Hogline BBQ

Hogline BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 39 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2026. They have won 2 Grand Championships, most recently at the 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition (2024), and finished Reserve Grand Champion 3 times. They are ranked #454 of 6,477 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#454

of 6,477 rated · rankings

Rating

1687

peak 1700 · rated over 36 contests2 invitational or side-series contests not counted

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 30, 2013

latest May 8, 2026 · 12.7 years on the trail

Grand champs

3 reserve · wins it all 5% of the time

Category wins

21 podiums

Overall top-10s

49% of 39 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 30%

overall standings

Best overall

701.6688 / 720

Master · 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition

Perfect 180s

Current form

684.94 ▲

last 5 Master vs avg 682.88 (+2.07)

Walk rate

74%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.8572

Chicken · 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1)

Consistency

±9.96

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Brisket

avg 171.87 · weakest Pork (168.99)

Road miles

10,933

across 39 mapped stops · furthest 1,527 mi

Schedule strength

78%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1601)

Purse competed for

$524K

listed at 36 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

1 🏅

won from 34 state-championship entries

Master avg

682.88 / 720

38 Master contests · 2 GCs

Storylines (18 found in their record)

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

The heartbreaker

0.5600 points from the title

Came within 0.5600 points of the Grand Championship at Minnesota in May (May 12, 2023).

Among the elite

#454 of 6,477 rated teams

In the top 7% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1687 puts them #454 of 6,477 rated teams — the top 7% of the field.

rating 1687
peak 1700
36 rated contests

Against the odds

11-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings

The ratings favoured the top seed the other 89 times in 100

Their Grand Championship at Rotary Rockn Ribs (Jun 23, 2017) came as the ratings underdog — roughly a 11-in-100 shot against the field's top-rated team, LUCKY'S Q.

Giant slayer

37 teams beaten in one weekend

Took the Grand Championship over a 37-team field at Rotary Rockn Ribs.

Jun 23, 2017

Happy hunting ground

Top 9% average finish here

11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2) is their spot: an average finish in the top 9% across 2 visits.

2 visits
best finish 2nd
average top 9%

A multi-meat day

1 contest with 2+ category wins

They've won two or more meats on the same day 1 time — the best of them 2 category wins at 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition (Jun 14, 2024).

Chicken 1st
Brisket 1st

They almost always walk

74% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 29 of 39 contests

A top-10 category call in 74% of their 39 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

Show 11 more storylines

High-water mark

701.6688 career-best overall

97.5% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 701.6688 at 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition — 97.5% of a perfect 720.

Master
Jun 14, 2024

State champions

1 state championship won

They've taken 1 state championship from 34 entries at contests carrying the title.

34 state-championship entries

The one to beat

3× one call ahead of them

HOT DADDY'S BBQ has finished one call ahead of Hogline BBQ 3 times — their closest competition in the data.

The drought

13 contests since the last title

Their last Grand Championship came at 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition on Jun 14, 2024 — 13 contests and 2.3 years ago.

last GC Jun 14, 2024
2.3 years ago

A strong matchup

22–5 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 81% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of T-Rex BBQ in 22 of their 27 shared contests.

The comeback

3.8 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 3.8 years, then back at Rotary Rockn Ribs (Jun 23, 2017).

last seen Aug 30, 2013
back Jun 23, 2017

Always the bridesmaid

3 reserve championships

Runner-up for the whole thing 3 times against 2 Grand Championships — close enough to touch it, over and over.

2 Grand Championships
39 contests

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

Marty Party BBQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

The long haul

10,933 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 10,933 miles across 39 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 1,527 miles to Holy Smokes (ONE MEAT RIBS).

39 mapped stops
furthest 1,527 mi

The metronome

±1.38% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±1.38% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 94.8% of a perfect score
39 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Minnesota in May every year from 2023 to 2026 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 2nd

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	—	—	#1090 (125 pts)	—	—

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to Hogline BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

DANG GOOD BBQ

#455 of the rated field

1687 power rating

Contests: 58
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 45%
Peak: 1695

2–0 in 2 shared contests (100% to Hogline BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Hogline BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 58 contests
last seen Sep 25, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Fluffy Butt BBQ

#457 of the rated field

1687 power rating

Contests: 26
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 69%
Peak: 1687

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to Hogline BBQ)

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 22 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 22 contests
last seen Mar 20, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

Brewski's BBQ Competition Team

#458 of the rated field

1687 power rating

Contests: 42
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 69%
Peak: 1696

Careers of much the same size, 42 contests to 39, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 40 contests
last seen May 16, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

SMILIN' DRAGON BBQ

#453 of the rated field

1687 power rating

Contests: 33
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1687

Their last contest in the data was back in 2021, 5 years before Hogline BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 32 contests

⚔ Compare careers

SMOOTH SMOKE

#456 of the rated field

1687 power rating

Contests: 121
GCs: 5
Top-10s: 42%
Peak: 1819

Their rating is built on 5 Grand Championships in 121 contests, alongside a 42% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 116 contests
last seen Aug 22, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

Crossed Rifles BBQ

#449 of the rated field

1688 ▲ 1 power rating

Contests: 47
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 38%
Peak: 1700

4–0 in 4 shared contests (100% to Hogline BBQ)

They turned up 7 years after Hogline BBQ did, first appearing in 2020.

rated over 37 contests
last seen Sep 30, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SHIGGIN & GRINNIN	28	13	15	46%	⚔ compare
T-Rex BBQ	27	22	5	81%	⚔ compare
HOT DADDY'S BBQ	27	8	19	30%	⚔ compare
WAG'S BACKWOODS BBQ	26	11	15	42%	⚔ compare
MACHETE BOYS BBQ	23	12	11	52%	⚔ compare
LUCKY 19 SAUCE COMPANY	22	15	7	68%	⚔ compare
Son of a Boar BBQ	22	13	9	59%	⚔ compare
NECTAR OF THE HOGS	21	9	12	43%	⚔ compare
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ	20	10	10	50%	⚔ compare
Ash Kickin' BBQ	20	9	11	45%	⚔ compare
SIX BUTT BBQ	19	14	5	74%	⚔ compare
WHEN PIGS DIE	19	13	6	68%	⚔ compare
UGLY BABY BBQ	18	14	4	78%	⚔ compare
Phoenix BBQ	17	11	6	65%	⚔ compare
RUM N' SMOKE BBQ	17	5	12	29%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	38	13	2	7	178.8572	160.5256	170.99	top 41%
Pork Ribs	39	18	1	7	177.7372	154.2744	170.59	top 33%
Pork	38	11	1	1	178.2972	160.5716	168.99	top 48%
Brisket	38	20	2	6	178.8572	157.6572	171.87	top 29%

“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
Small (<20 teams)	2	0	top 63%
Medium (20–39)	17	2	top 24%
Large (40+)	19	0	top 31%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
MN	11	0	top 30%
WI	10	1	top 26%
IA	8	1	top 34%
KS	7	0	top 31%
ND	1	0	top 45%
IN	1	0	top 20%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Minnesota in May	4	2	top 33%	May 8, 2026
Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)	3	19	top 44%	Apr 10, 2026
Smokin' in Steele	3	3	top 28%	May 30, 2025
Smokin in the Bogs	2	9	top 57%	Sep 1, 2023
11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2)	2	2	top 9%	Aug 25, 2023

More numbers

Busiest season 2023 15 contests

Contests a season 4.9 across 8 seasons in the data

Most contests held in MN 11 of 39 contests · 7 states in all

Contests visited 29 5 of them more than once

Most-entered meat Pork Ribs 39 entries · 1 win · 18 calls

First title Jun 23, 2017 Rotary Rockn Ribs

Opponents faced 1,133 finished ahead 2,265 times, behind 862

Longest layoff 3.8 yrs Aug 30, 2013 → Jun 23, 2017

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

20261 milestone

May 8 Most recent contest Minnesota in May

20251 milestone

Jul 25 Peak power rating (1700) 9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest

20244 milestones

May 31 25th tracked contest Smokin in Steele
Jun 14 First state championship 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition
Jun 14 First multi-meat day 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition
Jun 14 Career-best overall score701.6688 23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition

20233 milestones

May 12 First Reserve Championship Minnesota in May
May 12 10th tracked contest Minnesota in May
Aug 24 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.8572 11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1)

20174 milestones

Jun 23 First category win (Brisket) Rotary Rockn Ribs
Jun 23 First overall podium Rotary Rockn Ribs
Jun 23 First Grand Championship Rotary Rockn Ribs
Jun 23 Biggest field won (37 teams) Rotary Rockn Ribs

20134 milestones

Aug 30 First tracked contest 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs
Aug 30 First call 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs
Aug 30 First overall top-10 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs
Aug 30 First overall past 90% of a perfect score672.5028 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+18	Rotary Rockn Ribs	Jun 23, 2017
+16.5	11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1)	Aug 24, 2023
+15	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD)	Jun 10, 2023
+14.6	11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2)	Aug 25, 2023
+14.1	Minnesota in May	May 12, 2023

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-10.2	Minnesota in May	May 9, 2025
-10	Smokin in Steele	Jun 2, 2023
-9.7	Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT)	Apr 10, 2026
-9.1	7th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest	Jul 28, 2023
-6.3	Cruisin' and BBQin'	Aug 22, 2025

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — 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	50%	top 44%	95.3%	94.8%
2025	5	0	2	2	80%	top 40%	96.6%	94.7%
2024	10	1	5	2	80%	top 27%	97.5%	95.4%
2023	15	0	9	1	67%	top 30%	96.9%	94.9%
2022	1	0	0	0	100%	—	—	—
2020	4	0	1	0	75%	top 29%	95.1%	93.6%
2017	1	1	1	1	100%	top 3%	95.2%	95.2%
2013	1	0	1	0	100%	top 16%	93.4%	93.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 8, 2026	Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN	17 / 77 (686.2288)	50 (169.6916)	10 (174.8572)	4 (177.1544)	60 (164.5256)
Apr 10, 2026	Smoke in the Spring (OPEN FORMAT) 🏅 Osage City, KS	67 / 101 (678.7428)	87 (166.2400)	58 (170.8344)	58 (169.6800)	37 (171.9884)
Aug 22, 2025	Cruisin' and BBQin' 🏅 Hampton, IA	11 / 18 (680.4572)	16 (166.8228)	6 (171.9772)	7 (174.2628)	13 (167.3944)
Jul 25, 2025	9th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	5 / 31 (683.9200)	25 (164.5372)	1 (177.7372)	20 (168.5256)	5 (173.1200)
May 30, 2025	Smokin' in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN	3 / 28 (695.3600)	6 (175.4172)	13 (171.4172)	1 (176.5600)	11 (171.9656)
May 9, 2025	Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN	32 / 58 (678.1828)	52 (163.3828)	3 (175.4172)	36 (170.2628)	31 (169.1200)
Feb 21, 2025	Fire on Ice BBQ Championship 🏅 Onamia, MN	23 / 42 (670.2176)	22 (170.2628)	20 (168.5488)	38 (160.5716)	15 (170.8344)
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	50 / 444 (694.2400)	74 (176)	89 (174.2744)	114 (173.1084)	123 (170.8572)
Oct 30, 2024	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS	50 / 169 (690.2060)	70 (173.1200)	64 (173.1200)	106 (169.6916)	45 (174.2744)
Sep 27, 2024	ND BBQ Championship 🏅 Fargo, ND	21 / 47 (670.1372)	22 (166.8344)	22 (166.2516)	29 (163.9312)	7 (173.1200)
Aug 23, 2024	MN Masters BBQ 🏅 Pierz, MN	8 / 27 (684.4800)	12 (169.6916)	8 (172.5600)	16 (168.5256)	5 (173.7028)
Jul 26, 2024	8th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	6 / 28 (689.6460)	15 (169.6916)	22 (165.0972)	4 (178.2972)	4 (176.5600)
Jul 19, 2024	BBCubed - Brighton Barbeque Bash 🏅 Oshkosh, WI	6 / 37 (684.4916)	5 (173.7144)	13 (168.5372)	15 (167.3828)	2 (174.8572)
Jun 14, 2024	23rd Annual Rose Festival KCBS BBQ Competition 🏅 State Center, IA	1 / 25 (701.6688)	1 (177.7144)	5 (174.2744)	7 (173.1200)	1 (176.5600)
May 31, 2024	Smokin in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN	4 / 32 (689.6228)	4 (176)	12 (168.5256)	7 (173.1200)	13 (171.9772)
May 10, 2024	Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN	30 / 58 (681.5884)	22 (173.1084)	29 (169.6800)	53 (162.8000)	4 (176)
Apr 5, 2024	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	46 / 97 (684.4340)	70 (166.2284)	54 (169.6684)	34 (171.9772)	9 (176.5600)
Oct 13, 2023	Bring'n Home the Bacon II (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI	6 / 21 (685.5884)	3 (177.7028)	3 (170.8344)	15 (165.0856)	8 (171.9656)
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Invitational Contest unrated Kansas City, KS	48 / 211 (690.7656)	75 (173.7028)	115 (170.8228)	75 (173.1200)	56 (173.1200)
Sep 27, 2023	American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Open Contest 🏅 Kansas City, KS	99 / 487 (686.2400)	27 (177.7028)	189 (170.8344)	350 (162.2856)	37 (175.4172)
Sep 1, 2023	Smokin in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI	9 / 14 (671.2800)	3 (171.4172)	7 (169.6800)	9 (165.0856)	8 (165.0972)
Aug 25, 2023	11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 2) 🏅 Washington Island, WI	3 / 28 (693.6460)	13 (171.9772)	2 (176.5716)	14 (169.6916)	5 (175.4056)
Aug 24, 2023	11th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque (Day 1) 🏅 Washington Island, WI	2 / 27 (694.8004)	1 (178.8572)	2 (175.4288)	12 (169.6800)	10 (170.8344)
Jul 28, 2023	7th Annual E'burg BBQ Contest 🏅 Emmetsburg, IA	26 / 32 (667.8744)	18 (169.1200)	22 (165.6916)	25 (166.8228)	24 (166.2400)
Jul 14, 2023	KTD Smokin Gobbler Cook-off 🏅 Worthington, MN	5 / 39 (682.2060)	10 (172.5716)	16 (169.1316)	31 (161.6456)	2 (178.8572)
Jul 7, 2023	Art of the Que 🏅 Spencer, IA	9 / 28 (680.4456)	22 (166.2400)	9 (171.4056)	17 (168.5372)	4 (174.2628)
Jun 10, 2023	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 2 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI	2 / 40 (693.6344)	3 (177.7144)	17 (169.6800)	8 (174.2628)	7 (171.9772)
Jun 9, 2023	Bring'n Home the Bacon Day 1 (MASTER & BACKYARD) 🏅 West Salem, WI	24 / 43 (665.5888)	13 (171.4172)	27 (166.2400)	32 (163.9544)	26 (163.9772)
Jun 2, 2023	Smokin in Steele 🏅 Owatonna, MN	18 / 29 (660.9940)	26 (160.5256)	19 (164.5372)	11 (169.1084)	11 (166.8228)
May 12, 2023	Minnesota in May 🏅 St. Peter, MN	2 / 59 (697.6684)	6 (175.4172)	7 (172.5600)	14 (172.5484)	2 (177.1428)
Apr 7, 2023	Smoke in the Spring 🏅 Osage City, KS	19 / 103 (693.6800)	35 (173.7028)	25 (173.7144)	64 (167.4056)	5 (178.8572)
Mar 31, 2023	Iowa State BBQ Championship 🏅 Altoona, IA	10 / 47 (686.2288)	20 (170.8688)	11 (173.1200)	9 (172.5600)	22 (169.6800)
Aug 27, 2022	Holy Smokes (ONE MEAT RIBS) Walnut Creek, CA	—	—	9 (154.2744)	—	—
Oct 2, 2020	Ottumwa Smoketoberfest 🏅 Ottumwa, IA	21 / 66 (674.7884)	56 (161.1200)	2 (176.5600)	51 (163.3828)	3 (173.7256)
Sep 4, 2020	Smokin in the Bogs 🏅 Warrens, WI	14 / 28 (662.7660)	9 (168.5372)	8 (166.2744)	7 (170.2972)	15 (157.6572)
Aug 28, 2020	Minnesota in Mayaugust 🏅 Cambridge, MN	6 / 45 (684.5144)	30 (165.7028)	6 (172.5600)	9 (173.1200)	6 (173.1316)
May 29, 2020	Rockin BBQ 🏅 Warsaw, IN	13 / 66 (674.8340)	23 (166.8800)	11 (172)	15 (168.5484)	23 (167.4056)
Jun 23, 2017	Rotary Rockn Ribs LaCrosse, WI	1 / 37 (685.6112)	2 (175.4056)	5 (169.1200)	17 (163.3828)	1 (177.7028)
Aug 30, 2013	3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs Warrens, WI	6 / 37 (672.5028)	3 (172.5600)	3 (169.1544)	22 (162.2628)	11 (168.5256)

An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.

Hogline BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

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

Storylines (18 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Against the odds

Giant slayer

Happy hunting ground

A multi-meat day

They almost always walk

High-water mark

State champions

The one to beat

The drought

A strong matchup

The comeback

Always the bridesmaid

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

The metronome

A standing appointment

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

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, averaged over 5 contests — 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)