Bocephus BBQ KS
Rating
1738
peak 1748 · rated over 57 contests
Best runs
5
straight top-10s
Contests
61
in the data
First seen
2019-05-31
latest 2026-08-14
Best ToY finish
#26
Master 2026
Grand champs
5
1 reserve
Category wins
16
38 podiums
Overall top-10s
30
of 61 contests
Avg finish
top 30%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
10 🔥
Current form
693.63 ▲
last 5 Master vs avg 688.15 (+5.48)
Walk rate
85%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
5
best run (overall)
Consistency
±15.12
std dev of Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork Ribs
avg 172.69 · weakest Brisket (170.42)
Road miles
3594
mi across 61 mapped stops · furthest 221 mi
Schedule strength
76%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1575)
Purse competed for
$605K
listed at 59 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
5 🏅
GCs in 55 state-championship entries
Master avg
688.15 / 720
56 Master contests · 5 GCs
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
PARTS 'R' SMOKIN has finished one call ahead of Bocephus BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
WOOD HOOK BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
JANKY LEG BBQ has come out ahead in 16 of their 19 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of Who's Cookin' in 25 of their 30 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 3 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.0460 points of the Grand Championship at Smoke on the Water (2024-10-11).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 38-team field at SJV Winter Rub.
📅 A April team
Something about April: average finish in the top 18% across 7 contests, versus top 30% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Meat Inferno (JUDGING FULL) (2023-10-06) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 23-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, Fergolicious BBQ.
🔁 The comeback
Off the trail for 2 years, then back at Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual (2021-06-04).
Teams like this (closest power rating, KS first)
Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 39 | 19 | 20 | 49% | ⚔ compare |
| PARTS 'R' SMOKIN | 33 | 16 | 17 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| Who's Cookin' | 30 | 25 | 5 | 83% | ⚔ compare |
| WOOD HOOK BBQ | 29 | 17 | 12 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| Damn Fine Beef & Swine | 28 | 10 | 18 | 36% | ⚔ compare |
| Cities Edge BBQ | 27 | 18 | 9 | 67% | ⚔ compare |
| Barking Dog BBQ | 27 | 15 | 12 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| FINGER LEIKAM GOOD | 26 | 12 | 14 | 46% | ⚔ compare |
| Dr. Squealgood BBQ | 26 | 11 | 15 | 42% | ⚔ compare |
| LOVE 2 Q | 23 | 15 | 8 | 65% | ⚔ compare |
| MEAT RUSHMORE BBQ | 23 | 13 | 10 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| Squealin N Dealin BBQ | 23 | 7 | 16 | 30% | ⚔ compare |
| Pine Tar BBQ | 22 | 20 | 2 | 91% | ⚔ compare |
| MAD MUTT'S BBQ | 22 | 12 | 10 | 55% | ⚔ compare |
| TOPEKA BBQ SHOP | 20 | 12 | 8 | 60% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 57 | 23 | 2 | 6 | 180.0000 🔥 | 154.7772 | 172.64 | top 38% |
| Pork Ribs | 61 | 30 | 9 | 15 | 180.0000 🔥 | 147.3828 | 172.69 | top 33% |
| Pork | 57 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 180.0000 🔥 | 160.5028 | 172.35 | top 38% |
| Brisket | 57 | 24 | 2 | 9 | 180.0000 🔥 | 145.6000 | 170.42 | top 38% |
“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 state / province
| Where | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| KS | 45 | 4 | top 30% |
| MO | 9 | 0 | top 36% |
| IA | 2 | 0 | top 19% |
| NE | 1 | 1 | top 3% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 1 | 1 | top 5% |
| Medium (20–39) | 36 | 4 | top 28% |
| Large (40+) | 20 | 0 | top 35% |
Contest-by-contest record (recurring contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke on the Bricks | 5 | 9 | 0 | top 36% | 2026-08-07 |
| Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) | 5 | 5 | 0 | top 17% | 2026-04-10 |
| Smoke on the Water | 5 | 2 | 0 | top 17% | 2025-10-10 |
| Meat Inferno | 4 | 1 | 1 | top 29% | 2025-10-03 |
| Smoke on the River (Day 2) | 4 | 1 | 1 | top 30% | 2025-08-30 |
| Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | top 19% | 2026-04-17 |
| Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) | 2 | 4 | 0 | top 16% | 2026-07-18 |
| Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) | 2 | 3 | 0 | top 36% | 2026-07-10 |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2026 (14 contests)
- Cooks mostly in KS (47 of 61 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (61 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Meat Inferno (JUDGING FULL) (2023-10-06)
- Wins it all in 8% of contests
- Average Master overall score: 688.15 / 720
- 10 perfect 180s on the books 🔥
Milestones
- 🚩 2019-05-31 — First tracked contest · McLouth BBQ Blowout 28th Annual
- 📣 2021-06-04 — First call · Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual
- 🔥 2023-06-30 — First perfect 180 (Brisket) · Happy Basset 3rd Annual BBQ Competition
- 🏆 2023-10-06 — First Grand Championship · Meat Inferno (JUDGING FULL)
- 🎖️ 2024-07-12 — 25th tracked contest · 2024 Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off (ONE MEAT RIBS)
- ⭐ 2025-08-30 — Career-best overall score (707.3712) · Smoke on the River (Day 2)
- 🎖️ 2026-03-27 — 50th tracked contest · Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge
- 📈 2026-06-05 — Peak power rating (1748) · McLouth BBQ Blowout 35th Annual
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.3 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 31st Annual | 2022-06-03 |
| +14.4 | Meat Inferno (JUDGING FULL) | 2023-10-06 |
| +14.1 | Smoke in the Spring | 2023-04-07 |
| +13.5 | Smoke on the Water | 2021-10-15 |
| +13.1 | Smoke on the River (Day 2) | 2025-08-30 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -14.5 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) | 2026-07-10 |
| -14.2 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge | 2026-03-27 |
| -9.8 | Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest | 2021-07-09 |
| -9.4 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 28th Annual | 2019-05-31 |
| -9 | Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual | 2021-06-04 |
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
How entries end (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 93% | top 25% | 98% | 96.5% |
| 2025 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 86% | top 24% | 98.2% | 96.5% |
| 2024 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 92% | top 26% | 97.5% | 96% |
| 2023 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 78% | top 29% | 98.1% | 95.8% |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100% | top 31% | 96% | 94.7% |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50% | top 64% | 96.1% | 90.9% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 80% | 89.7% | 89.7% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-14 | BBQ & Fly-In on the River 🏅 Excelsior Springs, MO | 32 / 83 (688.5256) | 6 (178.2972) | 51 (169.7028) | 16 (175.4400) | 62 (165.0856) |
| 2026-08-07 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 16 / 52 (694.2172) | 13 (174.2628) | 3 (178.8572) | 30 (169.6916) | 23 (171.4056) |
| 2026-07-24 | Masters at the Midway: Johnson County Fair BBQ Championship 🏅 Gardner, KS | 9 / 29 (686.7196) | 1 (180.0000) | 9 (171.9656) | 23 (166.2284) | 16 (168.5256) |
| 2026-07-18 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 2) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 6 / 32 (701.6340) | 1 (180.0000) | 18 (171.9656) | 17 (173.1084) | 6 (176.5600) |
| 2026-07-17 | Smokin on the Osage BBQ Contest (Day 1) 🏅 Osceola, MO | 4 / 32 (697.0744) | 12 (175.4056) | 2 (177.7144) | 19 (167.3828) | 6 (176.5716) |
| 2026-07-10 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (MASTERS and BACKYARD 1) 🏅 Cameron, MO | 23 / 37 (679.8624) | 23 (169.6684) | 19 (172.5600) | 20 (171.4056) | 25 (166.2284) |
| 2026-07-10 | Cameron Elks BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS) Cameron, MO | — | — | 4 (176.5716) | — | — |
| 2026-06-05 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 35th Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 4 / 30 (693.0972) | 5 (174.8456) | 14 (170.8344) | 3 (178.8800) | 13 (168.5372) |
| 2026-04-17 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ 🏅 Iola, KS | 4 / 27 (698.2168) | 7 (176.5600) | 3 (177.1428) | 14 (171.4056) | 4 (173.1084) |
| 2026-04-10 | Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) 🏅 Osage City, KS | 5 / 101 (701.0972) | 28 (175.4056) | 12 (175.4288) | 9 (176.5600) | 26 (173.7028) |
| 2026-04-03 | Smokin in the Valley 🏅 Linn Valley, KS | 8 / 31 (691.9200) | 12 (174.2628) | 4 (175.4172) | 5 (176.5600) | 19 (165.6800) |
| 2026-03-27 | Kickin' It Route 66 Barbecue Challenge 🏅 St. Robert, MO | 17 / 26 (691.3140) | 16 (171.9656) | 4 (176.5600) | 19 (170.8228) | 15 (171.9656) |
| 2026-03-20 | 8th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS | 4 / 68 (698.8344) | 31 (169.6800) | 2 (177.1544) | 13 (175.4400) | 7 (176.5600) |
| 2026-01-30 | SJV Winter Rub 🏅 Omaha, NE | 1 / 38 (705.7028) | 11 (171.9884) | 1 (178.8572) | 8 (176.5600) | 3 (178.2972) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest Kansas City, KS | 63 / 158 (689.0628) | 32 (176.5600) | 97 (170.8228) | 129 (166.2744) | 30 (175.4056) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 126 / 401 (686.2056) | 241 (168.5256) | 79 (174.2744) | 225 (168.5256) | 57 (174.8800) |
| 2025-10-17 | Happy Basset 5th Annual BBQ Competition 🏅 Topeka, KS | 13 / 23 (686.7776) | 7 (174.2860) | 10 (170.8344) | 4 (176.5716) | 18 (165.0856) |
| 2025-10-10 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 3 / 30 (693.6228) | 26 (166.2284) | 2 (176.5716) | 2 (177.7028) | 3 (173.1200) |
| 2025-10-03 | Meat Inferno 🏅 Edgerton, KS | 5 / 21 (693.6344) | 5 (174.2744) | 1 (175.4172) | 9 (171.9656) | 9 (171.9772) |
| 2025-10-03 | Meat Inferno (One Meat Ribs) Edgerton, KS | — | — | 1 (180.0000) | — | — |
| 2025-09-19 | 37th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 🏅 Kearney, MO | 14 / 30 (679.8512) | 9 (173.1084) | 7 (173.1200) | 14 (170.8228) | 25 (162.8000) |
| 2025-08-30 | Smoke on the River (Day 2) 🏅 Burlington, KS | 1 / 24 (707.3712) | 9 (177.7028) | 1 (180.0000) | 3 (178.8572) | 20 (170.8112) |
| 2025-08-29 | Smoke on the River (Day 1) 🏅 Burlington, KS | 5 / 25 (700.5144) | 11 (173.1200) | 15 (174.2628) | 5 (176.5716) | 4 (176.5600) |
| 2025-08-08 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 17 / 53 (695.9200) | 3 (177.7144) | 6 (176.5600) | 34 (168.5256) | 15 (173.1200) |
| 2025-07-18 | Shenandoah ShenDig 🏅 Shenandoah, IA | 3 / 30 (698.7884) | 4 (176.5600) | 2 (178.8572) | 5 (176.5600) | 15 (166.8112) |
| 2025-06-06 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 34th Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 5 / 28 (697.6568) | 3 (177.1428) | 16 (171.9656) | 12 (170.8456) | 1 (177.7028) |
| 2025-05-16 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ 🏅 Iola, KS | 1 / 27 (703.9772) | 9 (173.1316) | 7 (174.2628) | 1 (180.0000) | 6 (176.5828) |
| 2025-04-11 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 10 / 92 (698.2172) | 20 (175.4172) | 47 (170.8228) | 8 (177.7144) | 17 (174.2628) |
| 2024-10-11 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 2 / 31 (700.4912) | 2 (180.0000) | 11 (173.1084) | 14 (171.9772) | 3 (175.4056) |
| 2024-10-04 | Meat Inferno 🏅 Edgerton, KS | 20 / 38 (681.0400) | 22 (172.5600) | 20 (171.9772) | 24 (169.1200) | 22 (167.3828) |
| 2024-09-20 | 36th Annual Jesse James Barbeque Cook Out 🏅 Kearney, MO | 6 / 32 (694.7768) | 16 (170.8112) | 1 (180.0000) | 5 (176.5600) | 16 (167.4056) |
| 2024-09-13 | Made for KC BBQ Championship (COMPETITORS SERIES) Weston, MO | 19 / 38 (675.2796) | 32 (167.3712) | 1 (177.7144) | 17 (170.8112) | 32 (159.3828) |
| 2024-08-31 | Smoke on the River 🏅 Burlington, KS | 16 / 28 (686.1828) | 14 (174.2628) | 22 (165.6916) | 2 (178.8572) | 20 (167.3712) |
| 2024-08-31 | Smoke on the River (ONE MEAT RIBS) Burlington, KS | — | — | 9 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2024-08-09 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 9 / 46 (691.3368) | 19 (171.4056) | 10 (174.2628) | 15 (174.2628) | 14 (171.4056) |
| 2024-07-12 | 2024 Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off 🏅 Cameron, MO | 3 / 28 (693.0856) | 13 (170.8228) | 6 (175.4400) | 1 (180.0000) | 10 (166.8228) |
| 2024-07-12 | 2024 Cameron Elks BBQ Cook Off (ONE MEAT RIBS) 🏅 Cameron, MO | — | — | 4 (173.7260) | — | — |
| 2024-06-21 | The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle - Kansas State Championship 🏅 Lenexa, KS | 13 / 172 (683.9884) | 8 (177.7028) | 46 (168.5484) | 75 (165.1772) | 11 (172.5600) |
| 2024-05-31 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 33rd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 1 / 35 (702.3084) | 7 (173.1428) | 1 (180.0000) | 1 (178.8800) | 11 (170.2856) |
| 2024-05-17 | Tom Brigham Memorial BBQ 🏅 Iola, KS | 12 / 31 (689.0168) | 17 (173.1084) | 17 (170.8228) | 14 (171.9772) | 8 (173.1084) |
| 2024-04-05 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 22 / 97 (691.9316) | 59 (168.5256) | 31 (173.1316) | 33 (172.5600) | 5 (177.7144) |
| 2023-10-13 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 11 / 39 (685.6228) | 28 (167.3828) | 8 (175.4400) | 24 (163.9428) | 3 (178.8572) |
| 2023-10-06 | Meat Inferno (JUDGING FULL) 🏅 Edgerton, KS | 1 / 19 (706.2400) | 4 (177.7028) | 1 (177.7144) | 3 (174.2628) | 1 (176.5600) |
| 2023-09-01 | Smoke on the River 🏅 Burlington, KS | 8 / 20 (689.6344) | 11 (171.9772) | 11 (171.4172) | 12 (168.5372) | 2 (177.7028) |
| 2023-08-11 | 5th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Mayetta, KS | 62 / 90 (679.8628) | 64 (169.6800) | 54 (170.8344) | 45 (171.9772) | 65 (167.3712) |
| 2023-06-30 | Happy Basset 3rd Annual BBQ Competition 🏅 Topeka, KS | 9 / 33 (697.0972) | 12 (175.4056) | 19 (170.2744) | 17 (171.4172) | 2 (180.0000) |
| 2023-06-02 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 32nd Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 4 / 36 (684.0460) | 14 (166.3316) | 5 (173.7144) | 5 (174.8572) | 7 (169.1428) |
| 2023-05-19 | King of the Corn 🏅 Ottumwa, IA | 13 / 45 (686.1828) | 21 (170.8228) | 23 (168.5372) | 26 (169.1200) | 2 (177.7028) |
| 2023-04-07 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 12 / 103 (696.5488) | 58 (169.1200) | 12 (176.0116) | 15 (174.8572) | 14 (176.5600) |
| 2023-03-17 | 5th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship 🏅 Olathe, KS | 28 / 68 (681.6348) | 9 (176.5716) | 38 (168.5488) | 48 (166.2400) | 27 (170.2744) |
| 2022-10-14 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 6 / 28 (691.3372) | 4 (175.4172) | 11 (171.9656) | 5 (175.4172) | 12 (168.5372) |
| 2022-10-07 | Meat Inferno (JUDGING FULL) 🏅 Edgerton, KS | 10 / 29 (687.3372) | 9 (175.4172) | 11 (170.8344) | 8 (176.0000) | 22 (165.0856) |
| 2022-08-26 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 17 / 48 (685.0284) | 10 (174.2628) | 15 (169.6684) | 9 (175.4288) | 30 (165.6684) |
| 2022-07-01 | Happy Basset 2nd Annual BBQ Competition 🏅 Topeka, KS | 11 / 24 (665.0172) | 21 (154.7772) | 18 (161.6800) | 4 (175.4172) | 5 (173.1428) |
| 2022-06-03 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 31st Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 3 / 30 (682.2284) | 3 (176.0000) | 11 (168.5600) | 14 (166.8456) | 4 (170.8228) |
| 2022-04-08 | Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS | 35 / 94 (681.1204) | 27 (173.1200) | 10 (175.4172) | 30 (172.0116) | 72 (160.5716) |
| 2021-10-15 | Smoke on the Water 🏅 Topeka, KS | 5 / 25 (691.9316) | 5 (174.8456) | 1 (177.7144) | 10 (171.9772) | 10 (167.3944) |
| 2021-08-20 | Smoke on the Bricks 🏅 Baldwin City, KS | 28 / 46 (654.7428) | 29 (164.5372) | 21 (165.7144) | 28 (166.2628) | 30 (158.2284) |
| 2021-07-09 | Keepers of the Fire BBQ Contest 🏅 Mayetta, KS | 40 / 43 (626.0684) | 32 (165.7028) | 41 (154.2628) | 37 (160.5028) | 42 (145.6000) |
| 2021-06-04 | Mclouth BBQ Blowout 29th Annual 🏅 Mclouth, KS | 34 / 42 (645.0972) | 33 (163.4172) | 42 (147.3828) | 33 (162.2856) | 5 (172.0116) |
| 2019-05-31 | McLouth BBQ Blowout 28th Annual 🏅 McLouth, KS | 20 / 25 (645.6572) | 17 (162.2856) | 12 (164.5716) | 15 (166.2628) | 25 (152.5372) |
Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)
Team of the Year standings (rank per category by season — year links to the full board on kcbs.us)
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #26 (1861 pts) | #39 (1662 pts) | #9 (2131 pts) | #73 (1312 pts) | #49 (1417 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #61 (1888 pts) | #94 (1608 pts) | #39 (2032 pts) | #50 (1823 pts) | #113 (1478 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #87 (1585 pts) | #152 (1220 pts) | #86 (1563 pts) | #84 (1515 pts) | #121 (1325 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #141 (1257 pts) | #225 (952 pts) | #193 (1127 pts) | #214 (967 pts) | #70 (1667 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #284 (806 pts) | #283 (836 pts) | #364 (701 pts) | #288 (841 pts) | #351 (686 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #502 (355 pts) | #520 (355 pts) | #442 (475 pts) | #578 (305 pts) | #457 (430 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1851 (75 pts) | #1858 (90 pts) | #1701 (115 pts) | #1791 (100 pts) | #2587 (50 pts) |