Black Sheep BBQ

Black Sheep BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 20 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 10th of 35 at the Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana (2026). They are ranked #5286 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,286

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1456

peak 1456 · rated over 19 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Sep 5, 2014

latest May 15, 2026 · 11.7 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#949

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

2 podiums

Overall top-10s

5% of 20 contests

Avg finish

top 71%

overall standings

Best overall

673.6344 / 720

Master · Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off

Perfect 180s

Current form

659.41 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 652.83 (+6.58)

Walk rate

35%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

176.5716

Pork · Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off

Consistency

±18.72

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 165.41 · weakest Pork Ribs (161.78)

Road miles

2,355

across 20 mapped stops · furthest 475 mi

Schedule strength

69%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1588)

Purse competed for

$44K

listed at 4 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 5 state-championship entries

Master avg

652.83 / 720

18 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

330.24 / 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.

Storylines (7 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

High-water mark

673.6344 career-best overall

93.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 673.6344 at Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off — 93.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 15, 2021

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Big B BBQ Company has finished one call ahead of Black Sheep BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

15–0 behind in the head-to-head

BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

BLUE CHIP BBQ has come out ahead in 15 of their 15 shared contests.

A strong matchup

7–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of MOUNTAIN WILLIAM BBQ in 7 of their 7 shared contests.

The comeback

2.9 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.9 years, then back at Bands & BBQ at the Point (Sep 13, 2024).

last seen Oct 15, 2021
back Sep 13, 2024

Chicken nemesis

11 of 15 shared chicken entries lost

BLUE CHIP BBQ ahead 73% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, BLUE CHIP BBQ has out-cooked them in 11 of 15 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

HOBBIE BAR-B-Q has landed one call behind them 2 times.

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
2019 ↗	Master	#1879 (71 pts)	#1918 (81 pts)	#2522 (56 pts)	#1011 (281 pts)	#1940 (71 pts)
2018 ↗	Master	#1379 (156 pts)	#1217 (221 pts)	#1259 (211 pts)	#1445 (161 pts)	#1536 (131 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#1301 (202 pts)	#1106 (312 pts)	#1576 (172 pts)	#1198 (272 pts)	#1277 (237 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#1689 (138 pts)	#1869 (123 pts)	#1710 (153 pts)	#1734 (153 pts)	#1578 (173 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#949 (331 pts)	#925 (376 pts)	#888 (401 pts)	#1089 (306 pts)	#792 (461 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Black Sheep 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.

Old Dirty Basters

#5,308 of the rated field

1456 power rating

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.

rated over 21 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

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Papa Wood BBQ

#5,283 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 17
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 6%
Peak: 1503

Careers of much the same size, 17 contests to 20, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 17 contests
last seen May 24, 2024

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN CROATIANS

#5,306 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1456

Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 10 years before Black Sheep BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 15 contests

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WE RIB U LONG TIME

#5,275 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1505

25 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 25 contests
last seen Jul 12, 2019

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HERM'S HOGS

#5,279 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 14
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1456

Level with Black Sheep BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 14 contests
last seen May 18, 2018

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Smokin Big

#5,288 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 28
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1456

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 28 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 28 contests
last seen Aug 22, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BLUE CHIP BBQ	15	0	15	0%	⚔ compare
WeQ4U	13	2	11	15%	⚔ compare
WARREN COUNTY PORK CHOPPERS	11	0	11	0%	⚔ compare
ACME BBQ	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
Kentucky Kookers	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
HOBBIE BAR-B-Q	9	2	7	22%	⚔ compare
Extra Mile BBQ	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
CONTINENTAL BARBEQUE CO.	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
MOUNTAIN WILLIAM BBQ	7	7	0	100%	⚔ compare
HOGTOWN BARBECUE	7	3	4	43%	⚔ compare
MEAT MISTERS	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
Pappy Q	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
EAT MOR BUTT BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
SCUFFLETOWN SMOKERS	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
ELKHAWG SMOKERS	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	19	3	0	0	172.5484	147.9656	165.41	top 61%
Pork Ribs	19	3	0	0	172	144.5028	161.78	top 65%
Pork	18	1	1	1	176.5716	154.2628	164.00	top 67%
Brisket	18	2	0	1	173.7144	140.4916	161.80	top 66%

“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
Medium (20–39)	18	0	top 70%
Large (40+)	1	0	top 88%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
KY	17	top 73%
IN	1	top 29%
MO	1	top 88%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off	6	17	top 73%	Oct 15, 2021
Bands & BBQ at the Point	5	15	top 74%	Sep 13, 2024
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	3	21	top 82%	May 12, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 4 contests

Contests a season 2.2 across 9 seasons in the data

Most contests held in KY 18 of 20 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 8 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 332 finished ahead 178 times, behind 447

Longest layoff 2.9 yrs Oct 15, 2021 → Sep 13, 2024

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20262 milestones

May 15 First overall top-10 Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana
May 15 Most recent contest Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana

20211 milestone

Oct 15 Career-best overall score673.6344 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off

20192 milestones

Oct 18 First category win (Pork) Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off
Oct 18 Career-best single call (Pork)176.5716 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off

20171 milestone

May 12 10th tracked contest Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20151 milestone

Jun 5 First call Bourbon City BBQ Festival

20143 milestones

Jun 6 First tracked contest Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff
Sep 5 Peak power rating (1490) Bands & BBQ at the Point
Oct 17 First overall past 90% of a perfect score648.4000 Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+8.4	Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana	May 15, 2026
+5	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off	Oct 16, 2015
+4.6	Bourbon City BBQ Festival	Jun 5, 2015
+3.5	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 14, 2018
+1.2	Operation Stand Down KY II Annual Smoke off	Apr 5, 2019

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-9.7	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 5, 2014
-8.6	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ	Oct 5, 2018
-8.6	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off	Oct 19, 2018
-8.5	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 11, 2015
-8.4	Bands & BBQ at the Point	Sep 13, 2024

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — 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	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2026	1	1	0	100%	top 29%	91.7%	91.7%
2024	1	0	0	0%	top 84%	91.3%	91.3%
2021	1	0	0	0%	top 78%	93.6%	93.6%
2019	2	0	1	100%	top 68%	93%	92.6%
2018	3	0	0	33%	top 79%	92.8%	88%
2017	3	0	0	33%	top 76%	90.7%	90.1%
2016	2	0	0	0%	top 72%	92.9%	91.8%
2015	4	0	0	50%	top 64%	93.4%	91.8%
2014	3	0	0	0%	top 84%	90.1%	88.4%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 15, 2026	Rockin' BBQ Warsaw, Indiana 🏅 Warsaw, IN	10 / 35 (330.2400)	8 (163.4172)	7 (166.8228)	—	—
Sep 13, 2024	Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY	26 / 31 (657.0052)	17 (171.4056)	17 (167.9772)	29 (157.1084)	26 (160.5140)
Oct 15, 2021	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Munfordville, KY	21 / 27 (673.6344)	18 (169.7028)	14 (170.2744)	24 (166.2744)	22 (167.3828)
Oct 18, 2019	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off 🏅 Munfordville, KY	22 / 31 (669.5772)	20 (167.3828)	26 (158.8000)	1 (176.5716)	22 (166.8228)
Apr 5, 2019	Operation Stand Down KY II Annual Smoke off 🏅 Franklin, KY	18 / 28 (663.8168)	17 (166.8112)	23 (161.6572)	12 (167.3828)	10 (167.9656)
Oct 19, 2018	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off Munfordville, KY	27 / 29 (632.9944)	16 (168.5372)	28 (148.5372)	26 (157.6572)	24 (158.2628)
Oct 5, 2018	Independence Fire & Ice BBQ Independence, MO	49 / 56 (599.2572)	52 (147.9656)	51 (148.5372)	34 (162.2628)	51 (140.4916)
Sep 14, 2018	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	15 / 27 (667.8512)	11 (170.2628)	7 (171.9656)	14 (166.2284)	21 (159.3944)
Oct 20, 2017	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-off Munfordville, KY	24 / 36 (650.1716)	16 (169.6800)	27 (161.1316)	28 (162.8456)	30 (156.5144)
Sep 15, 2017	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	20 / 33 (652.9940)	8 (172.5484)	25 (159.9656)	17 (164.5372)	23 (155.9428)
May 12, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	29 / 29 (643.8628)	27 (158.8228)	29 (144.5028)	13 (170.2628)	14 (170.2744)
Oct 14, 2016	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cookoff Munfordville, KY	24 / 34 (668.9712)	28 (166.2168)	18 (167.3944)	21 (167.9656)	24 (167.3944)
May 13, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	21 / 29 (653.5884)	23 (163.4056)	24 (159.4172)	21 (163.3828)	14 (167.3828)
Oct 16, 2015	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off Munfordville, KY	17 / 34 (668.5028)	10 (171.9656)	16 (165.7144)	31 (157.1084)	2 (173.7144)
Sep 11, 2015	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	25 / 29 (643.8860)	25 (161.7144)	23 (159.9888)	23 (163.3828)	21 (158.8000)
Jun 19, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Bowling Green, KY	21 / 29 (659.9084)	13 (169.6800)	18 (167.9772)	14 (168.5712)	25 (153.6800)
Jun 5, 2015	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Bardstown, KY	16 / 34 (672.5372)	22 (165.7028)	9 (172)	22 (168.5488)	22 (166.2856)
Oct 17, 2014	Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off Munfordville, KY	26 / 32 (648.4000)	21 (166.2400)	21 (162.2744)	29 (157.6456)	17 (162.2400)
Sep 5, 2014	Bands & BBQ at the Point Carrollton, KY	31 / 36 (623.9432)	33 (151.3944)	24 (158.8688)	32 (154.2628)	22 (159.4172)
Jun 6, 2014	Bourbon City BBQ Festival Cookoff Bardstown, KY	—	—	—	—	—

Black Sheep BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Purse competed for

State championships

Master avg

Backyard avg

Storylines (7 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — 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

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)