2025-09-19 – 2025-09-20 · Rutherford College, NC · 📍 980 Malcolm Blvd · State championship
Reps: ALAN ROTHROCK, DOUG REID · Prize money: $9,580.00
Grand Champion: Smokin Skullies (697.6572) · 36 teams
Reserve Champion: 🥈 MUTTLEY CREW BBQ
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, 2020 to 2025 — 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.
Closer than 87% of the 4,742 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.6060 points — closer than 87% of every championship in the data.
SMOKIN SKULLIES won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
Chicken places 1–2: MAYA JANE BBQ CO. and ZIPS BBQ tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: ZIPS BBQ and HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS tied on 178.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: Bowmans Butt & BBQ and Holt Brothers BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
PIG ON FIRE turned in 179.4400 in pork ribs — past the 178.8572 that had stood across 4 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Redneck Scientific (won 2021), JL Smokers (won 2022), Chunky BBQ (won 2023).
This contest usually draws about 29 teams
36 teams is the deepest field this contest has drawn in the data, against a typical 29.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-09-11 | Connelly Springs, NC | 980 Malcolm Blvd. | 24 | 705.0856 | Smoke Monster BBQ | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ |
| 2021-09-24 | Rutherford College, NC | Rutherford College, NC 28671 | 27 | 698.2056 | Redneck Scientific | SMOKIN SKULLIES |
| 2022-09-23 | Connelly Springs, NC | 980 Malcolm Blvd | 32 | 699.3716 | JL Smokers | SMOKIN SKULLIES |
| 2023-09-22 | Rutherford College, NC | 980 Malcolm Blvd | 33 | 700.4912 | Chunky BBQ | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ |
| 2025-09-19 ← this one | Rutherford College, NC | 980 Malcolm Blvd | 36 | 697.6572 | Smokin Skullies | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ |
| 2026-09-18 | Rutherford College, NC | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 174.2628 | 171.9888 |
| Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 171.4172 |
| Pork | 177.7028 | 175.4172 | 173.1428 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 175.4056 | 174.2628 |
36 entries · top 697.6572 · median 676.7430
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 2 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 4 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 5 | HalaQyah BBQ | |
| 6 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 7 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 8 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 9 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 10 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 11 | Casual Smokers SC | |
| 12 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 13 | PIG ON FIRE | |
| 14 | JL Smokers | |
| 15 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 16 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 17 | Optimus Swine | |
| 18 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 19 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 20 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 21 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 22 | Speaks For Itself | |
| 23 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 24 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 25 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 26 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 27 | OMF Barbecue | |
| 28 | Holt Brothers BBQ | |
| 29 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 30 | SMOKING STUDS BBQ | |
| 31 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 32 | Smarts Smokin BBQ | |
| 33 | B&L BBQ | |
| 34 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 35 | Hauling Buttz BBQ | |
| 36 | Pyro Pigs BBQ |
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.5542
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 2 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 3 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 4 | Casual Smokers SC | |
| 5 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 6 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 7 | Holt Brothers BBQ | |
| 8 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 9 | HalaQyah BBQ | |
| 10 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 11 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 12 | Optimus Swine | |
| 13 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 14 | PIG ON FIRE | |
| 15 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 16 | JL Smokers | |
| 17 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 18 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 19 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 20 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 21 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 22 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 23 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 24 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 25 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 26 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 27 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 28 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 29 | OMF Barbecue | |
| 30 | Smarts Smokin BBQ | |
| 31 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKING STUDS BBQ | |
| 33 | B&L BBQ | |
| 34 | Speaks For Itself | |
| 35 | Hauling Buttz BBQ | |
| 36 | Pyro Pigs BBQ |
36 entries · top 179.4400 · median 168.5314
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIG ON FIRE | |
| 2 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 3 | JL Smokers | |
| 4 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 6 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 7 | HalaQyah BBQ | |
| 8 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 9 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 10 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 11 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 12 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 13 | Holt Brothers BBQ | |
| 14 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 15 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 16 | Optimus Swine | |
| 17 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 18 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 19 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 20 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 21 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 22 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 23 | Casual Smokers SC | |
| 24 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 25 | SMOKING STUDS BBQ | |
| 26 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 27 | B&L BBQ | |
| 28 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 29 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 30 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 31 | Smarts Smokin BBQ | |
| 32 | OMF Barbecue | |
| 33 | Speaks For Itself | |
| 34 | Pyro Pigs BBQ | |
| 35 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 36 | Hauling Buttz BBQ |
36 entries · top 177.7028 · median 170.8286
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 3 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 4 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 5 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 6 | HalaQyah BBQ | |
| 7 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 8 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 9 | Speaks For Itself | |
| 10 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 11 | Casual Smokers SC | |
| 12 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 13 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 14 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 15 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 16 | B&L BBQ | |
| 17 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKING STUDS BBQ | |
| 19 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 20 | Big Alz BBQ | |
| 21 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 22 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 23 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 24 | JL Smokers | |
| 25 | PIG ON FIRE | |
| 26 | OMF Barbecue | |
| 27 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 28 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 29 | Smarts Smokin BBQ | |
| 30 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 31 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 32 | Holt Brothers BBQ | |
| 33 | Optimus Swine | |
| 34 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 35 | Pyro Pigs BBQ | |
| 36 | Hauling Buttz BBQ |
36 entries · top 177.7028 · median 168.8170
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN SKULLIES | |
| 3 | ELITE BBQ SMOKERS | |
| 4 | MCADOO HEIGHTS BBQ | |
| 5 | REDNECK SCIENTIFIC | |
| 6 | WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ | |
| 7 | Speaks For Itself | |
| 8 | MUTTLEY CREW BBQ | |
| 9 | BROTHER IN LAW BBQ TEAM - NC | |
| 10 | Optimus Swine | |
| 11 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 12 | TWISTED PAIR BBQ | |
| 13 | OMF Barbecue | |
| 14 | CREEKSIDE SMOKERS NC | |
| 15 | HalaQyah BBQ | |
| 16 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 17 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 18 | Bowmans Butt & BBQ | |
| 19 | JL Smokers | |
| 20 | Casual Smokers SC | |
| 21 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 22 | PIG ON FIRE | |
| 23 | Hauling Buttz BBQ | |
| 24 | ALPINE SMOKE WORKS | |
| 25 | HOGGY BOTTOM BOYS | |
| 26 | MAYA JANE BBQ CO. | |
| 27 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 28 | Smarts Smokin BBQ | |
| 29 | Swine 'N' Roses BBQ | |
| 30 | HICKORY BARBEQUE COMPANY | |
| 31 | Holt Brothers BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKING STUDS BBQ | |
| 33 | BIG DOG BBQ VA | |
| 34 | B&L BBQ | |
| 35 | Pyro Pigs BBQ | |
| 36 | Big Alz BBQ |