High-water mark
681.1200
career-best overall
94.6% of a perfect 720
Their best day on record: 681.1200 at Horse Town Brew n Que Festival — 94.6% of a perfect 720.
- Master
- May 29, 2015
BIG PIG BBQ
BIG PIG BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 40 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 4th of 4 at the Eastern Sierra BBQ, Chili & Salsa Festival (2022). They are ranked #5296 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1456
peak 1456 · rated over 40 contests
Contests
40
in the data
First seen
Mar 15, 2013
latest Jun 12, 2026 · 13.2 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
0 reserve
Category wins
2
4 podiums
Overall top-10s
5
13% of 40 contests
Best top-10 run
2
straight overall top-10s
Avg finish
top 63%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
631.20
last 5 Master vs avg 631.02 (+0.18)
Walk rate
48%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±29.84
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 160.15 · weakest Brisket (155.39)
Road miles
19,739
across 40 mapped stops · furthest 1,007 mi
Schedule strength
30%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1541)
Purse competed for
$54K
listed at 5 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 10 state-championship entries
Master avg
631.02 / 720
39 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
314.80 / 360
1 Backyard contest · 0 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master out of 720, Backyard out of 360), so they're kept separate — averaging them together would be misleading.
This team cooks the Backyard series — its own boards, records and Team of the Year are here.
Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #1301 (54 pts) | #1346 (54 pts) | #1395 (54 pts) | #1302 (54 pts) | #1296 (54 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1255 (60 pts) | #1257 (75 pts) | #1432 (60 pts) | #1188 (85 pts) | #1221 (75 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #685 (213 pts) | #907 (143 pts) | #754 (213 pts) | #702 (223 pts) | #743 (208 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1322 (162 pts) | #1357 (172 pts) | #1462 (142 pts) | #1297 (182 pts) | #1255 (187 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #1865 (76 pts) | #2575 (51 pts) | #1821 (101 pts) | #1608 (121 pts) | #1909 (76 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #991 (342 pts) | #992 (382 pts) | #1218 (267 pts) | #858 (457 pts) | #1023 (342 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #1231 (239 pts) | #1415 (209 pts) | #1196 (274 pts) | #1463 (209 pts) | #1052 (324 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #778 (446 pts) | #687 (551 pts) | #779 (471 pts) | #638 (596 pts) | #916 (381 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #539 (712 pts) | #461 (832 pts) | #547 (712 pts) | #476 (817 pts) | #546 (682 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #390 (780 pts) | #329 (930 pts) | #471 (690 pts) | #330 (915 pts) | #331 (930 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to BIG PIG BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
129 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#5,300 of the rated field
- Contests
- 43
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1508
They've been 1508 at their best, 52 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Compare careers#5,288 of the rated field
- Contests
- 28
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 4%
- Peak
- 1456
Careers of much the same size, 28 contests to 40, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#5,313 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 8%
- Peak
- 1456
Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before BIG PIG BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#5,275 of the rated field
- Contests
- 25
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1505
25 contests and no Grand Championship yet.
⚔ Compare careers#5,277 of the rated field
- Contests
- 71
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 13%
- Peak
- 1519
Level with BIG PIG BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careers#5,308 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1456
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 21 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTANA OUTLAW BBQ | 15 | 2 | 13 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| ZZYZX BAR.B.Q | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| LONESTAR SMOKE RANGERS | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Camp House BBQ | 10 | 3 | 7 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| WILD HOGS BBQ | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKIN JERKS | 9 | 7 | 2 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| 12 BAR BLUES CUE | 9 | 6 | 3 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| THE PIT CREW BBQ OF AZ | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| Grate Expectations | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG B'S DOWN-N-DIRTY BBQ | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% | ⚔ compare |
| PIRATES OF THE PIG | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| Up In Smoke BBQ | 8 | 3 | 5 | 38% | ⚔ compare |
| Burnin and Lootin | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 40 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 171.4284 | 122.2284 | 157.81 | top 63% |
| Pork Ribs | 40 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 108.2972 | 157.65 | top 61% |
| Pork | 39 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 177.1428 | 138.2628 | 160.15 | top 57% |
| Brisket | 39 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 172.0344 | 117.6116 | 155.39 | top 62% |
“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.
By field size and state
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 79% |
| Medium (20–39) | 27 | 0 | top 60% |
| Large (40+) | 11 | 0 | top 68% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana BBQ Cook-off | 4 | 15 | 0 | top 57% | Jun 11, 2021 |
| Smokin' on the Prairie | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 51% | Aug 7, 2015 |
| Montana BBQ Cookoff | 2 | 26 | 0 | top 83% | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2 | 18 | 0 | top 61% | Mar 25, 2016 |
| Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 51% | Aug 11, 2015 |
| Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship | 2 | 30 | 0 | top 88% | Jul 3, 2015 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2013
9 contests
Contests a season
3.6
across 11 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
MT
15 of 40 contests · 7 states and provinces in all
Contests visited
31
6 of them more than once
Opponents faced
754
finished ahead 527 times, behind 884
Longest layoff
3 yrs
Jun 9, 2023 → Jun 12, 2026
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20261 milestone
- Most recent contest Montana BBQ Cookoff
20161 milestone
- 25th tracked contest 13th Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship
20151 milestone
- Career-best overall score681.1200 Horse Town Brew n Que Festival
20143 milestones
- 10th tracked contest 3rd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score649.0284 Smokin' on the Prairie
- Career-best single call (Pork)177.1428 Mission Beach Centennial Party and BBQ
20135 milestones
- First tracked contest 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First category win (Chicken) Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- Peak power rating (1500) Rio Rancho NM 10th Annual 2013 Pork & Brew State BBQ Championship
- First overall top-10 Smokin' on the Prairie
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +9.4 | Barbeque on the Bow | Sep 3, 2022 |
| +7.8 | Horse Town Brew n Que Festival | May 29, 2015 |
| +6.9 | Smokin' on the Prairie | Aug 9, 2013 |
| +6.2 | Montana BBQ Cook-Off | Jun 24, 2017 |
| +6 | Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair | Aug 12, 2014 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.4 | Wine Country Big Q | Jul 12, 2013 |
| -13.5 | Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship | Jul 3, 2015 |
| -11.3 | 13th Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship | Jul 2, 2016 |
| -10.1 | Riverside Resort Casino USA Barbecue Championship | Oct 31, 2013 |
| -8.8 | Eastern Sierra BBQ, Chili & Salsa Festival | May 6, 2022 |
Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — tap a meat to add it)
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
How entries end (by meat)
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 93% | 83.5% | 83.5% |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 72% | 90.2% | 90.2% |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 100% | top 60% | 87.4% | 86.2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 50% | 90.1% | 89.8% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 69% | 90.8% | 88.7% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 77% | 87.3% | 87.3% |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25% | top 65% | 92.8% | 89.6% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 76% | 90.6% | 86.5% |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43% | top 60% | 94.6% | 88.3% |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 71% | top 55% | 92.8% | 89.2% |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 56% | top 61% | 88.6% | 85.3% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | Montana BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Absarokee, MT | 27 / 29 (601.0288) | 27 (150.8116) | 26 (157.1544) | 27 (155.3828) | 29 (137.6800) |
| Jun 9, 2023 | Montana BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Absarokee, MT | 26 / 36 (649.6344) | 22 (165.1200) | 32 (153.0972) | 20 (166.8456) | 22 (164.5716) |
| Sep 3, 2022 | Barbeque on the Bow Calgary, AB | 7 / 36 (314.7996) | 5 (169.1312) | 8 (145.6684) | — | — |
| May 6, 2022 | Eastern Sierra BBQ, Chili & Salsa Festival 🏅 Bishop, CA | 4 / 4 (611.9204) | 4 (158.8572) | 4 (151.3944) | 4 (154.2744) | 4 (147.3944) |
| Aug 27, 2021 | Montana Pitmaster Classic 🏅 Bozeman, MT | 14 / 31 (645.0172) | 27 (154.8000) | 17 (162.2400) | 14 (165.1200) | 15 (162.8572) |
| Jun 11, 2021 | Montana BBQ Cook-off 🏅 Absarokee, MT | 15 / 27 (648.3884) | 18 (156.5372) | 12 (169.6800) | 13 (165.6800) | 15 (156.4912) |
| Jun 22, 2019 | Montana BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Absarokee, MT | 15 / 29 (653.5884) | 18 (163.4056) | 18 (159.9772) | 10 (170.2744) | 16 (159.9312) |
| Jun 14, 2019 | Miles City Cowtown Cook Off 🏅 Miles City, MT | 24 / 28 (624.3768) | 19 (163.9656) | 26 (153.6684) | 28 (145.6572) | 18 (161.0856) |
| Jun 23, 2018 | Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT | 20 / 26 (628.4688) | 26 (139.4172) | 15 (165.1200) | 11 (168.5600) | 20 (155.3716) |
| Sep 29, 2017 | BBQ in the Badlands Glendive, MT | 18 / 26 (651.8284) | 15 (168.5600) | 20 (161.0856) | 11 (170.8228) | 22 (151.3600) |
| Sep 15, 2017 | 3rd Annual Hot Q's & Cold Brews BBQ Championship Oroville, CA | 38 / 48 (634.1944) | 43 (154.2628) | 28 (165.1200) | 28 (162.8572) | 40 (151.9544) |
| Jun 24, 2017 | Montana BBQ Cook-Off Absarokee, MT | 15 / 35 (668.4912) | 14 (166.2744) | 21 (163.9884) | 6 (173.7028) | 17 (164.5256) |
| Jun 16, 2017 | Miles City Cowtown Cookoff Miles City, MT | 18 / 26 (625.5540) | 14 (163.9540) | 25 (137.6344) | 15 (160.5484) | 12 (163.4172) |
| Sep 23, 2016 | Carnivores Classic Missoula, MT | 17 / 25 (639.2912) | 16 (159.4288) | 22 (154.2284) | 19 (157.0856) | 8 (168.5484) |
| Sep 16, 2016 | 2nd Annual Hot Q's & Cold Brews BBQ Championship Oroville, CA | 48 / 61 (612.4344) | 48 (153.6572) | 38 (156.5372) | 43 (154.8228) | 51 (147.4172) |
| Jul 2, 2016 | 13th Annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 🏅 Rio Rancho, NM | 29 / 31 (587.2568) | 30 (141.1312) | 29 (143.9316) | 20 (155.9540) | 25 (146.2400) |
| Mar 25, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Reno, NV | 18 / 29 (652.5028) | 25 (155.4172) | 8 (168.5484) | 22 (162.8228) | 12 (165.7144) |
| Oct 2, 2015 | 1st Annual Hot Q's & Cold Brews BBQ Championship Oroville, CA | 17 / 41 (655.4516) | 12 (169.7028) | 21 (164.0116) | 5 (172.0228) | 31 (149.7144) |
| Aug 11, 2015 | Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair Billings, MT | 15 / 25 (651.9204) | 17 (160.5828) | 14 (163.3944) | 4 (174.8572) | 20 (153.0860) |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Smokin' on the Prairie Gillette, WY | 16 / 26 (658.8456) | 12 (166.3428) | 11 (169.1200) | 16 (163.9772) | 15 (159.4056) |
| Jul 3, 2015 | Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 🏅 Rio Rancho, NM | 43 / 44 (529.3368) | 43 (133.6912) | 43 (108.2972) | 37 (147.4056) | 39 (139.9428) |
| May 29, 2015 | Horse Town Brew n Que Festival Norco, CA | 25 / 75 (681.1200) | 39 (167.4056) | 23 (172) | 27 (169.6800) | 26 (172.0344) |
| Mar 27, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Reno, NV | 18 / 30 (621.6344) | 7 (167.9884) | 17 (158.8000) | 27 (142.8344) | 19 (152.0116) |
| Mar 20, 2015 | 4th Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 65 / 100 (653.1200) | 90 (155.9656) | 32 (168.5944) | 59 (163.9656) | 53 (164.5944) |
| Sep 26, 2014 | Mission Beach Centennial Party and BBQ San Diego, CA | 9 / 20 (667.9312) | 9 (168) | 13 (158.8112) | 2 (177.1428) | 11 (163.9772) |
| Aug 12, 2014 | Montana State BBQ Championship at Montana Fair Billings, MT | 11 / 26 (648.4912) | 12 (159.3828) | 15 (157.6684) | 4 (171.4400) | 10 (160) |
| Aug 8, 2014 | Smokin' on the Prairie Gillette, WY | 14 / 25 (649.0284) | 6 (170.8456) | 5 (172) | 24 (145.6800) | 13 (160.5028) |
| Jul 4, 2014 | Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship 🏅 Rio Rancho, NM | 30 / 38 (616.5484) | 36 (141.1084) | 23 (163.4056) | 18 (162.8800) | 28 (149.1544) |
| May 30, 2014 | Carnivores Classic Missoula, MT | 4 / 7 (637.5428) | 3 (159.9656) | 4 (166.2628) | 5 (156.5028) | 6 (154.8116) |
| Mar 28, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Sacramento, CA | 16 / 29 (637.0516) | 9 (164.5600) | 21 (154.2628) | 19 (158.2516) | 14 (159.9772) |
| Mar 21, 2014 | 3rd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 36 / 69 (637.5884) | 50 (158.2628) | 27 (161.7028) | 30 (159.3600) | 33 (158.2628) |
| Oct 31, 2013 | Riverside Resort Casino USA Barbecue Championship Laughlin, NV | 78 / 85 (600.4456) | 69 (158.8116) | 38 (164.5712) | 85 (138.2628) | 81 (138.8000) |
| Aug 14, 2013 | Montana State BBQ Championships at Montana Fair Billings, MT | 13 / 26 (617.5196) | 16 (151.9428) | 14 (155.9084) | 17 (150.2284) | 9 (159.4400) |
| Aug 9, 2013 | Smokin' on the Prairie Gillette, WY | 9 / 25 (638.1940) | 21 (154.2284) | 10 (160.5484) | 15 (156.0228) | 4 (167.3944) |
| Jul 26, 2013 | Siskiyou Beef Country Cook-Off Montague, CA | 17 / 26 (619.9428) | 9 (162.8800) | 17 (158.2284) | 17 (158.2972) | 22 (140.5372) |
| Jul 20, 2013 | Smokin' For Gold Placerville, CA | 13 / 25 (638.1944) | 15 (161.1428) | 17 (155.4172) | 1 (167.9772) | 13 (153.6572) |
| Jul 12, 2013 | Wine Country Big Q Santa Rosa, CA | 43 / 44 (540.3312) | 43 (122.2284) | 24 (157.1312) | 37 (143.3600) | 44 (117.6116) |
| Jul 5, 2013 | Rio Rancho NM 10th Annual 2013 Pork & Brew State BBQ Championship Rio Rancho, NM | 21 / 42 (615.9992) | 41 (138.8568) | 12 (164) | 17 (159.9998) | 21 (153.1426) |
| Apr 12, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Renton, WA | 13 / 29 (633.7138) | 1 (171.4284) | 29 (131.4282) | 9 (165.7144) | 6 (165.1428) |
| Mar 15, 2013 | 2nd Annual Santa Anita Winners' Circle BBQ Championship Arcadia, CA | 36 / 57 (625.7138) | 19 (162.2856) | 40 (151.4286) | 49 (149.7140) | 19 (162.2856) |