BULL IN THE RING OK
Rating
Contests
First seen
Best ToY finish
Grand champs
Category wins
Overall top-10s
Avg finish
Perfect 180s
Current form
Walk rate
Top-10 streak
Best single call
Consistency
Strongest meat
Road miles
Storylines
🎯 The one to beat
Compete BBQ Team has finished one call ahead of BULL IN THE RING 3 times — their closest competition in the data.
👀 Looking over their shoulder
Fine As* Swine BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.
⚔️ A tough matchup
RAZORRACKS has come out ahead in 16 of their 22 shared contests.
⚔️ A strong matchup
They've finished ahead of SUPER SWINE in 13 of their 18 shared contests.
🏕️ Happy hunting ground
Smokin on the Route is their spot: 1 Grand Championship in 4 visits.
💔 The heartbreaker
Came within 0.5368 points of the Grand Championship at Grillstock (2025-09-12).
📅 A August team
Something about August: average finish in the top 20% across 3 contests, versus top 37% the rest of the year.
Teams like this (closest power rating, OK first)
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 47 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 180.0000 🔥 | 153.0860 | 170.67 | top 41% |
| Pork Ribs | 51 | 30 | 4 | 12 | 180.0000 🔥 | 158.2056 | 172.63 | top 32% |
| Pork | 38 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 180.0000 🔥 | 147.4056 | 171.50 | top 40% |
| Brisket | 33 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 178.8572 | 146.2056 | 168.82 | top 50% |
“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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK | 20 | 2 | top 28% |
| KS | 10 | 0 | top 49% |
| TN | 6 | 0 | top 46% |
| AR | 4 | 0 | top 41% |
| MO | 4 | 0 | top 26% |
| TX | 2 | 0 | top 34% |
By contest size
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 6 | 1 | top 28% |
| Medium (20–39) | 25 | 1 | top 33% |
| Large (40+) | 16 | 0 | top 46% |
The story so far
- Busiest season: 2025 (13 contests)
- Cooks mostly in OK (22 of 52 contests)
- Most-entered category: Pork Ribs (51 entries)
- First Grand Championship in the data: Smokin on the Route (2022-07-29)
- Wins it all in 4% of contests
- All-time average overall score: 600.53
- 5 perfect 180s 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 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 691.9084 | 682.46 |
| 2025 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 712.5484 | 695.93 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 706.8456 | 638.31 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 694.8232 | 472.68 |
| 2022 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 681.6456 | 485.07 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 692.5028 | 635.47 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 646.1488 | 642.46 |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest Derby, KS | 25 / 36 (677.5884) | 18 (173.1200) | 27 (166.8344) | 17 (170.8112) | 25 (166.8228) |
| 2026-05-24 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Master Series Invitational and the Backyard Series Invitational (Sunday, May 24, 2026) Lebanon, TN | 61 / 82 (686.7312) | 72 (168.5140) | 69 (167.3944) | 7 (180.0000) | 54 (170.8228) |
| 2026-05-23 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: Wells Cup, Cocktail Ancillary, Dessert Ancillary (Saturday, May 23, 2026) Lebanon, TN | 94 / 117 (676.4112) | 46 (174.2628) | 93 (167.3828) | 96 (166.2400) | 75 (168.5256) |
| 2026-05-22 | 8th Annual KCBS World Invitational: World Rib Finals (Friday, May 22, 2026) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 19 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2026-04-10 | Cedar Fest BBQ Cook Off Cedar Park, TX | 21 / 41 (671.9316) | 23 (166.2628) | 3 (177.1544) | 27 (161.1316) | 23 (167.3828) |
| 2026-03-20 | 8th Annual Qlathe BBQ Championship Olathe, KS | 11 / 68 (691.9084) | 4 (177.7144) | 14 (174.2628) | 35 (170.2628) | 30 (169.6684) |
| 2026-03-13 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest Fayetteville, AR | 17 / 37 (690.2056) | 6 (177.7028) | 4 (177.7144) | 28 (166.8228) | 25 (167.9656) |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Sides Kansas City, KS | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025-11-05 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 89 / 401 (690.1712) | 95 (174.2628) | 170 (170.8228) | 29 (177.7028) | 217 (167.3828) |
| 2025-09-26 | Smokin on the Route Miami, OK | 5 / 20 (696.5028) | 9 (174.8456) | 6 (174.2744) | 7 (175.4172) | 14 (171.9656) |
| 2025-09-19 | Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off Ponca City, OK | 1 / 25 (712.5484) | 3 (177.7028) | 1 (180.0000) | 4 (177.1428) | 4 (177.7028) |
| 2025-09-12 | Grillstock Moore, OK | 2 / 23 (701.7032) | 8 (173.1316) | 2 (177.7372) | 2 (178.8572) | 8 (171.9772) |
| 2025-08-15 | Raider Red Meats BBQ & Ribeye Championship Lubbock, TX | 9 / 55 (690.7772) | 4 (176.5600) | 3 (177.7144) | 33 (165.6800) | 15 (170.8228) |
| 2025-07-26 | Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 2) Dodge City, KS | 6 / 19 (699.3600) | 11 (173.1200) | 4 (177.7144) | 4 (176.5600) | 13 (171.9656) |
| 2025-07-25 | Dodge City Days Smokin' Saddles Double Header (Day 1) Dodge City, KS | 3 / 18 (699.9544) | 8 (174.2628) | 9 (173.1316) | 6 (176.0000) | 2 (176.5600) |
| 2025-06-27 | Old Town Smokeout Van Buren, AR | 4 / 27 (696.4912) | 4 (177.7028) | 8 (173.1200) | 22 (167.9656) | 4 (177.7028) |
| 2025-06-13 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest Derby, KS | 23 / 36 (677.5652) | 27 (166.2284) | 19 (168.5256) | 23 (169.7028) | 6 (173.1084) |
| 2025-05-25 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Sunday, May 25, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 46 / 70 (688.4684) | 30 (174.8456) | 30 (173.1200) | 33 (173.1200) | 60 (167.3828) |
| 2025-05-24 | 7th Annual KCBS World Invitational (Saturday, May 24, 2025) Lebanon, TN | 11 / 106 (702.2284) | 5 (180.0000) | 11 (177.1428) | 6 (177.7028) | 77 (167.3828) |
| 2025-03-14 | University of Arkansas Animal Science Boots, Brews, and BBQ Contest Fayetteville, AR | 7 / 28 (695.3484) | 14 (173.1084) | 9 (173.7028) | 4 (178.8572) | 15 (169.6800) |
| 2024-08-16 | Sugar Creek Casino's Sweet & Smoky BBQ Competition Hinton, OK | 5 / 25 (705.6684) | 2 (180.0000) | 7 (176.5600) | 12 (172.5484) | 4 (176.5600) |
| 2024-07-26 | Smokin on the Route Miami, OK | 2 / 27 (706.8456) | 2 (178.8572) | 4 (178.2972) | 7 (177.7028) | 12 (171.9884) |
| 2024-06-07 | Smoke on the Plains BBQ & Music Fest Derby, KS | 20 / 43 (683.3144) | 7 (177.7144) | 20 (170.8228) | 29 (169.6684) | 30 (165.1088) |
| 2024-05-25 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - BACKYARD SERIES INVITATIONAL Lebanon, TN | 16 / 47 (345.0972) | 8 (176.5600) | 30 (168.5372) | — | — |
| 2024-05-24 | 6th Annual KCBS World Invitational - OPEN Lebanon, TN | 13 / 118 (698.1940) | 17 (176.5600) | 15 (175.4056) | 17 (176.5600) | 62 (169.6684) |
| 2024-04-05 | Lake Views & BBQ Wagoner, OK | 10 / 21 (690.7656) | 7 (173.1200) | 1 (178.8572) | 18 (167.9656) | 11 (170.8228) |
| 2023-10-27 | Smoke on the Water - Saracen Casino PB Pine Bluff, AR | 39 / 49 (651.8744) | 44 (158.2400) | 20 (172.0116) | 12 (175.4172) | 49 (146.2056) |
| 2023-09-27 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest Kansas City, KS | 311 / 487 (662.1828) | 402 (159.9312) | 265 (167.4172) | 155 (171.4172) | 314 (163.4172) |
| 2023-09-01 | Boats Beats & BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Grove, OK | 9 / 17 (497.6228) | 11 (159.9428) | 10 (165.6800) | 6 (172.0000) | — |
| 2023-08-04 | Que' For a Cause Tahlequah, OK | 9 / 36 (346.8228) | 13 (173.1200) | 8 (173.7028) | — | — |
| 2023-08-04 | Que' For a Cause (ONE MEAT RIBS) Tahlequah, OK | — | — | 14 (169.6916) | — | — |
| 2023-07-28 | Smokin on the Route Miami, OK | 7 / 29 (342.2284) | 7 (167.9656) | 3 (174.2628) | — | — |
| 2023-07-22 | Smokin on the Osage (ONE MEAT RIBS) Osceola, MO | — | — | 1 (177.7028) | — | — |
| 2023-07-21 | Smokin on the Osage (Day 1) Osceola, MO | 9 / 31 (508.4912) | 13 (165.0856) | 2 (176.5600) | 7 (166.8456) | — |
| 2023-06-09 | Ozarks BBQ Fest Springfield, MO | 9 / 30 (694.8232) | 19 (166.8344) | 10 (174.2744) | 8 (174.8572) | 2 (178.8572) |
| 2023-05-12 | City of Springs BBQ Championship Sulphur, OK | 2 / 16 (350.8460) | 3 (175.4288) | 1 (175.4172) | — | — |
| 2023-03-31 | Lake Views & BBQ (formerly Beats, Brew & BBQ) Wagoner, OK | 5 / 29 (330.7656) | 10 (158.8000) | 3 (171.9656) | — | — |
| 2023-03-24 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 8 / 37 (341.0972) | 8 (170.8228) | 11 (170.2744) | — | — |
| 2022-10-08 | Que' For a Cause (BACKYARD) Day 2 Tahlequah, OK | 15 / 32 (502.1944) | 28 (162.8000) | 5 (174.2744) | 18 (165.1200) | — |
| 2022-10-07 | Que' For a Cause (BACKYARD) Day 1 Tahlequah, OK | 3 / 32 (523.3712) | 9 (171.4056) | 8 (171.9656) | 1 (180.0000) | — |
| 2022-09-16 | Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off Ponca City, OK | 28 / 39 (662.6512) | 19 (168.5372) | 32 (158.2056) | 18 (170.8112) | 25 (165.0972) |
| 2022-09-16 | Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off (One Meat Ribs) Ponca City, OK | — | — | 9 (166.2516) | — | — |
| 2022-07-29 | Smokin on the Route Miami, OK | 1 / 19 (338.2172) | 3 (168.5372) | 2 (169.6800) | — | — |
| 2022-05-13 | Alva Police Department Cars, Concerts and BBQ (BACKYARD ONLY) Alva, OK | 2 / 4 (345.1776) | 2 (172.0116) | 2 (173.1660) | — | — |
| 2022-05-06 | Bixby BBQ'N Blues Festival Bixby, OK | 16 / 38 (681.6456) | 15 (171.9656) | 16 (170.8228) | 3 (178.8572) | 25 (160.0000) |
| 2022-03-25 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue Backyard Contest Kansas City, MO | 6 / 25 (342.2516) | 6 (173.7028) | 7 (168.5488) | — | — |
| 2021-10-01 | Que' For a Cause (BACKYARD) Tahlequah, OK | 6 / 20 (516.5028) | 12 (167.3828) | 6 (172.5600) | 3 (176.5600) | — |
| 2021-09-10 | Cherokee Strip BBQ & Chili Cook-Off Ponca City, OK | 11 / 25 (674.7084) | 14 (166.2400) | 12 (171.9772) | 16 (164.5256) | 6 (171.9656) |
| 2021-07-23 | Smokin' Hot Cars & BBQ Iola, KS | 20 / 28 (658.1484) | 22 (161.1084) | 7 (171.4172) | 8 (170.8344) | 24 (154.7884) |
| 2021-05-07 | Bixby Rotary BBQ'N Blues Festival Bixby, OK | 9 / 53 (692.5028) | 20 (173.1200) | 7 (176.5600) | 12 (173.1200) | 15 (169.7028) |
| 2019-07-26 | Smokin Hot Cars & BBQ Iola, KS | 37 / 41 (638.7660) | 35 (159.4288) | 13 (170.8344) | 40 (147.4056) | 32 (161.0972) |
| 2019-05-03 | Bixby BBQ'n Blues Festival | 32 / 56 (646.1488) | 45 (153.0860) | 19 (167.3828) | 42 (154.8228) | 12 (170.8572) |
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 | #228 (490 pts) | #179 (670 pts) | #141 (830 pts) | #219 (505 pts) | #315 (370 pts) |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | #77 (1775 pts) | #111 (1515 pts) | #83 (1745 pts) | #102 (1525 pts) | #122 (1440 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #317 (105 pts) | #269 (155 pts) | #379 (60 pts) | — | — |
| 2024 ↗ | Master | #292 (753 pts) | #253 (918 pts) | #306 (823 pts) | #416 (513 pts) | #398 (553 pts) |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #85 (728 pts) | #38 (1063 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Master | #618 (260 pts) | #782 (205 pts) | #376 (655 pts) | #568 (335 pts) | #513 (375 pts) |
| 2022 ↗ | Backyard | — | #54 (800 pts) | #38 (950 pts) | — | — |
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #862 (165 pts) | #827 (200 pts) | #708 (288 pts) | #602 (330 pts) | #1021 (120 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Backyard | — | #206 (110 pts) | #149 (160 pts) | — | — |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #508 (343 pts) | #645 (258 pts) | #467 (438 pts) | #505 (368 pts) | #554 (333 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1475 (120 pts) | #1597 (120 pts) | #1201 (210 pts) | #1584 (120 pts) | #1266 (185 pts) |