RIBLIFE AL
Rating
1712
peak 1755
Contests
88
in the data
First seen
2019-02-22
latest 2026-01-22
Best ToY finish
#46
Backyard 2024
Grand champs
6
7 reserve
Category wins
13
38 podiums
Overall top-10s
57
of 88 contests
Avg finish
top 31%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
479.46 ▲
last 5 vs career avg 397.69 (+81.78)
Walk rate
86%
contests with a top-10 call
Top-10 streak
13
best run (overall)
Consistency
±98.22
std dev of overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Pork
avg 169.83 · weakest Brisket (167.39)
Road miles
17052
mi across 88 mapped stops · furthest 759 mi
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
The Real Squeal BBQ has finished one call ahead of RIBLIFE 4 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
NORALA BBQ TEAM has landed one call behind them 5 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
Smokey Bees BBQ - MS has come out ahead in 15 of their 19 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team in 20 of their 28 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Smoke on the Falls is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 6 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5944 points of the Grand Championship at Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY) (2024-03-09).
🗡️ Giant slayer
Took the Grand Championship over a 39-team field at Smoke on the Falls.
📅 A April team
Something about April: average finish in the top 21% across 12 contests, versus top 31% the rest of the year.
🃏 Against the odds
Their Grand Championship at Smoke on the Water Festival(BACKYARD ONLY) (2021-04-23) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 35-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, LEE LA Q.
Teams like this (closest power rating, AL first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 88 | 53 | 7 | 17 | 180.0000 🔥 | 147.9888 | 169.78 | top 35% |
| Pork Ribs | 89 | 55 | 4 | 13 | 179.4400 | 153.0744 | 168.95 | top 36% |
| Pork | 32 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 176.5600 | 155.3716 | 169.83 | top 29% |
| Brisket | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 174.2628 | 162.2400 | 167.39 | top 51% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | 61 | 6 | top 32% |
| MS | 9 | 0 | top 31% |
| TN | 5 | 0 | top 40% |
| FL | 3 | 0 | top 42% |
| WI | 3 | 0 | top 22% |
| VA | 2 | 0 | top 21% |
| KS | 1 | 0 | top 17% |
| IN | 1 | 0 | top 10% |
| GA | 1 | 0 | top 13% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 16 | 2 | top 34% |
| Medium (20–39) | 50 | 4 | top 31% |
| Large (40+) | 20 | 0 | top 30% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2022 (20 contests)
- Cooks mostly in AL (62 of 88 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (89 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: West Alabama State Fair Barbeque Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) (2019-11-01)
- Wins it all in 7% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 397.69
- 1 perfect 180 on the books 🔥
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
Category scores over time
Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)
Where they finish (overall)
Best vs average (by meat)
Team of the Year rank by season
Season by season
| Season | Contests | GCs | Category wins | Best overall | Avg overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 681.5768 | 681.58 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 686.7312 | 411.82 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 680.4340 | 387.87 |
| 2023 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 525.0972 | 405.03 |
| 2022 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 675.2912 | 430.04 |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 508.4912 | 385.99 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 509.0972 | 391.25 |
| 2019 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 497.0056 | 346.43 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | Lakeland Pig Festival Lakeland, FL | 39 / 63 (681.5768) | 44 (169.6684) | 29 (171.9772) | 48 (165.6684) | 17 (174.2628) |
| 2025-12-05 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship (OPEN FORMAT) Demopolis, AL | 2 / 21 (686.7312) | 4 (176.5600) | 15 (169.6800) | 6 (174.2628) | 18 (166.2284) |
| 2025-09-19 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Don't Burn the Brisket" (ONE MEAT BRISKET) Glencoe, AL | — | — | — | — | 7 (167.9772) |
| 2025-09-19 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 15 / 30 (339.9544) | 12 (173.1200) | 17 (166.8344) | 9 (174.2628) | — |
| 2025-09-05 | Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Cullman, AL | 14 / 29 (341.6688) | 20 (170.8344) | 7 (170.8344) | — | — |
| 2025-06-20 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 7 / 42 (347.3828) | 8 (176.5600) | 13 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2025-04-11 | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition Gadsden, AL | 13 / 31 (343.3828) | 25 (165.6684) | 3 (177.7144) | — | — |
| 2024-12-06 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Demopolis, AL | 6 / 11 (346.2516) | 8 (174.2744) | 7 (171.9772) | — | — |
| 2024-10-04 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 14 / 59 (346.2284) | 26 (170.8112) | 6 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2024-05-25 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Lebanon, TN | 37 / 47 (337.6572) | 32 (169.6800) | 35 (167.9772) | — | — |
| 2024-05-24 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Lebanon, TN | 77 / 118 (680.4340) | 27 (175.4172) | 78 (168.5256) | 66 (170.8228) | 89 (165.6684) |
| 2024-05-03 | The Gulf Coast BBQ Championship (BACKYARD ONLY) Mobile, AL | 6 / 10 (346.8344) | 1 (178.8572) | 6 (167.9772) | — | — |
| 2024-04-26 | Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Florence, AL | 4 / 40 (350.8344) | 6 (175.4056) | 4 (175.4288) | — | — |
| 2024-04-12 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 4 / 31 (346.2284) | 10 (171.9656) | 4 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2024-03-09 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 2 / 28 (348.5256) | 1 (177.7028) | 5 (170.8228) | 4 (173.7144) | — |
| 2023-12-01 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Demopolis, AL | 6 / 17 (335.9084) | 5 (167.3828) | 7 (168.5256) | — | — |
| 2023-10-20 | Roast N Boast Columbus, MS | 2 / 12 (525.0972) | 4 (173.1316) | 2 (175.4056) | 2 (176.5600) | — |
| 2023-10-05 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 9 / 73 (346.8344) | 10 (174.2628) | 13 (172.5716) | — | — |
| 2023-08-26 | Smoke on the Water BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, AL | 7 / 17 (339.3484) | 9 (166.2284) | 2 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2023-08-11 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 4 / 35 (516.5028) | 9 (171.9656) | 10 (170.8228) | 5 (173.7144) | — |
| 2023-08-04 | Smoke in the Outfield (BACKYARD) (TEAM REGISTRATION FULL) Madison, AL | 2 / 58 (351.4288) | 7 (174.2744) | 4 (177.1544) | — | — |
| 2023-05-19 | The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Winchester, TN | 5 / 34 (345.0740) | 9 (173.1084) | 9 (171.9656) | — | — |
| 2023-04-28 | Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Florence, AL | 7 / 36 (517.6688) | 5 (176.5600) | 3 (175.4288) | 24 (165.6800) | — |
| 2023-04-07 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 1 / 39 (354.2744) | 1 (178.8572) | 1 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2023-03-17 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship Lebanon, TN | 23 / 80 (333.0744) | 36 (163.3828) | 11 (169.6916) | — | — |
| 2023-03-10 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 10 / 31 (490.1484) | 14 (165.0856) | 11 (163.9772) | 14 (161.0856) | — |
| 2022-12-01 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Demopolis, AL | 2 / 13 (343.3828) | 2 (176.0000) | 5 (167.3828) | — | — |
| 2022-11-12 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Gadsden, AL | 34 / 49 (331.3484) | 25 (169.6684) | 37 (161.6800) | — | — |
| 2022-11-11 | 4th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Gadsden, AL | 55 / 91 (675.2912) | 68 (167.3828) | 58 (167.3944) | 33 (172.5484) | 53 (167.9656) |
| 2022-10-28 | Roast N Boast Columbus, MS | 3 / 8 (515.3368) | 4 (169.6684) | 3 (173.7028) | 5 (171.9656) | — |
| 2022-10-21 | Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) Vicksburg, MS | 10 / 28 (339.3828) | 2 (175.4056) | 17 (163.9772) | — | — |
| 2022-10-07 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 8 / 38 (345.7028) | 6 (173.1428) | 9 (172.5600) | — | — |
| 2022-09-16 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 10 / 18 (342.2284) | 16 (167.9656) | 8 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2022-09-08 | Whistlestop Festival & Rocket City BBQ Huntsville, AL | 1 / 35 (351.9656) | 2 (173.1084) | 2 (178.8572) | — | — |
| 2022-08-26 | Roast N Boast - Rib Roast (ONE MEAT RIBS) Columbus, MS | — | — | 6 (173.1200) | — | — |
| 2022-08-12 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD ONLY) Glencoe, AL | 11 / 35 (511.3372) | 3 (174.8800) | 4 (174.8800) | 5 (175.4172) | — |
| 2022-08-05 | Back to School Bash (BACKYARD ONLY) Madison, AL | 2 / 21 (514.2400) | 5 (172.0000) | 13 (166.2400) | 1 (176.0000) | — |
| 2022-07-21 | Smoke on the Mountain BBQ Championship 2022 Galax, VA | 5 / 25 (340.5028) | 7 (169.6800) | 6 (170.8228) | — | — |
| 2022-06-10 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 9 / 23 (330.7656) | 14 (163.9428) | 9 (166.8228) | — | — |
| 2022-05-20 | The High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Winchester, TN | 3 / 29 (347.9656) | 8 (173.7028) | 4 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2022-05-05 | Poosa Q Montgomery, AL | 23 / 72 (333.0972) | 15 (169.7144) | 33 (163.3828) | — | — |
| 2022-04-22 | Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival (Backyard) Florence, AL | 12 / 34 (503.3140) | 22 (162.7768) | 6 (173.1544) | 16 (167.3828) | — |
| 2022-04-08 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 4 / 34 (347.9772) | 2 (177.7028) | 11 (170.2744) | — | — |
| 2022-04-02 | Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY) Chelsea, AL | 1 / 20 (520.5144) | 1 (177.7028) | 5 (171.9888) | 5 (170.8228) | — |
| 2022-03-12 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 5 / 26 (506.2056) | 11 (163.9656) | 9 (167.3944) | 2 (174.8456) | — |
| 2022-01-28 | Lakeland Pig Festival Lakeland, FL | 6 / 60 (670.1712) | 3 (171.9772) | 13 (166.2856) | 5 (169.6684) | 13 (162.2400) |
| 2021-12-02 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Demopolis, AL | 1 / 19 (350.2628) | 2 (173.7028) | 2 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2021-11-19 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 2 / 14 (348.5372) | 3 (174.2628) | 2 (174.2744) | — | — |
| 2021-11-12 | Barbecue With A View (BACKYARD ONLY) Vicksburg, MS | 8 / 30 (345.0740) | 13 (169.6684) | 8 (175.4056) | — | — |
| 2021-10-08 | Scottsboro BBQ Festival (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE ONLY) Scottsboro, AL | 8 / 31 (337.6684) | 9 (170.2628) | 9 (167.4056) | — | — |
| 2021-08-27 | Roast-N-Boast Columbus, MS | 5 / 19 (508.4912) | 4 (172.5484) | 8 (169.6800) | 7 (170.8800) | — |
| 2021-08-06 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 24 / 31 (489.0400) | 8 (169.6800) | 26 (154.8228) | 4 (165.1544) | — |
| 2021-06-12 | Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 2 West Salem, WI | 19 / 45 (323.4288) | 8 (168.0000) | 23 (155.4288) | — | — |
| 2021-06-11 | Bring'n Home the Bacon - Day 1 West Salem, WI | 8 / 52 (334.2400) | 6 (167.9772) | 7 (166.2628) | — | — |
| 2021-06-04 | Kick It In The Sticks (BACKYARD) Butler, AL | 6 / 14 (341.1316) | 3 (172.0000) | 7 (169.1316) | — | — |
| 2021-05-21 | Twin States Barbecue Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) Meridian, MS | 8 / 22 (339.3600) | 9 (169.6800) | 7 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2021-04-23 | Smoke on the Water Festival(BACKYARD ONLY) Florence, AL | 1 / 29 (351.4056) | 1 (180.0000) | 9 (171.4056) | — | — |
| 2021-04-17 | Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY) Chelsea, AL | 8 / 21 (500.5372) | 11 (167.9772) | 14 (162.2628) | 3 (170.2972) | — |
| 2021-04-09 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 11 / 38 (339.9544) | 13 (170.8228) | 16 (169.1316) | — | — |
| 2021-03-12 | Foley BBQ & Blues Cook Off (BACKYARD ONLY) Foley, AL | 12 / 28 (494.7196) | 14 (163.9656) | 15 (158.7884) | 2 (171.9656) | — |
| 2020-11-20 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 13 / 21 (333.1088) | 16 (163.9656) | 8 (169.1432) | — | — |
| 2020-11-13 | Second Annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition Mayetta, KS | 16 / 94 (337.6572) | 14 (169.6800) | 15 (167.9772) | — | — |
| 2020-10-29 | The Nightmare Before Zom-B-Q Wytheville, VA | 7 / 33 (494.1600) | 13 (164.5372) | 8 (168.5372) | 7 (161.0856) | — |
| 2020-10-23 | Smokin For Garrett Boonville, IN | 4 / 41 (488.5944) | 23 (147.9888) | 2 (174.2856) | 6 (166.3200) | — |
| 2020-10-16 | Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 West Salem, WI | 3 / 40 (333.1316) | 1 (170.8572) | 14 (162.2744) | — | — |
| 2020-10-09 | Roast-N-Boast Columbus, MS | 9 / 36 (492.4916) | 16 (154.8000) | 8 (169.7260) | 5 (167.9656) | — |
| 2020-10-02 | Bonifay All American Smoker Competition Bonifay, FL | 10 / 18 (339.9428) | 15 (160.5028) | 1 (179.4400) | — | — |
| 2020-09-25 | Southern Sounds BBQ & Bluefest Backyard Contest Semmes, AL | 14 / 23 (325.6228) | 21 (158.2056) | 6 (167.4172) | — | — |
| 2020-09-18 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 3 / 28 (341.6916) | 4 (172.0000) | 7 (169.6916) | — | — |
| 2020-08-07 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD ONLY) Glencoe, AL | 19 / 21 (476.9948) | 13 (165.0972) | 21 (156.5260) | 18 (155.3716) | — |
| 2020-07-31 | Hawgin On Lanier Cumming, GA | 7 / 55 (509.0972) | 6 (173.1428) | 10 (170.2744) | 16 (165.6800) | — |
| 2020-06-05 | Kick It In The Sticks (BACKYARD ONLY) Butler, AL | 6 / 23 (334.8000) | 8 (168.5600) | 9 (166.2400) | — | — |
| 2020-03-06 | Corums Building Center BBQ(BACKYARD ONLY) Hartselle, AL | 5 / 32 (337.6684) | 3 (173.1200) | 13 (164.5484) | — | — |
| 2020-02-21 | Capital City Cook Off Montgomery, AL | 12 / 25 (332.4800) | 6 (171.9888) | 16 (160.4912) | — | — |
| 2019-12-06 | COTR BBQ Demopolis, AL | 8 / 25 (335.9200) | 5 (169.6684) | 9 (166.2516) | — | — |
| 2019-11-22 | Mission Q (Backyard Only) Tuscumbia, AL | 8 / 20 (340.5144) | 4 (173.1200) | 11 (167.3944) | — | — |
| 2019-11-01 | West Alabama State Fair Barbeque Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Northport, AL | 1 / 15 (346.2400) | 4 (169.6800) | 1 (176.5600) | — | — |
| 2019-10-11 | Butlerfest 2019(BACKYARD ONLY) Butler, AL | 7 / 20 (334.8344) | 8 (166.8228) | 7 (168.0116) | — | — |
| 2019-10-04 | Roast N Boast Columbus, MS | 5 / 25 (335.9428) | 4 (171.9656) | 7 (163.9772) | 1 (173.7028) | — |
| 2019-09-13 | RiverFest Decatur, AL | 12 / 37 (337.6572) | 13 (168.5256) | 10 (169.1316) | — | — |
| 2019-09-06 | Fire on the Mountain (BACKYARD ONLY) Arab, AL | 10 / 19 (497.0056) | 7 (170.2628) | 17 (154.7772) | 2 (171.9656) | — |
| 2019-06-21 | Elkmont Lions Club Smokin Railroad St. BBQ Cook-off (BACKYARD ONLY) Elkmont, AL | 17 / 23 (325.0400) | 17 (162.2284) | 14 (162.8116) | 2 (175.4172) | — |
| 2019-06-14 | Poosa-Q Montgomery, AL | 15 / 48 (337.0628) | 9 (173.1084) | 19 (163.9544) | — | — |
| 2019-06-07 | Downtown BBQ Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) Meridian, MS | 12 / 22 (321.0284) | 18 (153.6456) | 8 (167.3828) | — | — |
| 2019-04-12 | Smoke on the Falls Gadsden, AL | 13 / 30 (337.6800) | 1 (174.8572) | 29 (162.8228) | — | — |
| 2019-03-22 | Smoke On the Diamond(BACKYARD ONLY) Brookwood, AL | 5 / 17 (334.8000) | 8 (165.1200) | 5 (169.6800) | 8 (166.2512) | — |
| 2019-03-08 | Corums Building Center BBQ(BACKYARD ONLY) Harselle, AL | 16 / 34 (332.5144) | 12 (166.8228) | 18 (165.6916) | — | — |
| 2019-02-22 | Bama Q Capital City Cook-Off Montgomery, AL | 11 / 27 (333.7256) | 16 (155.9656) | 1 (177.7600) | — | — |
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 ↗ | Backyard | #209 (112 pts) | #154 (202 pts) | #235 (102 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | #791 (60 pts) | #866 (60 pts) | #903 (60 pts) | #823 (60 pts) | #723 (100 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #83 (660 pts) | #108 (555 pts) | #72 (760 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | — | — | — | — | #850 (149 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #46 (925 pts) | #48 (895 pts) | #48 (910 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #1182 (60 pts) | #1242 (60 pts) | #1317 (60 pts) | #1231 (60 pts) | #1204 (60 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #34 (1073 pts) | #16 (1214 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #1255 (60 pts) | #1319 (60 pts) | #1432 (60 pts) | #1287 (60 pts) | #1296 (60 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #5 (1286 pts) | #18 (1165 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #27 (1000 pts) | #46 (739 pts) | — | — |
| 2020 ↗ | Backyard | — | #5 (1102 pts) | #5 (1112 pts) | — | — |
| 2019 ↗ | Backyard | — | #2 (554 pts) | #1 🏆 (509 pts) | — | — |