A new contest record
714.2628
highest overall ever cooked here
714.2628 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 704.5488 SMOKIN BUTT CREW set in 2017.
- old record 704.5488
- set 2017 by SMOKIN BUTT CREW
Smoke on the Falls 2026
Apr 3–4, 2026 · Gadsden, AL · 📍 1600 Noccalula Rd · State championship
Reps: Jeanne Titus, Lygia (Lex) Vanegas, Robert Vanderipe · Prize money: $11,220
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Falls on April 3, 2026 in Gadsden, AL at 1600 Noccalula Rd, scoring 714.2628 in a field of 36 teams. COOL HAND QUE took Reserve Grand Champion with 705.6916. Category winners: Chicken — SWIG-N-PIG (180.0000); Pork Ribs — ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN (180.0000); Pork — SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS (180.0000); Brisket — SWIG-N-PIG (180.0000). The Backyard Series standings were won by Budget BBQ with 353.7144. This is the 11th of 11 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by We Will Rock 'Que.
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.
570.80
median 688.76
714.26 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 180 🔥
- Master Series — Pork 180 🔥
- Master Series — Brisket 180 🔥
- Backyard Series — Chicken 178.86
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 179.44
48.56
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
36
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
714.2628
Winning margin
8.5712
GC over RC
Field average
682.85
570.80714.26
median 688.76 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
10 🔥
Tightest race
Pork
1.1428 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
697.0628
570.80714.26
10th place overall
Field spread
143.4628
winner to last place
Prize money
$11,220
on the line
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 1%
beats 99% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
49%
26 of 53 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.43 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,572
avg power rating going in · stronger than 57% of contests
Storylines (7 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.
A day of perfect scores
10
perfect 180s
10 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- SWIG-N-PIG · Brisket
- LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ · Brisket
- ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN · Brisket
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 26 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: SWIG-N-PIG and WE WILL ROCK QUE tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS and FRED VEGAS SMOKERS tied on 177.7144 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: SMOKE RING AND BARK and BrewsCue tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
SWIG-N-PIG won Chicken, Brisket — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Brisket 1st
How the title was won
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 15th.
- Chicken 15th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 3rd
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: We Will Rock 'Que (won 2023, 2024).
- We Will Rock 'Que · 2023, 2024
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 | Gadsden, AL | 1500 Noccalula Rd | 31 | 699.9428 | We Will Rock 'Que | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
| Apr 3, 2026 ← this one | 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 | 180 | 177.7144 | 176.5600 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 180 | 175.4400 | 174.2744 |
| Master Series — Pork | 180 | 178.8572 | 174.2744 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 180 | 177.7372 | 177.7028 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 178.8572 | 176.5600 | 171.9772 |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 173.7028 | 171.9888 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 714.2628 · median 688.7600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 3 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 4 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 5 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 6 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 7 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 8 | BrewsCue | |
| 9 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 10 | SMOKE RING AND BARK | |
| 11 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 12 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 13 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 14 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 15 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 16 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 17 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 18 | Bad company cookers | |
| 19 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 20 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 21 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 22 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 23 | WAR PIGS | |
| 24 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 25 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 26 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 27 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 28 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 29 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 30 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 31 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 32 | BBQ Hotties | |
| 33 | Simply Smoked | |
| 34 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 35 | Roux BBQ | |
| 36 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
Chicken
36 entries · top 180 · median 173.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 2 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 3 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 4 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 5 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 6 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 7 | SMOKE RING AND BARK | |
| 8 | BrewsCue | |
| 9 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 10 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 11 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 12 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 13 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 14 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 15 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 16 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 17 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 18 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 19 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 20 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 21 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 22 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 23 | Simply Smoked | |
| 24 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 25 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 26 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 27 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 28 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 29 | Roux BBQ | |
| 30 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 31 | Bad company cookers | |
| 32 | BBQ Hotties | |
| 33 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 34 | WAR PIGS | |
| 35 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 36 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 180 · median 172.2686 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 2 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 3 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 4 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 5 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 6 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 7 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 8 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 9 | BrewsCue | |
| 10 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 11 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 12 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 13 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 14 | Bad company cookers | |
| 15 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 16 | SMOKE RING AND BARK | |
| 17 | WAR PIGS | |
| 18 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 19 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 20 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 21 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 22 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 23 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 24 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 25 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 26 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 27 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 28 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 29 | BBQ Hotties | |
| 30 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 31 | Simply Smoked | |
| 32 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 33 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 34 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 35 | Roux BBQ | |
| 36 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS |
Pork
36 entries · top 180 · median 171.1258 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 2 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 5 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 6 | WAR PIGS | |
| 7 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 8 | BrewsCue | |
| 9 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 10 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 11 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 12 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 13 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 14 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 15 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 16 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 17 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 18 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 19 | Bad company cookers | |
| 20 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 21 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 22 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 23 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 24 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 25 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 26 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 27 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 28 | SMOKE RING AND BARK | |
| 29 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 30 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 31 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 32 | Simply Smoked | |
| 33 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 34 | BBQ Hotties | |
| 35 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 36 | Roux BBQ |
Brisket
36 entries · top 180 · median 172.2686 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWIG-N-PIG | |
| 2 | LOADED-N-ROLLIN BBQ | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | TENNESSEE SMOKE SHOWIN | |
| 5 | Wine Me Dine Me and Swine Me | |
| 6 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKE RING AND BARK | |
| 8 | RAZORRACKS | |
| 9 | Bad company cookers | |
| 10 | COOL HAND QUE | |
| 11 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 12 | SMOKIN' SWEETMEATS | |
| 13 | ZIPS BBQ | |
| 14 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 15 | Blue Smoke Q | |
| 16 | Purdom's BBQ | |
| 17 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 18 | HICKORY HANGOVER | |
| 19 | The BBQ Asylum | |
| 20 | FRED VEGAS SMOKERS | |
| 21 | DANG GOOD BBQ | |
| 22 | Glamping Grillers | |
| 23 | MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | |
| 24 | WAR PIGS | |
| 25 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 26 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 27 | BrewsCue | |
| 28 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 29 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 30 | HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | |
| 31 | THE FAT GUYZ | |
| 32 | BBQ Hotties | |
| 33 | Simply Smoked | |
| 34 | PeachCoast BBQ | |
| 35 | FAT BEAR BBQ | |
| 36 | Roux BBQ |
Backyard Series
Overall
31 entries · top 353.7144 · median 337.6456
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budget BBQ | |
| 2 | Pork Life | |
| 3 | Baptized by Smoke | |
| 4 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 5 | 931 BBQ | |
| 6 | LEE LA Q | |
| 7 | HOLY SMOKIN!!! | |
| 8 | Southern Swine | |
| 9 | Mind if I Smoke? | |
| 10 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 11 | Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | |
| 12 | BAD BRAD'S BBQ | |
| 13 | Circle W Meats | |
| 14 | JACK SHACK | |
| 15 | 205 Smoke | |
| 16 | Bear Necessitiez BBQ | |
| 17 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 18 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 19 | The Local Que BBQ & Catering | |
| 20 | Kane's Q | |
| 21 | Last Place Last Year | |
| 22 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 23 | SWINE N BRINE BBQ | |
| 24 | Beer Googles BBQ | |
| 25 | Modest Meats | |
| 26 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 27 | Batons & Bones | |
| 28 | Bubba & The MeatHeads | |
| 29 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 30 | Osborntobbq | |
| 31 | Black Diamond Social |
Chicken
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baptized by Smoke | |
| 2 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 3 | Pork Life | |
| 4 | Southern Swine | |
| 5 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 6 | LEE LA Q | |
| 7 | Budget BBQ | |
| 8 | Mind if I Smoke? | |
| 9 | HOLY SMOKIN!!! | |
| 10 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 11 | 931 BBQ | |
| 12 | 205 Smoke | |
| 13 | JACK SHACK | |
| 14 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 15 | Bear Necessitiez BBQ | |
| 16 | Batons & Bones | |
| 17 | Circle W Meats | |
| 18 | BAD BRAD'S BBQ | |
| 19 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 20 | Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | |
| 21 | Beer Googles BBQ | |
| 22 | SWINE N BRINE BBQ | |
| 23 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 24 | The Local Que BBQ & Catering | |
| 25 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 26 | Modest Meats | |
| 27 | Bubba & The MeatHeads | |
| 28 | Last Place Last Year | |
| 29 | Kane's Q | |
| 30 | Osborntobbq | |
| 31 | Black Diamond Social |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 179.4400 · median 169.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budget BBQ | |
| 2 | Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | |
| 3 | Pork Life | |
| 4 | 931 BBQ | |
| 5 | HOLY SMOKIN!!! | |
| 6 | BAD BRAD'S BBQ | |
| 7 | Baptized by Smoke | |
| 8 | Kane's Q | |
| 9 | Vegan Recovery Camp | |
| 10 | Last Place Last Year | |
| 11 | Circle W Meats | |
| 12 | LEE LA Q | |
| 13 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 14 | Mind if I Smoke? | |
| 15 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 16 | The Local Que BBQ & Catering | |
| 17 | Southern Swine | |
| 18 | Bear Necessitiez BBQ | |
| 19 | Modest Meats | |
| 20 | 205 Smoke | |
| 21 | JACK SHACK | |
| 22 | Big Fluff BBQ | |
| 23 | SWINE N BRINE BBQ | |
| 24 | Beer Googles BBQ | |
| 25 | Bubba & The MeatHeads | |
| 26 | Still Site BBQ | |
| 27 | JT'S SMOKE SHACK | |
| 28 | Black Diamond Social | |
| 29 | Osborntobbq | |
| 30 | LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | |
| 31 | Batons & Bones |
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.
Ancillary — Dessert
17 entries · top 180 · median 176.5600 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | |
| 2 | BrewsCue | |
| 3 | Rollin Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | Barking Pig BBQ | |
| 5 | CHOOCHOO BBQ | |
| 6 | BAD ROOSTER BBQ | |
| 7 | Bad company cookers | |
| 8 | Wee Daddy's BBQ | |
| 9 | Peckerwood Country Club | |
| 10 | SWINE N BRINE BBQ | |
| 11 | JACK SHACK | |
| 12 | The Local Que BBQ & Catering | |
| 13 | Kane's Q | |
| 14 | Kick Em In The Butt BBQ | |
| 15 | WAR PIGS | |
| 16 | Q-INATOR! | |
| 17 | Bear Necessitiez BBQ |