Oct 14–15, 2022 · Topeka, KS · 📍 3435 SE East Edge Rd · State championship
Reps: Clara Williams, Jonathan B Williams · Prize money: $5,250
Cow Creek BBQ won Grand Champion at the Smoke on the Water on October 14, 2022 in Topeka, KS at 3435 SE East Edge Rd, scoring 701.6688 in a field of 28 teams. MAN MEAT BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 701.0972. Category winners: Chicken — KC MEAT SWEATS (180.0000); Pork Ribs — Too Sauced BBQ (180.0000); Pork — Cow Creek BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — FINGER LEIKAM GOOD (178.8572). This is the 9th of 14 editions of this contest on record; the 2022 edition was won by Thunder Hog BBQ; 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, 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.
Closer than 90% of the 4,722 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 0.5716 points — closer than 90% of every championship in the data.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 75 times in 100
Cow Creek BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, MAN MEAT BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 25-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
This was Cow Creek BBQ's first Grand Championship in the data — it arrived at their 27th tracked contest.
3 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 3–4: MAN MEAT BBQ and Bocephus BBQ tied on 175.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 5–6: WOOD HOOK BBQ and Cow Creek BBQ tied on 175.4056 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: TOPEKA BBQ SHOP and Cities Edge BBQ tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
Cow Creek BBQ took the title on 3 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was pork ribs at 12th.
KC MEAT SWEATS turned in 180.0000 in chicken — past the 179.4400 that had stood across 8 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: Mad Mutt's BBQ (won 2021).
| 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 ← this one | 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 | 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 | 175.4056 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 180 | 174.2628 | 171.9772 |
| Pork | 180 | 175.4172 | 169.1200 |
| Brisket | 178.8572 | 174.2628 | 170.8572 |
28 entries · top 701.6688 · median 673.2796
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 4 | TOPEKA BBQ SHOP | |
| 5 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 6 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 7 | Boxer Q BBQ | |
| 8 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 9 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 10 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 11 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 12 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 13 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 14 | 777 BBQ | |
| 15 | M.T. POCKETS | |
| 16 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 17 | INDIGO PIG | |
| 18 | One Love BBQ | |
| 19 | BEER DART BBQ | |
| 20 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 21 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 22 | 5280 BBQ | |
| 23 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 24 | Burnt & Ernie | |
| 25 | DB Que | |
| 26 | Tenderbutts BBQ | |
| 27 | Code Red | |
| 28 | TJ's " Tarzan & Jane " BBQ |
28 entries · top 180 · median 169.1086 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 2 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 3 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 4 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 5 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 6 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 7 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 8 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 9 | TOPEKA BBQ SHOP | |
| 10 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 11 | BEER DART BBQ | |
| 12 | 777 BBQ | |
| 13 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 14 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 15 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 16 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 17 | DB Que | |
| 18 | Burnt & Ernie | |
| 19 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 20 | Boxer Q BBQ | |
| 21 | Tenderbutts BBQ | |
| 22 | INDIGO PIG | |
| 23 | M.T. POCKETS | |
| 24 | 5280 BBQ | |
| 25 | Code Red | |
| 26 | One Love BBQ | |
| 27 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 28 | TJ's " Tarzan & Jane " BBQ |
28 entries · top 180 · median 168.8286 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 2 | One Love BBQ | |
| 3 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 4 | TOPEKA BBQ SHOP | |
| 5 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 6 | 777 BBQ | |
| 7 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 8 | Boxer Q BBQ | |
| 9 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 10 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 11 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 12 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 13 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 14 | INDIGO PIG | |
| 15 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 16 | M.T. POCKETS | |
| 17 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 18 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 19 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 20 | 5280 BBQ | |
| 21 | BEER DART BBQ | |
| 22 | Burnt & Ernie | |
| 23 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 24 | DB Que | |
| 25 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 26 | Code Red | |
| 27 | Tenderbutts BBQ | |
| 28 | TJ's " Tarzan & Jane " BBQ |
28 entries · top 180 · median 167.6800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 2 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 3 | TOPEKA BBQ SHOP | |
| 4 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 5 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 6 | Boxer Q BBQ | |
| 7 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 8 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 9 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 10 | INDIGO PIG | |
| 11 | One Love BBQ | |
| 12 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 13 | M.T. POCKETS | |
| 14 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 15 | TJ's " Tarzan & Jane " BBQ | |
| 16 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 17 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 18 | 777 BBQ | |
| 19 | 5280 BBQ | |
| 20 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 21 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 22 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 23 | Tenderbutts BBQ | |
| 24 | Burnt & Ernie | |
| 25 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 26 | DB Que | |
| 27 | BEER DART BBQ | |
| 28 | Code Red |
28 entries · top 178.8572 · median 165.9600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | |
| 2 | Boxer Q BBQ | |
| 3 | WOOD HOOK BBQ | |
| 4 | Cow Creek BBQ | |
| 5 | MAN MEAT BBQ | |
| 6 | TOPEKA BBQ SHOP | |
| 7 | MAD MUTT'S BBQ | |
| 8 | FAIRWAY SMOKERS | |
| 9 | KC MEAT SWEATS | |
| 10 | ROCK N BLUES BBQ | |
| 11 | M.T. POCKETS | |
| 12 | Bocephus BBQ | |
| 13 | BEER DART BBQ | |
| 14 | Cities Edge BBQ | |
| 15 | 777 BBQ | |
| 16 | Blaz'n Weazel BBQ | |
| 17 | M Squared Smokin' Q | |
| 18 | One Love BBQ | |
| 19 | Too Sauced BBQ | |
| 20 | Triple Ace's Bbq | |
| 21 | INDIGO PIG | |
| 22 | Who's Cookin' | |
| 23 | Tenderbutts BBQ | |
| 24 | 5280 BBQ | |
| 25 | Burnt & Ernie | |
| 26 | DB Que | |
| 27 | Code Red | |
| 28 | TJ's " Tarzan & Jane " BBQ |