Happy hunting ground
Top 17%
average finish here
American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST is their spot: an average finish in the top 17% across 2 visits.
- 2 visits
- best finish 17th
- average top 17%
BIG B'S BBQ - TX
BIG B'S BBQ - TX is a competition barbecue team with 20 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 26 at The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES) (2022), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #4960 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings. Also listed in KCBS results as “Big B's BBQ” and “BIG B'S BBQ - TN”.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1464
peak 1500 · rated over 15 contests4 invitational or side-series contests not counted
Contests
20
in the data
First seen
Aug 31, 2013
latest Sep 5, 2026 · 13 years on the trail
Grand champs
0
1 reserve
Category wins
0
2 podiums
Overall top-10s
1
5% of 20 contests
Avg finish
top 66%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
0
Current form
630.28 ▼
last 5 Master vs avg 643.39 (-13.11)
Walk rate
25%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±25.99
spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 163.72 · weakest Brisket (158.18)
Road miles
5,872
across 20 mapped stops · furthest 708 mi
Schedule strength
64%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1581)
Purse competed for
$158K
listed at 9 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 8 state-championship entries
Master avg
643.39 / 720
17 Master contests · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
292.51 / 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 ↗ | Master | #883 (160 pts) | #1051 (120 pts) | #1107 (120 pts) | #1046 (120 pts) | #1021 (120 pts) |
| 2021 ↗ | Master | #917 (120 pts) | #851 (165 pts) | #1023 (120 pts) | #960 (120 pts) | #957 (120 pts) |
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #1955 (60 pts) | #2049 (60 pts) | #2026 (60 pts) | #2029 (60 pts) | #2010 (60 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #813 (400 pts) | #872 (375 pts) | #961 (340 pts) | #896 (360 pts) | #568 (640 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #982 (347 pts) | #1147 (292 pts) | #903 (432 pts) | #983 (377 pts) | #1170 (272 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #739 (509 pts) | #416 (934 pts) | #695 (579 pts) | #779 (504 pts) | #777 (489 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #305 (1,163 pts) | #303 (1,163 pts) | #250 (1,268 pts) | #352 (1,003 pts) | #365 (1,003 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #596 (624 pts) | #500 (774 pts) | #459 (864 pts) | #678 (559 pts) | #490 (769 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #198 (1,413 pts) | #157 (1,429 pts) | #144 (1,517 pts) | #191 (1,328 pts) | #205 (1,301 pts) |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to BIG B'S BBQ - TX, each with one reason worth a look.
142 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#4,962 of the rated field
- Contests
- 14
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 21%
- Peak
- 1516
1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to BIG B'S BBQ - TX)
2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team BIG B'S BBQ - TX has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-head#4,973 of the rated field
- Contests
- 18
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 0%
- Peak
- 1525
2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to BIG B'S BBQ - TX)
They've been 1525 at their best, 62 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Head-to-head#4,949 of the rated field
- Contests
- 21
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 43%
- Peak
- 1464
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BIG B'S BBQ - TX)
Careers of much the same size, 21 contests to 20, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Head-to-head#4,980 of the rated field
- Contests
- 10
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1500
0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to BIG B'S BBQ - TX)
Their last contest in the data was back in 2022, 4 years before BIG B'S BBQ - TX's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head#4,972 of the rated field
- Contests
- 28
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 11%
- Peak
- 1463
1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to BIG B'S BBQ - TX)
28 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 11% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Head-to-head#4,977 of the rated field
- Contests
- 15
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 7%
- Peak
- 1463
Level with BIG B'S BBQ - TX on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JANKY LEG BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| MAN MEAT BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| TRIPLE H BBQ | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% | ⚔ compare |
| PORKY BUTTS BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| BUTCHER BBQ | 7 | 1 | 6 | 14% | ⚔ compare |
| SmokinGhost BBQ | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| LC BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| CAVEMAN CUISINE | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| 913 BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| CLARK CREW BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| HIGH i QUE | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| 4 LEGS UP BBQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| ATLANTA BBQ STORE | 6 | 1 | 5 | 17% | ⚔ compare |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
| SLAPS BBQ | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 176.0116 | 146.2516 | 163.72 | top 60% |
| Pork Ribs | 20 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 173.7716 | 142.7772 | 162.27 | top 57% |
| Pork | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 174.8688 | 142.2288 | 159.52 | top 69% |
| Brisket | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 173.7372 | 143.3944 | 158.18 | top 68% |
“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) | 7 | 0 | top 77% |
| Large (40+) | 12 | 0 | top 60% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke on the River (Day 2) | 3 | 23 | 0 | top 97% | Sep 5, 2026 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST | 2 | 17 | 0 | top 17% | Sep 29, 2022 |
| American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST | 2 | 160 | 0 | top 88% | Sep 29, 2022 |
| City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | 2 | 18 | 0 | top 47% | Aug 30, 2014 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2022
3 contests
Contests a season
1.7
across 12 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
KS
9 of 20 contests · 5 states in all
Contests visited
14
4 of them more than once
Opponents faced
1,177
finished ahead 1,003 times, behind 1,162
Longest layoff
2 yrs
Sep 29, 2022 → Oct 11, 2024
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20261 milestone
- Most recent contest Smoke on the River (Day 2)
20225 milestones
- First overall top-10 The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES)
- First overall podium The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES)
- First Reserve Championship The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES)
- Career-best overall score696.6176 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST
- Career-best single call (Chicken)176.0116 American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST
20211 milestone
- 10th tracked contest Sip & Swine BBQ Festival
20143 milestones
- First call Sam's Club National BBQ Tour
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score656.4684 City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
- Peak power rating (1500) City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
20131 milestone
- First tracked contest City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +19.3 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST | Sep 29, 2022 |
| +10 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival | Aug 30, 2014 |
| +5 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) | Jul 21, 2017 |
| +3.6 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST | Sep 16, 2021 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -11.3 | Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) | Aug 22, 2025 |
| -9.8 | Smoke on the River (Day 1) | Aug 29, 2025 |
| -9.2 | Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ | Jul 15, 2016 |
| -8.7 | Smoke on the River (Day 2) | Sep 5, 2026 |
| -7.6 | 11th Annual WildBlue BBQ | Jul 17, 2015 |
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 | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 96% | 85.2% | 85% |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 98% | 82.9% | 82.1% |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 70% | 92.8% | 92.8% |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33% | top 34% | 96.8% | 94.5% |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 59% | 93.4% | 92.5% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 69% | 90.5% | 90.5% |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 76% | 90% | 90% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 44% | 88.6% | 88.6% |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 91% | 86.7% | 86.7% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 83% | 87.5% | 87.5% |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 45% | 91.2% | 89.5% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 71% | 84.9% | 84.9% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Smoke on the River (Day 2) 🏅 Burlington, KS | 25 / 25 (613.6004) | 25 (161.7028) | 25 (147.3944) | 25 (146.7772) | 25 (157.7260) |
| Sep 4, 2026 | Smoke on the River (Day 1) 🏅 Burlington, KS | 23 / 25 (610.6628) | 24 (153.6800) | 24 (142.7772) | 22 (165.6800) | 23 (148.5256) |
| Aug 29, 2025 | Smoke on the River (Day 1) 🏅 Burlington, KS | 25 / 25 (596.9948) | 23 (159.9544) | 25 (151.4172) | 25 (142.2288) | 24 (143.3944) |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Up in Smoke on the Square (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, IL | 30 / 31 (292.5144) | 30 (146.2516) | 28 (146.2628) | — | — |
| Oct 11, 2024 | Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (Competitor's Series) (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) unrated Lynchburg, TN | 61 / 87 (668.4684) | 40 (170.2744) | 43 (171.4172) | 83 (153.6684) | 23 (173.1084) |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 17 / 505 (696.6176) | 52 (176.0116) | 121 (172) | 65 (174.8688) | 59 (173.7372) |
| Sep 29, 2022 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue - INVITATIONAL CONTEST unrated Kansas City, KS | 224 / 249 (661.6572) | 180 (168) | 172 (167.4516) | 238 (160.5256) | 188 (165.6800) |
| Jun 10, 2022 | The Robertson County Fair Assoc. Barbeque Throwdown (COMPETITORS SERIES) unrated Springfield, TN | 2 / 26 (683.8972) | 4 (172.5484) | 4 (170.8460) | 3 (173.1200) | — |
| Sep 16, 2021 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-OPEN CONTEST 🏅 Kansas City, KS | 142 / 467 (672.5372) | 33 (175.4056) | 64 (173.7716) | 288 (162.8344) | 301 (160.5256) |
| Sep 16, 2021 | American Royal World Series of Barbecue-INVITATIONAL CONTEST 🏅 unrated Kansas City, KS | 160 / 185 (663.3144) | 161 (163.4172) | 104 (169.7144) | 175 (160.5028) | 91 (169.6800) |
| Mar 5, 2021 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival 🏅 Lawrenceville, GA | 49 / 81 (662.1140) | 44 (166.2628) | 57 (162.2400) | 33 (168.5256) | 50 (165.0856) |
| Aug 30, 2019 | Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival 🏅 Bedford, TX | 40 / 58 (651.3372) | 48 (158.8228) | 38 (164.5600) | 40 (163.4172) | 33 (164.5372) |
| Oct 19, 2018 | Clarksville BBQ Bash (COMPETITOR'S SERIES) (JUDGES FULL) Clarksville, TN | — | 8 (162.2400) | 2 (171.4172) | — | — |
| Sep 21, 2018 | Rock'n Ribville Lawrenceville, GA | 25 / 33 (647.7944) | 16 (169.6800) | 21 (166.8344) | 24 (160.5144) | 29 (150.7656) |
| Jul 21, 2017 | Central Illinois BBQ Throwdown (JUDGES FULL) Peoria, IL | 21 / 48 (638.0916) | 19 (163.9772) | 6 (169.1316) | 39 (151.9200) | 31 (153.0628) |
| Jul 15, 2016 | Wolf Creek Wildblue BBQ Burlington, KS | 42 / 46 (623.9200) | 40 (157.6800) | 39 (161.0972) | 40 (157.1200) | 42 (148.0228) |
| Jul 17, 2015 | 11th Annual WildBlue BBQ Burlington, KS | 40 / 48 (630.1828) | 40 (161.0972) | 43 (151.3600) | 39 (160.0228) | 36 (157.7028) |
| Aug 30, 2014 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 18 / 76 (656.4684) | 34 (163.4056) | 6 (171.4172) | 15 (169.1200) | 47 (152.5256) |
| Mar 14, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Fort Worth, TX | 19 / 29 (632.5260) | 10 (165.7372) | 15 (158.2972) | 15 (157.1544) | 21 (151.3372) |
| Aug 31, 2013 | City of Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival Bedford, TX | 63 / 89 (611.3140) | 45 (158.2856) | 56 (155.9544) | 78 (143.3828) | 58 (153.6912) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.