Sep 23–24, 2022 · Murphysboro, IL · 📍 214 N 17th St · State championship
Reps: Carolyn Wells, Debra Gage, William Gage · Prize money: $12,700
SmokinGhost BBQ won Grand Champion at the Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard on September 23, 2022 in Murphysboro, IL at 214 N 17th St, scoring 702.8344 in a field of 46 teams. SWINE LIFE took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.7032. Category winners: Chicken — JANKY LEG BBQ (180.0000); Pork Ribs — SmokinGhost BBQ (178.8572); Pork — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ (176.5600); Brisket — SWINE LIFE (180.0000). This is the 1st of 5 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2023.
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, 2022 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.
Closer than 83% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1312 points — closer than 83% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 78 times in 100
SmokinGhost BBQ 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.
First to fifth in the overall standings covered just 3.4516 points.
Stronger than 93% of every rated contest
The field averaged a 1639 power rating going in — stronger than 93% of every contest tracked.
Chicken places 3–4: ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN and THE BBQ BUS tied on 177.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: T-Rex BBQ and Heavy Smoke BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Heavy Smoke BBQ and SmokinGhost BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
SmokinGhost BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 12th.
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2022 ← this one | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 46 | 702.8344 | Smokin' Ghost | SWINE LIFE |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 50 | 701.1200 | Janky Leg BBQ | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 58 | 708.5716 | The BBQ Bus | WE WILL ROCK QUE |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 56 | 706.2628 | WeQ4u | TRIPLE H BBQ |
| Sep 25, 2026 | Murphysboro, IL | 214 N 17th St | 71 | 710.2860 | 1Bite Stand | With A 180 |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 177.1544 | 176.0116 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 175.4172 | 174.2744 |
| Pork | 176.5600 | 175.4056 | 173.7144 |
| Brisket | 180 | 177.7028 | 173.7028 |
46 entries · top 702.8344 · median 681.6570
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 7 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 8 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 9 | Organizer Portal | |
| 10 | QUE U | |
| 11 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 12 | iBQ'n | |
| 13 | Risky Brisket | |
| 14 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 15 | Darty-Q | |
| 16 | WEQ4U | |
| 17 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 18 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 19 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 20 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 21 | Q-JITSU | |
| 22 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 23 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 24 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 25 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 26 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 27 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 28 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 29 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 30 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 31 | Matty Macks | |
| 32 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 33 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 34 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 35 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 36 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 37 | Serial Grillers | |
| 38 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 39 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 40 | Party Q | |
| 41 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 42 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 43 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 44 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 45 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 46 | High on the Hog |
45 entries · top 180 · median 171.9656 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 2 | Organizer Portal | |
| 3 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 4 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 5 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 6 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 7 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 8 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 9 | QUE U | |
| 10 | Risky Brisket | |
| 11 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 12 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 13 | Darty-Q | |
| 14 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 15 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 16 | iBQ'n | |
| 17 | Q-JITSU | |
| 18 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 19 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 20 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 21 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 22 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 23 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 24 | Matty Macks | |
| 25 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 26 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 27 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 28 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 29 | WEQ4U | |
| 30 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 31 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 32 | Serial Grillers | |
| 33 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 35 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 36 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 37 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 38 | Party Q | |
| 39 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 40 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 41 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 42 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 43 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 44 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 45 | Ellsworth BBQ |
46 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8400
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 2 | WEQ4U | |
| 3 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 4 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 5 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 6 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 8 | QUE U | |
| 9 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 10 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 11 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 12 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 13 | Q-JITSU | |
| 14 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 15 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 16 | Risky Brisket | |
| 17 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 18 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 19 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 20 | iBQ'n | |
| 21 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 22 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 23 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 24 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 25 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 26 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 27 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 28 | Matty Macks | |
| 29 | Organizer Portal | |
| 30 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Darty-Q | |
| 32 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 33 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 34 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 35 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 36 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 37 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 38 | Serial Grillers | |
| 39 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 40 | High on the Hog | |
| 41 | Party Q | |
| 42 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 43 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 44 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 45 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 46 | The BBQ Commission |
46 entries · top 176.5600 · median 169.1428
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 2 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 3 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 4 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 5 | Risky Brisket | |
| 6 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 7 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 8 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 9 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 10 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 11 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 12 | WEQ4U | |
| 13 | Darty-Q | |
| 14 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 15 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 17 | iBQ'n | |
| 18 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 19 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 20 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 21 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 22 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 24 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 25 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 26 | QUE U | |
| 27 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 28 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 29 | Q-JITSU | |
| 30 | Organizer Portal | |
| 31 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 32 | Matty Macks | |
| 33 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 34 | The BBQ Commission | |
| 35 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 36 | Serial Grillers | |
| 37 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 38 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 39 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 40 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 41 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 42 | High on the Hog | |
| 43 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 44 | Party Q | |
| 45 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 46 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ |
46 entries · top 180 · median 166.8114 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWINE LIFE | |
| 2 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | |
| 3 | SMOKE-N-PEPPERS | |
| 4 | Organizer Portal | |
| 5 | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | |
| 6 | THUNDER HOG BBQ | |
| 7 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 8 | THE BBQ BUS | |
| 9 | Darty-Q | |
| 10 | HOT COLE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | QUE U | |
| 12 | SmokinGhost BBQ | |
| 13 | RUSTY PIG BBQ | |
| 14 | iBQ'n | |
| 15 | BAD HABIT BBQ | |
| 16 | CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO. | |
| 17 | Q-JITSU | |
| 18 | JANKY LEG BBQ | |
| 19 | JaBs BBQ | |
| 20 | T-Rex BBQ | |
| 21 | MOON KING BBQ | |
| 22 | WEQ4U | |
| 23 | SMOKIN HOOSIERS | |
| 24 | Risky Brisket | |
| 25 | Heavy Smoke BBQ | |
| 26 | Matty Macks | |
| 27 | The Yellow Rose Texas BBQ Company | |
| 28 | STEAMBOAT BBQ-HOTDIGGITY HOG | |
| 29 | HEFTY LEFTY BBQ | |
| 30 | WE WILL ROCK QUE | |
| 31 | ST. LOUIS BLACK IRON BBQ | |
| 32 | Rub Runners BBQ | |
| 33 | AUTO"BE"GRILLIN | |
| 34 | High on the Hog | |
| 35 | GoodgreiFBBQ | |
| 36 | ONE2BBQ | |
| 37 | Backdraft Cooking Systems | |
| 38 | Blinkys Offset BBQ | |
| 39 | Party Q | |
| 40 | Ellsworth BBQ | |
| 41 | Bumpy Pickle BBQ | |
| 42 | Fittin' Ta Que | |
| 43 | Dewey Smokem and Howe | |
| 44 | Get Your Grill ON | |
| 45 | Serial Grillers | |
| 46 | The BBQ Commission |