In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored 1 Oct to 19 Oct.
This weekend: 8 contests on the calendar — the weekend edition.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- Grand Champions A2
- The Month in Brief A3
- By Invitation A4
- Perfect Scores A5
- Ratings Market A6
- The Backyard A7
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
By invitation only
SmellaQue Wins the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational
Best of 99 invited teams, with B's Que in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — SmellaQue won Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY), best of 99 invited teams; B's Que took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Across October 2026, 18 sanctioned contests were scored, across 10 states and provinces, drawing 496 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 606 top-ten calls and handed out 45 perfect 180s. 111 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 18 in all.
- Janky Leg BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2)
- Smoking butcher Fossalta is on Fire BBQ Competition (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- Onkel Felix BBQ Fossalta is on Fire BBQ Competition (ONE MEAT CHICKEN)
- Big Fluff BBQ WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Gettin' Basted All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1)
- Meat Me in St. Louis King of the Corn
- Country Boys BBQ The MoCo Smoke Show
- Crossed Rifles BBQ Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION)
- Smoked By The Brooks Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
- SmellaQue Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
- Old Virginia Smoke MD State BBQ Bash
- Smokin' Outlaws Smoke on the Water
- Poppin Smoke BBQ The United Rentals Big Blue BBQ at Union Station
- There's No Place Like Smoke La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown
- Dirty Shirt BBQ Keystone Classic Cookoff
- Holy Cow Octoberfest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Sauced and Smoked DBQ Gladfest Smokefest (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- SMOKED BY THE BROOKS Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY)
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Oct 2026 for Smoked By The Brooks
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
Smoked By The Brooks took 2 Grand Championships in October 2026.
They will not let it go
Three Straight at Fossalta is on Fire BBQ Competition for Smoking Butcher
Every edition of Fossalta is on Fire BBQ Competition since 2025 has gone the same way.
3 in a row wins at this contest
FOSSALTA DI PIAVE , 30020 — Smoking Butcher won Fossalta is on Fire BBQ Competition (ONE MEAT RIBS) again — 3 straight editions of this contest.
First one ever
Smoked By The Brooks Wins Its First, on the 13th Try
A first Grand Championship at Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY), after 13 contests in the record.
13th contest — and their first GC
PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — Smoked By The Brooks won their first Grand Championship at Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY), in their 13th contest in the data.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational
Reserve: B's Que
Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) — Oct. 9, Lynchburg, Tenn.
Royal Oak Invitational
Reserve: Chicken Fried BBQ
Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) — Oct. 15, Roswell, Ga.
Coming up by invitation: Grand American Barbecue World Championship Invitational, Sept. 17 (New Paltz, N.Y.).
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Oct 2026
The Long Shot Comes In at Keystone Classic Cookoff
Dirty Shirt BBQ won Keystone Classic Cookoff over top-rated CHUNKY BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 45 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 45 perfect 180s were handed out in October 2026.
Decided by 0.0116 of a Point
SMOKIN' OUTLAWS edged Meat Candy Q by 0.0116 at Smoke on the Water.
Crossed Rifles BBQ Back on Top After Three Years
Crossed Rifles BBQ won Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) — their first Grand Championship since August 2023, after 38 contests without one.
SMOKIN' OUTLAWS Takes Three of Four Meats at Smoke on the Water
SMOKIN' OUTLAWS won 3 of 4 meats at Smoke on the Water (chicken, pork ribs and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
RIO VALLEY MEAT Climbs 28 Rating Points
RIO VALLEY MEAT gained 28 rating points across 2 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
Six State Champions Crowned
6 state championships were decided in October 2026. The biggest, La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown (33 teams), went to There's No Place Like Smoke.
First Time Out, There's No Place Like Takes 1st
There's No Place Like finished 1st at La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
Big Fluff BBQ Tops the Backyard Board at WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY)
Big Fluff BBQ put up 356.5600 on the Backyard board at WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
SMELLAQUE Runs Away With Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue
SMELLAQUE won Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) by 6.8916 points over B'S QUE — the widest winning margin of the month.
99 Teams Roll Into Lynchburg
Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) drew 99 teams, and SmellaQue won it.
SLAPS BBQ Cooks Its 350th Contest
SLAPS BBQ cooked their 350th contest on record at Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY), with 49 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than JANKY LEG BBQ
JANKY LEG BBQ cooked 3 contests in October 2026 — nobody hauled the rig further.
SMELLAQUE Wins Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue Without Winning a Meat
SMELLAQUE won Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 5th.
A New Contest Opens in Sunland Park
All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) ran for the first time on record, drawing 35 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Five Contests on One Friday
5 sanctioned contests were cooked on 2 Oct alone.
Michael Santiago Works Three Contests
Michael Santiago repped 3 contests in October 2026 — somebody has to run the table.
Perfect 180s
45 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork Ribs BrewsCue All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Pork Colorado Bulldawg BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Chicken GETTIN' BASTED All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Pork JANKY LEG BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Pork Ribs JANKY LEG BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Chicken LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Pork Ribs MAN MEAT BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 2) · Oct. 17
- Chicken 1Bite Stand King of the Corn · Oct. 16
- Pork Ribs Colorado Bulldawg BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) · Oct. 16
- Pork JANKY LEG BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) · Oct. 16
- Brisket MAN MEAT BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) · Oct. 16
- Pork MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) · Oct. 16
- Chicken PARTS 'R' SMOKIN King of the Corn · Oct. 16
- Chicken PUDDLEDUCK BBQ WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Oct. 16
- Brisket SMOKIN' VOLTS BBQ All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) · Oct. 16
- Pork Ribs Si Quema All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1) · Oct. 16
- Brisket Crossed Rifles BBQ Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) · Oct. 15
- Pork FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) · Oct. 15
- Chicken Maya Jane BBQ Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) · Oct. 15
- Pork Ribs Meat Candy Q Royal Oak Invitational (COMPETITOR SERIES) (PRIVATE EVENT BY INVITATION) · Oct. 15
- Pork Ribs Black Bark Coyotes BBQ Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) · Oct. 9
- Pork COOKLOUNGE BBQ Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) · Oct. 9
- Pork Castiron Cookers Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) · Oct. 9
- Pork Cynical BBQ Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) · Oct. 9
…and 21 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Oct 2026; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| RIO VALLEY MEAT #874 | 1,619 | ▲ 28 |
| Can Do BBQ #1,670 | 1,554 | ▲ 26 |
| The Pitfather BBQ #482 | 1,681 | ▲ 25 |
| Smoked By The Brooks #791 | 1,629 | ▲ 24 |
| Bailout Barbecue #2,146 | 1,533 | ▲ 21 |
| Dirty Shirt BBQ | 1,487 | ▲ 20 |
| There's No Place Like | 1,519 | ▲ 19 |
| Estancia #6,110 | 1,429 | ▲ 18 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Squealin & Dealin | 1,518 | ▲ 18 |
| TRIPLE B BBQ #2,948 | 1,507 | ▲ 18 |
| Too Sauced BBQ #288 | 1,727 | ▼ 18 |
| IN DEEP SAUCE #1,214 | 1,586 | ▼ 19 |
| POPPA PIG AND PORKCHOP #851 | 1,622 | ▼ 19 |
| DM's BBQ | 1,479 | ▼ 21 |
| SadieQ #4,032 | 1,483 | ▼ 25 |
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 six contests in Oct 2026.
- 1 Big Fluff BBQ WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 356.5600
- 2 PUDDLEDUCK BBQ WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 355.4172
- 3 LEE LA Q WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 355.4172
- 4 Holy Cow Octoberfest (BACKYARD ONLY) · Argos, Ind. 354.8800
- 5 Smoked By The Brooks Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) · Pleasant Hill, Mo. 354.2856
- 6 Rollin Smoke BBQ WhistleStop BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Huntsville, Ala. 353.7260
- 7 Smoked By The Brooks Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Stover, Mo. 352.5484
- 8 10 In The Pit BBQ Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Stover, Mo. 351.9656
- 9 All Smoked Up BBQ Stover Rock Island Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) · Stover, Mo. 351.4056
- 10 Pork Starz BBQ Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) · Pleasant Hill, Mo. 350.8460
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 There's No Place Like La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown
- 2nd Oink N' Doink MD State BBQ Bash
- 3rd Petie's Smokin Pits Smoke on the Water
- 4th Squealin & Dealin King of the Corn
- 6th Smokin @ Noonish La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown
- 7th AK BBQ MANN Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 7th BLUE AND GRAY BBQ The MoCo Smoke Show
- 7th One Bite Stand La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown
- 8th FLYING WARTHOGS Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 8th Lost in Smoke BBQ Octoberfest (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 8th Sorella Smoke Show The United Rentals Big Blue BBQ at Union Station
- 9th Grill Fellas MD State BBQ Bash
- 9th Magnolia Meat CO The United Rentals Big Blue BBQ at Union Station
- 9th ROOSTER BBQ Big Creek BBQ Bash (BACKYARD ONLY)
- 9th Squelin' and Dealin' BBQ Smoke on the Water
- 10th Awesome Racks Cookin La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown
- 10th Boneafide The MoCo Smoke Show
- 10th Capital Q The MoCo Smoke Show
What a first season usually looks like → · 6 contests also ran for the first time on record: All American BBQ Cook-Off (Day 1), Keystone Classic Cookoff, The United Rentals Big Blue BBQ at Union Station, Gladfest Smokefest (ONE MEAT RIBS), Octoberfest (BACKYARD ONLY), The MoCo Smoke Show.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†16 | Rudes BBQ La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†11 | PARROTHEAD SMOKERS The United Rentals Big Blue BBQ at Union Station |
180 |
| Pork†12 | TEAM CRAWFORD La Belle MO Show Me BBQ Showdown |
180 |
| Brisket†6 | LC BBQ Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Brinkerhoff BBQ | 3 | — | 3 |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 3 | — | 3 |
| Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | 3 | — | 5 |
| LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ | 3 | — | 5 |
| BrewsCue | 3 | — | 10 |
| TEAM CRAWFORD | 3 | — | 11 |
| IN DEEP SAUCE | 3 | — | 15 |
| BBQ Hot Yard | 3 | — | 73 |
| Smoked By The Brooks | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Better Half Barbecue | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Art la Razza Piave Bbq | 2 | — | — |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Santiago | 3 | 1 |
| Rhonda Santiago | 3 | 1 |
| Bill Jones | 2 | 1 |
| Carol Bigler | 2 | 2 |
| Clara Williams | 2 | 2 |
| Debbie Spray | 2 | 1 |
| Eugene Wickham | 2 | 2 |
| Haymo Gutweniger | 2 | — |
| Jonathan B Williams | 2 | 2 |
| Luca Famigli | 2 | — |
| Randy G Bigler | 2 | 2 |
| Robert McKee | 2 | 1 |
| Sarah Wickham | 2 | 2 |
| Scott Spray | 2 | 1 |
| Alan Rothrock | 1 | 1 |
| Becky Druetzler | 1 | 1 |
| Brandon Bressner | 1 | 1 |
| Bunny Tuttle | 1 | 1 |
| Carolyn Wells | 1 | 1 |
| Charlie Brinza | 1 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 5 | 104 |
| Maryland | 2 | 83 |
| New Mexico | 2 | 38 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 99 |
| Alabama | 1 | 46 |
| Georgia | 1 | 38 |
| Iowa | 1 | 31 |
| Kansas | 1 | 25 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 25 |
| Indiana | 1 | 20 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 18 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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