The heartbreaker
Came within 1.1772 points of the Grand Championship at VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition (Oct 24, 2025).
Rankin County BBQ Company is a competition barbecue team with 44 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2019 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 33 at the VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition (2025), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #1096 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #662 (193 pts) | #682 (228 pts) | #596 (318 pts) | #706 (183 pts) | #721 (178 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #525 (340 pts) | #651 (275 pts) | #566 (375 pts) | #649 (255 pts) | #808 (165 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #259 (841 pts) | #130 (1,306 pts) | #266 (936 pts) | #196 (1,036 pts) | #176 (1,126 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #297 (725 pts) | #279 (815 pts) | #276 (885 pts) | #199 (1,015 pts) | #373 (560 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #135 (1,357 pts) | #96 (1,492 pts) | #137 (1,327 pts) | #196 (1,062 pts) | #167 (1,182 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #191 (980 pts) | #109 (1,355 pts) | #120 (1,346 pts) | #170 (1,066 pts) | #198 (975 pts) |
| 2020 ↗ | Master | #471 (221 pts) | #635 (146 pts) | #548 (201 pts) | #352 (341 pts) | #564 (181 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1303 (169 pts) | #1777 (104 pts) | #1388 (159 pts) | #1706 (114 pts) | #1787 (94 pts) |
The teams rated closest to Rankin County BBQ Company, each with one reason worth a look.
33 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Rankin County BBQ Company has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headCareers of much the same size, 38 contests to 44, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersThis is the highest they've ever been rated, 54 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careersTheir last contest in the data was back in 2016, 10 years before Rankin County BBQ Company's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careersTheir rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 59 contests, alongside a 24% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Compare careersLevel with Rankin County BBQ Company on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIGLITICALLY INCORRECT BBQ | 33 | 7 | 26 | 21% | ⚔ compare |
| Kith n' Kin | 29 | 9 | 20 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | 25 | 13 | 12 | 52% | ⚔ compare |
| RAZORRACKS | 24 | 3 | 21 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| Kermit's Ex | 21 | 5 | 16 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| Glamping Grillers | 20 | 4 | 16 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| Piggin' Whiskey | 20 | 4 | 16 | 20% | ⚔ compare |
| FIRE DANCER BBQ | 19 | 6 | 13 | 32% | ⚔ compare |
| Poppa Pig | 19 | 5 | 14 | 26% | ⚔ compare |
| UNCLE FEOL'S TENNESSEE STYLE BBQ | 17 | 10 | 7 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| HOLD YOUR HORSES BBQ | 16 | 7 | 9 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| ROOTERS-N-TOOTERS TN | 16 | 2 | 14 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| TRIPLE H BBQ | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Heavy Smoke BBQ | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 42 | 21 | 1 | 7 | 180 🔥 | 161.0972 | 171.95 | top 41% |
| Pork Ribs | 44 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 180 🔥 | 163.3828 | 171.20 | top 41% |
| Pork | 43 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 178.8572 | 157.0972 | 169.12 | top 50% |
| Brisket | 42 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 177.7372 | 152.4800 | 167.94 | top 53% |
“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 5 | 0 | top 50% |
| Medium (20–39) | 25 | 0 | top 41% |
| Large (40+) | 12 | 0 | top 56% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southaven Springfest | 4 | 14 | 0 | top 51% | Apr 24, 2026 |
| Roast N Boast | 3 | 5 | 0 | top 57% | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival | 3 | 4 | 0 | top 46% | May 31, 2024 |
| VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition | 2 | 2 | 0 | top 29% | Oct 24, 2025 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.3 | Southaven Springfest | Apr 22, 2022 |
| +14.1 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition | Oct 24, 2025 |
| +13.7 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 1) | Aug 23, 2019 |
| +13 | Primo BBQ Bash | Sep 8, 2023 |
| +12.5 | Swinging Bridge BBQ Festival | Jun 26, 2020 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -15.4 | Poosa Q | Oct 5, 2023 |
| -10.3 | Roast N Boast | Oct 18, 2024 |
| -7.9 | Roast-N-Boast | Oct 9, 2020 |
| -6.3 | Smoke on the Water | Sep 20, 2024 |
| -6.2 | Back the Blue | Jun 25, 2021 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 57% | 96.1% | 95.5% |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 38% | 97.1% | 95.7% |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88% | top 57% | 95.9% | 94.6% |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 86% | top 52% | 96% | 94.3% |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 78% | top 38% | 96.8% | 95.1% |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 91% | top 41% | 96.5% | 94.2% |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 47% | 93.2% | 92.5% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | top 21% | 92.7% | 92.7% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2026 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 47 / 82 (691.9316) | 68 (169.6800) | 35 (174.8688) | 36 (174.2628) | 43 (173.1200) |
| May 23, 2026 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | 56 / 117 (685.0860) | 65 (171.9888) | 31 (174.8572) | 52 (172) | 94 (166.2400) |
| May 22, 2026 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) unrated Lebanon, TN | — | — | 21 (175.4172) | — | — |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 22 / 33 (685.0284) | 15 (175.4172) | 13 (174.8456) | 24 (167.3828) | 26 (167.3828) |
| Oct 24, 2025 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA | 2 / 33 (699.3484) | 4 (177.7028) | 1 (180) | 9 (174.2628) | 17 (167.3828) |
| May 2, 2025 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Fest 🏅 Brookhaven, MS | 19 / 27 (678.2284) | 22 (170.2744) | 17 (170.8228) | 13 (173.1084) | 22 (164.0228) |
| Oct 25, 2024 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA | 16 / 31 (679.3828) | 5 (175.4056) | 16 (170.8800) | 28 (157.0972) | 2 (176) |
| Oct 18, 2024 | Roast N Boast 🏅 Columbus, MS | 11 / 15 (674.7656) | 10 (167.9772) | 9 (169.1200) | 8 (170.8456) | 10 (166.8228) |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 29 / 42 (667.8856) | 14 (173.1200) | 25 (166.2400) | 38 (160) | 25 (168.5256) |
| Jun 21, 2024 | Big BBQ Bash 🏅 Maryville, TN | 13 / 33 (690.1944) | 14 (173.1200) | 18 (170.8228) | 5 (175.4288) | 17 (170.8228) |
| May 31, 2024 | Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival 🏅 Covington, TN | 16 / 25 (684.4572) | 2 (177.7028) | 14 (171.9772) | 17 (166.2400) | 17 (168.5372) |
| May 24, 2024 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Lebanon, TN | 54 / 118 (684.4800) | 2 (180) | 76 (168.5372) | 59 (171.4172) | 94 (164.5256) |
| May 3, 2024 | Hog Wild BBQ & Family Fest 🏅 Brookhaven, MS | 14 / 25 (682.2400) | 18 (169.1200) | 14 (171.4172) | 16 (168) | 5 (173.7028) |
| Apr 26, 2024 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 24 / 44 (683.8740) | 32 (165.6684) | 28 (167.3828) | 4 (176.5600) | 8 (174.2628) |
| Nov 3, 2023 | VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition 🏅 Vidalia, LA | 10 / 27 (691.3256) | 10 (171.9656) | 3 (177.7144) | 8 (171.9656) | 12 (169.6800) |
| Oct 27, 2023 | Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB 🏅 Pine Bluff, AR | 29 / 49 (674.7772) | 35 (165.7372) | 7 (177.7028) | 38 (162.8000) | 23 (168.5372) |
| Oct 5, 2023 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 63 / 73 (655.8516) | 54 (165.0856) | 34 (169.6916) | 64 (162.8688) | 66 (158.2056) |
| Sep 8, 2023 | Primo BBQ Bash 🏅 Poplar Bluff, MO | 5 / 28 (689.6344) | 6 (176) | 5 (175.4172) | 2 (175.4172) | 24 (162.8000) |
| Jun 2, 2023 | Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival 🏅 Covington, TN | 15 / 25 (677.5656) | 10 (173.1084) | 8 (173.1200) | 2 (178.8572) | 20 (152.4800) |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Brandon, MS | 16 / 28 (681.6228) | 9 (175.4172) | 25 (163.4056) | 4 (174.2744) | 20 (168.5256) |
| Apr 21, 2023 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 15 / 34 (679.9088) | 17 (170.8112) | 7 (174.8688) | 23 (166.8344) | 17 (167.3944) |
| Nov 12, 2022 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - MASTER SERIES INVITATIONAL unrated Gadsden, AL | 59 / 61 (664.4232) | 40 (170.8344) | 50 (167.3828) | 36 (170.8344) | 61 (155.3716) |
| Nov 11, 2022 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN unrated Gadsden, AL | 32 / 91 (683.8740) | 16 (175.4056) | 31 (171.4172) | 64 (166.2400) | 34 (170.8112) |
| Oct 28, 2022 | Back The Blue BBQ 🏅 Vidalia, LA | 6 / 22 (686.2512) | 4 (173.7028) | 3 (176) | 9 (171.9656) | 13 (164.5828) |
| Sep 23, 2022 | TN River BBQ Battle 🏅 Saltillo, TN | 9 / 16 (681.0400) | 10 (168.5256) | 2 (176.0116) | 12 (170.8228) | 11 (165.6800) |
| Sep 9, 2022 | International Goat Days Championship BBQ Contest 🏅 Millington, TN | 14 / 38 (695.9544) | 4 (177.7028) | 26 (166.2516) | 9 (177.1428) | 9 (174.8572) |
| Jun 3, 2022 | Covington World's Oldest Barbeque Festival 🏅 Covington, TN | 4 / 28 (696.5028) | 1 (180) | 1 (180) | 12 (169.6684) | 15 (166.8344) |
| Apr 29, 2022 | Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff and Family Festival 🏅 Brookhaven, MS | 6 / 25 (681.0284) | 9 (170.8228) | 13 (165.0856) | 12 (167.3828) | 1 (177.7372) |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 2 / 36 (697.0972) | 4 (175.4172) | 5 (175.4400) | 8 (173.1200) | 8 (173.1200) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Smokin' For Down Syndrome 🏅 Collierville, TN | 14 / 28 (674.7084) | 10 (171.9656) | 17 (164.5372) | 16 (167.3828) | 12 (170.8228) |
| Nov 12, 2021 | Biloxi Blues & BBQ Festival 🏅 Biloxi, MS | 3 / 18 (689.6456) | 3 (177.1428) | 8 (166.8228) | 4 (171.4172) | 5 (174.2628) |
| Oct 29, 2021 | Southaven Springfest 🏅 Southaven, MS | 14 / 36 (682.7656) | 3 (178.8572) | 7 (174.2628) | 29 (161.0856) | 17 (168.5600) |
| Sep 3, 2021 | Smithfield Classic in Nashville 🏅 Nashville, TN | 24 / 50 (685.0628) | 22 (171.4056) | 7 (176.5600) | 42 (166.2744) | 28 (170.8228) |
| Aug 27, 2021 | Roast-N-Boast 🏅 Columbus, MS | 5 / 19 (694.8112) | 12 (167.3828) | 4 (176.5828) | 6 (173.1428) | 2 (177.7028) |
| Aug 20, 2021 | Ole Brook Porkfest - One Meat Rib Brookhaven, MS | — | — | 5 (166.8228) | 6 (160.4912) | — |
| Aug 13, 2021 | Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ 🏅 Huntsville, AL | 25 / 49 (672.4572) | 8 (174.2628) | 33 (163.3828) | 8 (173.7144) | 39 (161.0972) |
| Jun 25, 2021 | Back the Blue 🏅 Brookhaven, MS | 12 / 16 (659.2456) | 12 (163.3944) | 8 (167.9656) | 11 (160.5028) | 9 (167.3828) |
| Jun 18, 2021 | DeSoto Shrine Club 13th Annual BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Nesbit, MS | 9 / 48 (692.4912) | 2 (180) | 15 (173.1200) | 17 (170.2628) | 24 (169.1084) |
| Jun 4, 2021 | Covington TN's World's Oldest BBQ Cooking Contest 🏅 Covington, TN | 16 / 34 (675.8740) | 24 (166.2512) | 8 (172.5600) | 12 (169.6800) | 15 (167.3828) |
| May 14, 2021 | Obion County Barbeque Cook Off 🏅 Union City, TN | 20 / 31 (652.4912) | 13 (165.7028) | 12 (165.1200) | 24 (158.2628) | 18 (163.4056) |
| May 1, 2021 | Hog Wild BBQ Cook off, Kids Que and Family Festival 🏅 Brookhaven, MS | 10 / 38 (675.3372) | 3 (175.4400) | 20 (165.0972) | 19 (165.6800) | 13 (169.1200) |
| Oct 9, 2020 | Roast-N-Boast 🏅 Columbus, MS | 26 / 36 (661.0284) | 28 (161.0972) | 26 (164.5372) | 28 (165.6684) | 20 (169.7256) |
| Jun 26, 2020 | Swinging Bridge BBQ Festival 🏅 Byram, MS | 7 / 31 (670.8232) | 19 (162.8800) | 9 (167.9888) | 1 (176.5600) | 17 (163.3944) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | Smokin on the Rez BBQ and Music Festival (DAY 1) 🏅 Brandon, MS | 6 / 29 (667.2800) | 15 (168.5484) | 7 (170.8344) | 13 (165.0972) | 17 (162.8000) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.