In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in September 2025.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- Grand Champions A2
- The Month in Brief A3
- Perfect Scores A5
- Ratings Market A6
- The Backyard A7
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
Score of the month
B' Mackin BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
718.8572 out of 720 at 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest — the highest Master overall scored in September 2025.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — B' Mackin BBQ put up 718.8572 at 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest — the highest overall of the month.
Across September 2025, 61 sanctioned contests were scored, across 21 states and provinces, drawing 1,069 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,893 top-ten calls and handed out 84 perfect 180s. 210 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 61 in all. The 25 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- Fire & Shine BBQ First State BBQ Bash (SUNDAY BACKYARD ONLY)
- Phantom Smoke & BBQ Smoke in the Valley
- BBQ WorX Spencerville Smoke Ring
- LOVE 2 Q Shawnee Great Grillers
- Bad Dog BBQ Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival
- Drilling & Grilling First State BBQ Bash
- Maya Jane BBQ Fire in the Foothills
- Take It Easy BBQ Smokin on the Route
- Fire & Shine BBQ First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Que U Rollin Smoke at Rustic Timbers BBQ Bash
- Deviant Smoke Central AL BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- The BBQ Bus Rollin Smoke at Rustic Timbers BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Rough Cut Q First State BBQ Bash (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- NORALA BBQ TEAM The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Friday Night Chicken Fight" (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Sticks & Stones BBQ Green Mountain BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2)
- Luna Smoke - Italy Fo.G & Smoke 2025
- Dogpatch Q Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD)
- Luv2BBQ 12 Bridge Rib Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- ElJefe Smoke Green Mountain BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (One Meat Ribs)
- Smokin Hoggz BBQ - MA Green Mountain BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (One Meat Chicken)
- WeQ4u Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard
- Smokin Skullies Pigmaster's BBQ Challenge
- Damn Fine Beef & Swine 37th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out
- Puddleduck BBQ Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE)
- Shiggin & Grinnin Tri-City BBQ Fest
- Que U September Fest
- BULL IN THE RING Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off
- NORALA BBQ TEAM The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Don't Burn the Brisket" (ONE MEAT BRISKET)
- Sky High BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Smoke'N'Stooges September Fest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- PARTS 'R' SMOKIN Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Janky Leg BBQ Trekking for CDH
- BBQ+ Vaartse Hoeve BBQ Contest (Day 2)
- My3Sons BBQ Trekking for CDH (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Paddy McQ's Nor'Easter BBQ Showdown - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2)
- Fire At the End of the Day Nor'Easter BBQ Showdown - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (One Meat Ribs)
Hottest hand
Three Grand Championships in Sep 2025 for Fire Pig
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
3× Grand Championships
Fire Pig took 3 Grand Championships in September 2025.
First one ever
Ambition Que Wins Its First, on the 104th Try
A first Grand Championship at Buds Blues and BBQ, after 104 contests in the record.
104th contest — and their first GC
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Ambition Que won their first Grand Championship at Buds Blues and BBQ, in their 104th contest in the data.
Title defended
Big James Kitchen Defends Its Title at Smoke on the Water Guntersville
Back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest — 2024 and 2025.
2 in a row wins at this contest
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Big James Kitchen won Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
Also in Sep 2025
The Long Shot Comes In at Smoke on the Ohio
JaBs won Smoke on the Ohio over top-rated ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 84 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 84 perfect 180s were handed out in September 2025.
Decided by 0.0112 of a Point
QUE U edged THE BBQ BUS by 0.0112 at Rollin Smoke at Rustic Timbers BBQ Bash.
Rio Valley Meat BBQ Back on Top After Four Years
Rio Valley Meat BBQ won Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff — their first Grand Championship since March 2021, after 21 contests without one.
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN Sets the Record at Tri-City BBQ Fest
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN put up 703.4060 at Tri-City BBQ Fest — the best overall in 11 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 703.3712.
205 Smoke Climbs 43 Rating Points
205 Smoke gained 43 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
26 State Champions Crowned
26 state championships were decided in September 2025. The biggest, Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff (92 teams), went to Rio Valley Meat BBQ.
First Time Out, Ashes to Embers BBQ Takes 1st
Ashes to Embers BBQ finished 1st at 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Big James Kitchen Tops the Backyard Board at Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY)
Big James Kitchen put up 357.7144 on the Backyard board at Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
STICKS & STONES BBQ Runs Away With Green Mountain BBQ Championship - Campground BBQ Series
STICKS & STONES BBQ won Green Mountain BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) by 10.8912 points over ELJEFE SMOKE — the widest winning margin of the month.
92 Teams Roll Into Waller
Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff drew 92 teams, and Rio Valley Meat BBQ won it.
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ Cooks Its 300th Contest
MUTTLEY CREW BBQ cooked their 300th contest on record at Fire in the Foothills, with 16 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than Deviant Smoke
Deviant Smoke cooked 10 contests in September 2025 — nobody hauled the rig further.
WeQ4U Wins Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard Without Winning a Meat
WeQ4U won Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Wellington
Grizzly BBQ Brawl ran for the first time on record, drawing 42 teams, and Beer Time BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS Takes Reserve Two Times
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS finished second overall 2 times in September 2025 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
Twelve Contests on One Friday
12 sanctioned contests were cooked on 12 Sep alone.
Carol Bigler Works Eight Contests
Carol Bigler repped 8 contests in September 2025 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
84 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken Team Sunrise BBQ Spencerville Smoke Ring · Sept. 27
- Pork BREW 'N' BAR-B-QUE Shawnee Great Grillers · Sept. 26
- Brisket Bad Dog BBQ Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Chicken Bad Dog BBQ Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Pork Ribs Bad Dog BBQ Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Pork Bazinga BBQ Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Brisket HotMess BBQ First State BBQ Bash · Sept. 26
- Pork KEEP CALM & SAUCE ON Shawnee Great Grillers · Sept. 26
- Pork MUNNY'S STOVE Smokin on the Route · Sept. 26
- Brisket PARTS 'R' SMOKIN Smokin on the Route · Sept. 26
- Chicken PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Pork Pine Tar BBQ Shawnee Great Grillers · Sept. 26
- Chicken QUE U Rollin Smoke at Rustic Timbers BBQ Bash · Sept. 26
- Chicken Take It Easy BBQ Smokin on the Route · Sept. 26
- Brisket Thin Blue Smoke MS Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Pork Whiskey & Swine Downtown Jonesboro BBQ Festival · Sept. 26
- Chicken LUNA SMOKE - Italy Fo.G & Smoke 2025 · Sept. 20
- Pork LUNA SMOKE - Italy Fo.G & Smoke 2025 · Sept. 20
- Pork Ribs Luv2BBQ 12 Bridge Rib Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS) · Sept. 20
- Brisket STICKS & STONES BBQ Green Mountain BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) · Sept. 20
- Pork STICKS & STONES BBQ Green Mountain BBQ Championship - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (DAY 2) · Sept. 20
- Pork Ribs Say My Name BBQ Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD) · Sept. 20
- Chicken Ambition Que Murphysboro BBQ Cook-off/Praise the Lard · Sept. 19
- Chicken BAMA BOYS BBQ Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) · Sept. 19
…and 60 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Sep 2025; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| 205 Smoke #998 | 1,606 | ▲ 43 |
| Fire Pig #640 | 1,652 | ▲ 39 |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ #211 | 1,753 | ▲ 36 |
| Say My Name BBQ #675 | 1,646 | ▲ 34 |
| Rollin Smoke BBQ #154 | 1,777 | ▲ 32 |
| Sky High BBQ #2,348 | 1,525 | ▲ 31 |
| Good Grefe! #2,819 | 1,511 | ▲ 29 |
| PUDDLEDUCK BBQ #331 | 1,716 | ▲ 28 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| BULL IN THE RING #471 | 1,684 | ▲ 28 |
| Brisket Butts #579 | 1,663 | ▲ 27 |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN #186 | 1,762 | ▼ 20 |
| Red and Black BBQ Shack #5,924 | 1,438 | ▼ 21 |
| HELL ON SQUEALS #656 | 1,649 | ▼ 21 |
| iBQ'n #165 | 1,773 | ▼ 26 |
| Hawt Hawgs BBQ | 1,482 | ▼ 28 |
Full power rankings → · Ratings move only on rated contests; invitationals and non-points events are excluded.
The Backyard Two meats, out of 360 — never against the Master board
The Backyard division was cooked at 19 contests in Sep 2025.
- 1 Big James Kitchen Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) · Guntersville, Ala. 357.7144
- 2 FIRE & SHINE BBQ Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) · Cullman, Ala. 357.7028
- 3 931 BBQ Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) · Guntersville, Ala. 357.7028
- 4 205 Smoke Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) · Guntersville, Ala. 354.8572
- 5 Fire Pig Bands and BBQ at the Point · Carrollton, Ky. 354.2744
- 6 Rollin Smoke BBQ Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) · Guntersville, Ala. 354.2744
- 7 Blended Smoke BBQ Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) · Park Ridge, Ill. 353.7488
- 8 Too Sauced BBQ Patriot Day of Remembrance BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY) · Webb City, Mo. 353.1544
- 9 Armstrong Smoke & Co. Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) · Guntersville, Ala. 353.1200
- 10 Fire Pig Buds Blues and BBQ · Columbia, Mo. 352.5600
The Backyard series in full → · Its own record board, its own champions and its own Team of the Year.
New to the Circuit First appearance anywhere in the record — the figure is their best finish
- 1st Ashes to Embers BBQ 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- 2nd BB's BBQ 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- 2nd Rusty grill Bulgarian Barbecue Championship
- 3rd Seek & Destroy BBQ 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- 3rd Smoke and Beer team Bulgarian Barbecue Championship
- 3rd The Priceless Pitmasters Bands and BBQ at the Point
- 4th Baby Badger Barbeque Vine St BBQ Competition & Fest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 4th Hubbs BBQ 1 Patriot Day of Remembrance BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 4th Ryan Smoke 3G Big Smoke Bonnyville
- 4th Smoke'n Poke Tri-City BBQ Fest
- 5th 301 Degrees of Deliciousness Big Smoke Bonnyville
- 5th Hot Hoskins BBQ 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- 5th Hubbs BBQ 2 Patriot Day of Remembrance BBQ Contest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 5th Thin Line Barbeque Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic Cookoff
- 5th Titan-Q September Fest
- 6th Center Stage Catering 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest
- 6th M2BBQ Smokin Ribs for the Kids (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 7th Byrd Family BBQ Smokin on the Route
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: Grizzly BBQ Brawl, Wings 4 Water IV (COMPETITOR SERIES), 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest, 37th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out, Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY), Bands and BBQ at the Point, Uniquely Union Festival, Fire in the Foothills, First State BBQ Bash, Grillstock, Smoke in the Valley, Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (ONE MEAT CHICKEN).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†29 | ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN Uniquely Union Festival |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†14 | B' Mackin BBQ 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest |
180 |
| Pork†22 | B' Mackin BBQ 21st Annual Burnt Offerings BBQ Contest |
180 |
| Brisket†19 | BEER TIME BBQ Saxonburg BBQ Smokeout |
180 |
† a perfect 180 was scored in this category during the edition.
Who Showed Up
Contests · Grand Championships · best overall finish
| Team | C | GC | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deviant Smoke | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 10 | — | 5 |
| Pork Life | 10 | — | 5 |
| Wee Daddy's BBQ | 9 | — | 8 |
| Rollin Smoke BBQ | 8 | — | 3 |
| FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| PUDDLEDUCK BBQ | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| ELJEFE SMOKE | 7 | — | 2 |
| Electro-Que-ted | 7 | — | 2 |
| LEE LA Q | 7 | — | 2 |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 7 | — | 2 |
| Let It Smoke Barbecue | 7 | — | 6 |
| American Barbecue Company | 7 | — | 7 |
| Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | 7 | — | 7 |
| FIRE & SHINE BBQ | 6 | 3 | 1 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Carol Bigler | 8 | 1 |
| Randy G Bigler | 8 | 1 |
| Dave Druetzler | 6 | 4 |
| Becky Druetzler | 5 | 3 |
| Louise Weidner | 5 | 2 |
| Abigail Nichols | 4 | 1 |
| Bill Jones | 4 | 1 |
| Bill Wright | 4 | 1 |
| Charlie Brinza | 4 | 2 |
| Jake Nichols | 4 | 1 |
| Jeanne Titus | 4 | 2 |
| Kim Wright | 4 | 1 |
| Brenda Black | 3 | 1 |
| David Dyche | 3 | 1 |
| Eugene Wickham | 3 | 3 |
| Jo Dyche | 3 | 1 |
| Ken Black | 3 | 1 |
| Larry Voth | 3 | 2 |
| Lynda Voth | 3 | 2 |
| Sarah Wickham | 3 | 3 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10 | 77 |
| Illinois | 5 | 156 |
| Missouri | 5 | 94 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 64 |
| Delaware | 4 | 42 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 23 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 45 |
| Alberta | 3 | 44 |
| Vermont | 3 | 25 |
| California | 2 | 60 |
| North Carolina | 2 | 59 |
| Michigan | 2 | 31 |
| Texas | 1 | 120 |
| Kansas | 1 | 67 |
| Kentucky | 1 | 51 |
| Ohio | 1 | 42 |
| Iowa | 1 | 34 |
| Indiana | 1 | 27 |
| Arkansas | 1 | 26 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 25 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 61 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
Contests Advertised
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) — Friday, Oct. 23. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) — Friday, Oct. 23. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition — Friday, Oct. 23. Vidalia, La. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Rock Lane Presents Grills Gone Wild — Friday, Oct. 23. Branson, Mo. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- The Butcher's Smoke & Flames Barbeque Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) — Friday, Oct. 23. Cullman, Ala. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Foothills Smoke-Off Challenge — Friday, Oct. 23. Lenoir, N.C. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) — Saturday, Oct. 24. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) — Saturday, Oct. 24. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
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