |
| Oct 15, 2021 | Topeka, KS | 3435 SE East Edge Rd | 25 | 699.3600 | Mad Mutt's BBQ | SMOKE RINGERS |
| Apr 29, 2022 | Liberty, IN | 3801 W Old Dunlapsville Rd | 25 | 707.9888 | Thunder Hog BBQ | SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS |
| Oct 14, 2022 | Topeka, KS | 3435 SE East Edge Rd | 28 | 701.6688 | Cow Creek BBQ | MAN MEAT BBQ |
| Oct 13, 2023 | Topeka, KS | 3435 SE East Edge Rd | 39 | 707.4176 | Slaps BBQ | WOOD HOOK BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Pine Bluff, AR | 1 Regional Park Dr | 42 | 698.2628 | Kith n Kin | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ |
| Oct 11, 2024 ← this one | Topeka, KS | 3435 SE East Edge Rd | 31 | 700.5372 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | Bocephus BBQ |
| Oct 10, 2025 | Topeka, KS | 3435 SE East Edge Rd | 30 | 703.3828 | Squealin N Dealin BBQ | Damn Fine Beef & Swine |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Topeka, KS | 3435 SE East Edge Rd | 25 | 706.2516 | Smokin' Outlaws | Meat Candy Q |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.1428 | 174.8456 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 175.4172 | 174.2744 |
| Pork | 180 | 176 | 173.1200 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.2628 | 172.5600 |
31 entries · top 700.5372 · median 683.8740
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 2 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 3 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 4 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 5 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 6 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 7 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 9 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 10 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 11 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 12 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 13 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 14 | In Deep Sauce | |
| 15 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 16 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 17 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 18 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 19 | Lucky D's BBQ | |
| 20 | Shark Q | |
| 21 | Electrified BBQ | |
| 22 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 23 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 24 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 25 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 26 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 27 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 28 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 29 | Sharp Dressed Men | |
| 30 | Butch's BBQ Shack | |
| 31 | Slabz Backyard BBQ |
31 entries · top 180 · median 173.1084 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 2 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 3 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 4 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 5 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 6 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 7 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 8 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 9 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 10 | In Deep Sauce | |
| 11 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 12 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 13 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 14 | Shark Q | |
| 15 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 16 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 17 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 18 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 20 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 21 | Electrified BBQ | |
| 22 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 23 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 24 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 25 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 26 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 27 | Lucky D's BBQ | |
| 28 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 29 | Butch's BBQ Shack | |
| 30 | Sharp Dressed Men | |
| 31 | Slabz Backyard BBQ |
31 entries · top 180 · median 170.8228 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 3 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 4 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 5 | In Deep Sauce | |
| 6 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 7 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 8 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 9 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 10 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 11 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 12 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 13 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 14 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 15 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 16 | Shark Q | |
| 17 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 18 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 19 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 20 | Lucky D's BBQ | |
| 21 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 22 | Electrified BBQ | |
| 23 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 24 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 25 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 26 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 27 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 28 | Sharp Dressed Men | |
| 29 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 30 | Butch's BBQ Shack | |
| 31 | Slabz Backyard BBQ |
31 entries · top 180 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 2 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 3 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 4 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 5 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 6 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 7 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 8 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 10 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 11 | Lucky D's BBQ | |
| 12 | Electrified BBQ | |
| 13 | Sharp Dressed Men | |
| 14 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 15 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 16 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 17 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 18 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 20 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 21 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 22 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 23 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 24 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 25 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 26 | In Deep Sauce | |
| 27 | Shark Q | |
| 28 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 29 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 30 | Slabz Backyard BBQ | |
| 31 | Butch's BBQ Shack |
31 entries · top 177.7028 · median 169.6684
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucky D's BBQ | |
| 2 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | |
| 3 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 4 | Slightly Sauced | |
| 5 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 6 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 7 | SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | |
| 8 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 9 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 10 | Barking Dog BBQ | |
| 11 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 13 | Shark Q | |
| 14 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 15 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 16 | In Deep Sauce | |
| 17 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 18 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 19 | MUNNY'S STOVE | |
| 20 | UNFAMOUS DAVE'S | |
| 21 | SMOKE THIS BBQ MO | |
| 22 | Electrified BBQ | |
| 23 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS | |
| 24 | Quality in Smoke | |
| 25 | Bourbon Bent BBQ | |
| 26 | M2 Smokin' Q | |
| 27 | Pine Tar BBQ | |
| 28 | Damn Fine Beef & Swine | |
| 29 | Sharp Dressed Men | |
| 30 | Butch's BBQ Shack | |
| 31 | Slabz Backyard BBQ |