The heartbreaker
Came within 1.6572 points of the Grand Championship at 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs (Aug 30, 2013).
Freeman Brothers BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 57 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2024. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay (2015), and finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #748 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
| Year | Series | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 ↗ | Master | #733 (414 pts) | #1104 (239 pts) | #800 (404 pts) | #486 (709 pts) | #756 (434 pts) |
| 2018 ↗ | Master | #493 (728 pts) | #593 (628 pts) | #664 (553 pts) | #274 (1,138 pts) | #779 (443 pts) |
| 2017 ↗ | Master | #673 (573 pts) | #819 (483 pts) | #504 (788 pts) | #728 (563 pts) | #815 (473 pts) |
| 2016 ↗ | Master | #350 (1,062 pts) | #380 (1,012 pts) | #317 (1,142 pts) | #372 (1,032 pts) | #277 (1,222 pts) |
| 2015 ↗ | Master | #255 (1,290 pts) | #335 (1,090 pts) | #126 (1,702 pts) | #303 (1,105 pts) | #257 (1,280 pts) |
| 2014 ↗ | Master | #514 (745 pts) | #749 (500 pts) | #644 (595 pts) | #591 (660 pts) | #543 (685 pts) |
| 2013 ↗ | Master | #366 (832 pts) | #544 (597 pts) | #308 (982 pts) | #493 (667 pts) | #443 (717 pts) |
The teams rated closest to Freeman Brothers BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.
This is the highest they've ever been rated, 56 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.
⚔ Compare careersCareers of much the same size, 63 contests to 57, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careersOne contest in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team Freeman Brothers BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir rating is built on 1 Grand Championship in 44 contests, alongside a 16% overall top-10 rate.
⚔ Head-to-headBoth teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.
⚔ Head-to-headTheir last contest in the data was back in 2015, 9 years before Freeman Brothers BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Head-to-head| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-MAC SMOKIN | 45 | 12 | 33 | 27% | ⚔ compare |
| TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI | 45 | 10 | 35 | 22% | ⚔ compare |
| CHEFS GONE GRILLIN | 33 | 20 | 13 | 61% | ⚔ compare |
| CRASH TEST SMOKERS | 33 | 16 | 17 | 48% | ⚔ compare |
| SHIGGIN & GRINNIN | 33 | 4 | 29 | 12% | ⚔ compare |
| BIG "E" BBQ | 32 | 10 | 22 | 31% | ⚔ compare |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 32 | 2 | 30 | 6% | ⚔ compare |
| SMOKE INFUSION | 30 | 17 | 13 | 57% | ⚔ compare |
| FOX RIVER BBQ | 30 | 14 | 16 | 47% | ⚔ compare |
| LEGENDS OF SMOKE - TEAM RED ARROW | 29 | 18 | 11 | 62% | ⚔ compare |
| THE REAL SMOKIN ACES | 29 | 10 | 19 | 34% | ⚔ compare |
| iBQ'n | 27 | 4 | 23 | 15% | ⚔ compare |
| 5 FINGER BBQ | 25 | 14 | 11 | 56% | ⚔ compare |
| TOPPGATOR BBQ | 23 | 18 | 5 | 78% | ⚔ compare |
| Second Hand Smoke SLV | 22 | 13 | 9 | 59% | ⚔ compare |
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 57 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 176 | 151.9656 | 164.30 | top 52% |
| Pork Ribs | 57 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 180 🔥 | 141.7028 | 165.96 | top 37% |
| Pork | 56 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 180 🔥 | 147.4060 | 164.16 | top 46% |
| Brisket | 56 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 180 🔥 | 145.5884 | 163.84 | top 46% |
“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.
| Field | Contests | GCs | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<20 teams) | 2 | 0 | top 57% |
| Medium (20–39) | 23 | 0 | top 39% |
| Large (40+) | 32 | 1 | top 44% |
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters In May (DAY 2) | 3 | 9 | 0 | top 22% | May 5, 2018 |
| 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 49% | Aug 24, 2019 |
| 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 54% | Aug 24, 2018 |
| Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 43% | Jul 14, 2018 |
| Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 50% | Jul 13, 2018 |
| 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | 2 | 18 | 0 | top 48% | Aug 25, 2017 |
| 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) | 2 | 67 | 0 | top 32% | Oct 29, 2016 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2 | 10 | 0 | top 38% | Sep 2, 2016 |
| Puckaway Pigfest | 2 | 16 | 0 | top 50% | Sep 11, 2015 |
| Central Iowa Expo BBQ | 2 | 20 | 0 | top 62% | Apr 25, 2015 |
| Sam's Club National BBQ Tour | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 42% | Jul 11, 2014 |
| Pig in the Park | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 42% | Jun 20, 2014 |
| The Masters in May | 2 | 21 | 0 | top 47% | May 2, 2014 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +15.1 | 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs | Aug 30, 2013 |
| +14.7 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay | Jul 10, 2015 |
| +13.5 | 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs | Aug 29, 2014 |
| +13.5 | The Masters In May ( DAY 1) | May 4, 2018 |
| +12.8 | Death's Door Barbecue | Aug 23, 2013 |
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -16.2 | Master In May-The Classic | May 6, 2017 |
| -10.3 | 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) | Aug 24, 2018 |
| -8.9 | Madison Magazine BBQ Festival | May 13, 2016 |
| -8.8 | BBCubed - Brighton Barbeque Bash | Jul 19, 2024 |
| -8 | The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest | Apr 26, 2019 |
| Season | Contests | GCs | Top-10s | Category wins | Walk rate | Avg finish | Best overall (% of perfect) | Avg overall (% of perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 70% | 89.1% | 89.1% |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% | top 50% | 94% | 91.3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 83% | top 33% | 94.2% | 92.8% |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | top 54% | 94.4% | 85.3% |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 36% | top 42% | 95% | 91.9% |
| 2015 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 77% | top 42% | 96.1% | 91.4% |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 71% | top 35% | 95.1% | 91.7% |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 67% | top 35% | 95.2% | 90% |
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19, 2024 | BBCubed - Brighton Barbeque Bash 🏅 Oshkosh, WI | 26 / 37 (641.6000) | 29 (161.1544) | 24 (159.9772) | 32 (152.5028) | 10 (167.9656) |
| Aug 24, 2019 | 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 11 / 29 (676.4916) | 23 (164.5372) | 14 (166.8344) | 2 (174.2628) | 13 (170.8572) |
| Aug 23, 2019 | 8th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) 🏅 Washington Island, WI | 18 / 30 (650.7200) | 28 (151.9656) | 20 (162.2400) | 7 (171.9772) | 17 (164.5372) |
| May 4, 2019 | Masters in May Day 2 🏅 Bancroft, WI | 22 / 40 (658.6856) | 27 (163.3828) | 8 (173.1200) | 26 (164.5256) | 35 (157.6572) |
| May 3, 2019 | Masters In May Day 1 🏅 Bancroft, WI | 12 / 42 (675.3372) | 33 (158.8344) | 25 (165.0972) | 3 (177.7028) | 7 (173.7028) |
| Apr 26, 2019 | The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Contest 🏅 Manawa, WI | 18 / 26 (625.5772) | 21 (153.6916) | 19 (155.4056) | 17 (154.2400) | 7 (162.2400) |
| Aug 24, 2018 | 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI | 21 / 27 (644.9828) | 23 (158.2744) | 6 (168.5372) | 13 (165.0856) | 23 (153.0856) |
| Aug 23, 2018 | 7th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI | 8 / 26 (675.8972) | 7 (170.8572) | 22 (158.2172) | 3 (175.4172) | 10 (171.4056) |
| Jul 14, 2018 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI | 8 / 49 (678.2168) | 8 (172.5600) | 34 (163.9428) | 3 (173.7256) | 22 (167.9884) |
| Jul 13, 2018 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI | 21 / 54 (662.1484) | 22 (165.6684) | 20 (166.2628) | 18 (165.6800) | 27 (164.5372) |
| May 5, 2018 | The Masters In May (DAY 2) Appleton, WI | 11 / 54 (676.4572) | 27 (166.8228) | 30 (165.6916) | 1 (178.8572) | 27 (165.0856) |
| May 4, 2018 | The Masters In May ( DAY 1) Appleton, WI | 9 / 54 (671.8972) | 13 (169.1200) | 14 (167.4172) | 5 (171.9656) | 31 (163.3944) |
| Sep 1, 2017 | 38th American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 86 / 407 (679.3828) | 31 (176) | 138 (168.5600) | 179 (167.3944) | 150 (167.4284) |
| Aug 25, 2017 | 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 2) Washington Island, WI | 18 / 39 (661.5428) | 19 (166.2400) | 9 (169.6800) | 26 (162.8000) | 21 (162.8228) |
| Aug 24, 2017 | 6th Annual Death Door Barbeque (DAY 1) Washington Island, WI | 20 / 40 (658.1600) | 26 (165.0972) | 4 (174.2744) | 35 (153.1200) | 16 (165.6684) |
| Jul 15, 2017 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat 2 Green Bay, WI | 34 / 49 (648.4112) | 26 (164.5484) | 27 (164.5600) | 42 (156.5028) | 31 (162.8000) |
| Jul 14, 2017 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-Heat1 Green Bay, WI | 35 / 58 (645.5424) | 42 (158.7884) | 42 (154.8112) | 11 (168.5600) | 25 (163.3828) |
| May 6, 2017 | Master In May-The Classic Appleton, WI | 50 / 50 (322.7772) | 33 (162.8000) | 34 (159.9772) | — | — |
| May 5, 2017 | The Masters In May (also Big Green Egg challenge) Appleton, WI | 17 / 56 (667.8744) | 46 (162.7884) | 19 (165.6916) | 10 (171.9772) | 21 (167.4172) |
| Apr 28, 2017 | The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Competition Manawa, WI | 12 / 23 (630.6056) | 16 (158.7884) | 6 (162.8116) | 11 (157.0972) | 17 (151.9084) |
| Oct 29, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (OPEN) Kansas City, KS | 149 / 557 (669.0856) | 134 (170.2628) | 103 (170.8572) | 314 (162.8456) | 228 (165.1200) |
| Oct 28, 2016 | 37th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue (INVITATIONAL) unrated Kansas City, KS | 67 / 180 (682.1940) | 136 (166.8228) | 80 (169.7028) | 88 (169.1084) | 20 (176.5600) |
| Sep 17, 2016 | Mazomanie BBQ Fest Mazomanie, WI | 3 / 21 (683.9200) | 3 (171.4172) | 6 (169.6800) | 4 (170.2628) | 4 (172.5600) |
| Sep 2, 2016 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Ypsilanti, MI | 10 / 30 (674.7544) | 6 (175.4172) | 5 (173.7144) | 18 (162.8228) | 17 (162.8000) |
| Aug 26, 2016 | 5th Annual Deaths Door Barbeque Washington Island, WI | 12 / 42 (666.1488) | 37 (153.0628) | 6 (171.4288) | 26 (162.8000) | 1 (178.8572) |
| Jul 29, 2016 | Birdies Barnyard BBQ Kohler, WI | 7 / 17 (664.4912) | 9 (166.2856) | 7 (163.4172) | 2 (167.9656) | 6 (166.8228) |
| Jul 9, 2016 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-2nd Heat Green Bay, WI | 19 / 55 (666.2176) | 21 (169.6800) | 13 (169.7144) | 19 (167.9772) | 40 (158.8460) |
| Jul 8, 2016 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay-1st Heat Green Bay, WI | 45 / 66 (642.7884) | 28 (168.5372) | 40 (158.8228) | 61 (153.1084) | 38 (162.3200) |
| May 13, 2016 | Madison Magazine BBQ Festival Sauk City, WI | 14 / 19 (630.8228) | 11 (160.5600) | 11 (158.8228) | 11 (160) | 15 (151.4400) |
| Apr 30, 2016 | Masters in May- The Classic Appleton, WI | 23 / 58 (658.2172) | 30 (165.6800) | 38 (158.8344) | 28 (162.8800) | 11 (170.8228) |
| Apr 29, 2016 | Masters in May Appleton, WI | 41 / 59 (640.9596) | 33 (163.4056) | 24 (164.5256) | 48 (155.9544) | 42 (157.0740) |
| Nov 3, 2015 | World Food Championships Kissimmee, FL | 18 / 58 (680.4568) | 27 (170.2512) | 1 (180) | 34 (168.5256) | 42 (161.6800) |
| Oct 3, 2015 | 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open Kansas City, MO | 314 / 606 (651.2912) | 328 (163.3828) | 100 (170.8684) | 285 (164.5372) | 466 (152.5028) |
| Sep 11, 2015 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 16 / 33 (624.9824) | 10 (160.5144) | 32 (141.7028) | 20 (153.6340) | 5 (169.1312) |
| Aug 28, 2015 | 4th Annual Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI | 8 / 35 (658.7312) | 30 (155.9428) | 6 (167.4400) | 11 (165.0856) | 4 (170.2628) |
| Jul 10, 2015 | Gold Ribbin' BBQ Fest of Greater Green Bay Green Bay, WI | 1 / 80 (691.9888) | 23 (168) | 5 (173.1316) | 9 (170.8572) | 1 (180) |
| Jun 26, 2015 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Ypsilanti, MI | 13 / 30 (650.1484) | 21 (156.5144) | 10 (163.3944) | 2 (171.9884) | 21 (158.2512) |
| Jun 12, 2015 | Bend of the River CookOut Mankato, MN | 29 / 42 (651.2796) | 37 (159.9312) | 28 (163.9656) | 24 (162.8112) | 25 (164.5716) |
| May 29, 2015 | BBQ 4 ASTOP Fond du Lac, WI | 10 / 23 (654.6968) | 5 (173.1200) | 2 (170.2628) | 21 (154.7884) | 18 (156.5256) |
| May 16, 2015 | Madison Magazine BBQ Festival Madison, WI | 13 / 29 (655.8400) | 10 (167.9772) | 17 (161.6572) | 13 (163.3712) | 12 (162.8344) |
| May 2, 2015 | The Masters In May - The Classic Appleton, WI | 8 / 47 (664.5032) | 5 (170.8688) | 5 (170.8572) | 39 (156.5256) | 14 (166.2516) |
| May 1, 2015 | The Masters In May Appleton, WI | 30 / 57 (641.0744) | 45 (154.8228) | 3 (172.5484) | 55 (147.4060) | 19 (166.2972) |
| Apr 25, 2015 | Central Iowa Expo BBQ Boone, IA | 31 / 41 (662.7084) | 31 (167.4172) | 33 (163.3944) | 12 (170.8228) | 33 (161.0740) |
| Apr 24, 2015 | Central Iowa Expo BBQ Boone, IA | 20 / 42 (667.9316) | 9 (174.8572) | 16 (167.4288) | 26 (165.0856) | 36 (160.5600) |
| Oct 2, 2014 | 35th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 319 / 552 (649.4740) | 282 (165.0972) | 119 (170.2628) | 168 (168.5256) | 508 (145.5884) |
| Sep 5, 2014 | Puckaway Pigfest Montello, WI | 21 / 40 (647.8744) | 32 (155.9084) | 22 (160.5488) | 21 (161.1200) | 9 (170.2972) |
| Aug 29, 2014 | 4th Annual Smokin In the Bogs Warrens, WI | 2 / 34 (684.5140) | 10 (169.7028) | 5 (175.4400) | 10 (171.4056) | 10 (167.9656) |
| Aug 22, 2014 | Deaths Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI | 5 / 27 (677.6800) | 16 (164.5600) | 9 (165.1428) | 1 (180) | 7 (167.9772) |
| Jul 11, 2014 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Madison, WI | 8 / 29 (660.4112) | 10 (167.3828) | 12 (164.5372) | 18 (160.5028) | 6 (167.9884) |
| Jun 20, 2014 | Pig in the Park Whitewater, WI | 12 / 26 (653.0520) | 9 (166.8344) | 4 (166.8688) | 19 (157.6572) | 11 (161.6916) |
| May 2, 2014 | The Masters in May Fremont, WI | 21 / 62 (646.2512) | 27 (161.1428) | 11 (168) | 33 (157.6684) | 28 (159.4400) |
| Oct 3, 2013 | 34th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Kansas City, MO | 176 / 535 (649.7028) | 159 (165.7256) | 47 (170.8344) | 327 (157.7028) | 309 (155.4400) |
| Aug 30, 2013 | 3rd Annual Smokin' In The Bogs Warrens, WI | 2 / 37 (685.1772) | 11 (164.5828) | 1 (179.4400) | 6 (172.5600) | 9 (168.5944) |
| Aug 23, 2013 | Death's Door Barbecue Washington Island, WI | 4 / 28 (669.6800) | 7 (169.7256) | 1 (171.4288) | 7 (165.6800) | 9 (162.8456) |
| Jul 5, 2013 | Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Madison, WI | 17 / 30 (639.4288) | 26 (152.5714) | 9 (163.4286) | 10 (161.1430) | 11 (162.2858) |
| Jun 14, 2013 | Pig in the Park Whitewater, WI | 11 / 29 (631.4284) | 15 (160) | 10 (159.4284) | 26 (149.7144) | 7 (162.2856) |
| May 3, 2013 | The Masters in May Fremont, WI | 29 / 48 (610.8568) | 29 (155.4286) | 25 (154.8572) | 27 (154.8570) | 40 (145.7140) |
An unrated contest — an invitational, or a Competitor or Kosher Series board — is in the record but doesn’t move the power rating.