Big Boy BBQ

Big Boy BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2023. Their best overall finish is 9th of 23 at the Maryland State BBQ Bash (2023). They are ranked #5312 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#5,312

of 6,476 rated · rankings

Rating

1456

peak 1456 · rated over 13 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Aug 30, 2014

latest Oct 13, 2023 · 9.1 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1183

Master 2022 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

1 podium

Overall top-10s

7% of 14 contests

Avg finish

top 71%

overall standings

Best overall

657.6344 / 720

Master · Bib's Camel City Cookoff (formerly Jammin' Pig)

Perfect 180s

Current form

605.34 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 614.44 (-9.10)

Walk rate

43%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

172

Chicken · BBQ on the Bow

Consistency

±19.95

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 158.57 · weakest Brisket (150.81)

Road miles

11,035

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 2,029 mi

Schedule strength

17%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1524)

Purse competed for

$38K

listed at 3 contests — purses, not winnings

State championships

0 🏅

won from 3 state-championship entries

Master avg

614.44 / 720

10 Master contests · 0 GCs

Backyard avg

315.77 / 360

3 Backyard contests · 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.

Storylines (8 found in their record)

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

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

Northlands Pitmasters has finished one call ahead of Big Boy BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

9–0 behind in the head-to-head

SMELLAQUE ahead in 100% of their meetings

SMELLAQUE has come out ahead in 9 of their 9 shared contests.

The weak link

−7.8 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 7.76 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 20% of the time against 23%.

Brisket avg 150.81
Chicken avg 158.57
2 calls in 10 entries

A strong matchup

3–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Bone Suckin' Good BBQ in 3 of their 3 shared contests.

The comeback

2.1 yrs off the trail, then back

Off the trail for 2.1 years, then back at Maryland State BBQ Bash (Oct 15, 2021).

last seen Aug 31, 2019
back Oct 15, 2021

Chicken nemesis

6 of 9 shared chicken entries lost

SMELLAQUE ahead 67% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, SMELLAQUE has out-cooked them in 6 of 9 shared chicken entries.

Looking over their shoulder

2× one call behind them

The Big LebowsQ has landed one call behind them 2 times.

Show 1 more storyline

The long haul

11,035 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 11,035 miles across 14 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 2,029 miles to Maryland State BBQ Bash.

14 mapped stops
furthest 2,029 mi

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	#1183 (93 pts)	#955 (148 pts)	#1317 (83 pts)	#1136 (113 pts)	#1207 (93 pts)

Teams like this (closest power rating)

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

122 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

Bar B Q Dat

#5,298 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1507

They've been 1507 at their best, 51 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Jul 11, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

INFINITE SMOKE BBQ

#5,329 of the rated field

1455 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1455

Careers of much the same size, 12 contests to 14, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Apr 17, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

Tractor Shed BBQ

#5,317 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1456

12 contests and no Grand Championship yet.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Nov 5, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

SMOKIN CROATIANS

#5,306 of the rated field

1456 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1456

Their last contest in the data was back in 2016, 7 years before Big Boy BBQ's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.

rated over 15 contests

⚔ Compare careers

Nutty Cocks BBQ

#5,325 of the rated field

1455 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1455

They turned up 7 years after Big Boy BBQ did, first appearing in 2021.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Jun 26, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

FERNANDO'S RIB COMPANY

#5,318 of the rated field

1455 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1455

Level with Big Boy BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 10 contests
last seen May 23, 2026

⚔ Compare careers

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

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
SMELLAQUE	9	0	9	0%	⚔ compare
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMOKERS	8	1	7	13%	⚔ compare
SMOKAPALOOZA	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
ARROWHEAD NORTH BBQ	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
Smoking Crocus	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
YOU NEED A BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
BBQ TEAM NAIT	6	0	6	0%	⚔ compare
The Big LebowsQ	5	2	3	40%	⚔ compare
Smoky Butt BBQ	5	1	4	20%	⚔ compare
SMOKIN' SOWBELLIES	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
Northlands Pitmasters	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare
THE DEVIL MADE ME Q IT	5	0	5	0%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	13	3	1	172	137.0972	158.57	top 60%
Pork Ribs	13	1	0	170.8344	124.3544	151.60	top 69%
Pork	10	1	0	165.1428	142.2400	155.12	top 60%
Brisket	10	2	0	164.5372	129.1204	150.81	top 65%

“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	Avg finish
Small (<20 teams)	1	top 83%
Medium (20–39)	8	top 74%
Large (40+)	4	top 60%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
MD	3	top 69%
CA	3	top 71%
SK	1	top 83%
AB	1	top 57%
NC	1	top 53%

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

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Maryland State BBQ Bash	3	9	top 69%	Oct 13, 2023
BBQ on the Bow	3	20	top 68%	Sep 1, 2018
Porkapalooza BBQ Festival	2	18	top 62%	Jun 10, 2017

More numbers

Busiest season 2022 2 contests

Contests a season 1.6 across 9 seasons in the data

Most contests held in CA 4 of 14 contests · 5 states and provinces in all

Contests visited 8 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 343 finished ahead 195 times, behind 357

Longest layoff 2.1 yrs Aug 31, 2019 → Oct 15, 2021

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

20232 milestones

Oct 13 First overall top-10 Maryland State BBQ Bash
Oct 13 Most recent contest Maryland State BBQ Bash

20191 milestone

Aug 31 10th tracked contest BBQ on the Bow

20181 milestone

Sep 1 Career-best single call (Chicken)172 BBQ on the Bow

20161 milestone

Jun 18 Peak power rating (1495) Porkapalooza BBQ Festival

20153 milestones

Apr 10 First overall past 90% of a perfect score657.6344 Bib's Camel City Cookoff (formerly Jammin' Pig)
Apr 10 Career-best overall score657.6344 Bib's Camel City Cookoff (formerly Jammin' Pig)
Sep 5 First call BBQ on the Bow

20141 milestone

Aug 30 First tracked contest Barbecue on the Bow

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

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+10.1	Maryland State BBQ Bash	Oct 13, 2023
+3.6	Porkapalooza BBQ Festival	Jun 18, 2016
+1.6	Bib's Camel City Cookoff (formerly Jammin' Pig)	Apr 10, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-11.4	BBQ on the Bow	Sep 3, 2016
-9.3	Barbecue on the Bow	Aug 30, 2014
-8.8	Porkapalooza BBQ Festival	Jun 10, 2017
-8.8	BBQ on the Bow	Aug 31, 2019
-8.2	BBQ on the Bow	Sep 1, 2018

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	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2023	1	1	100%	top 39%	90.9%	90.9%
2022	2	0	50%	top 82%	87.7%	87.2%
2021	1	0	0%	top 88%	85.4%	85.4%
2019	1	0	100%	top 78%	84.4%	84.4%
2018	1	0	100%	top 84%	81.1%	81.1%
2017	2	0	0%	top 72%	84.6%	83.6%
2016	2	0	50%	top 66%	87.1%	85.3%
2015	2	0	50%	top 55%	91.3%	89%
2014	2	0	0%	top 81%	84.4%	84.4%

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

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 13, 2023	Maryland State BBQ Bash 🏅 Bel Air, MD	9 / 23 (327.4172)	16 (161.7144)	9 (165.7028)	—	—
Oct 14, 2022	Maryland State BBQ Bash 🏅 Belair, MD	24 / 30 (312.5032)	29 (153.6688)	19 (158.8344)	—	—
Sep 10, 2022	Smoke 'N the Valley Moose Jaw, SK	15 / 18 (631.3032)	7 (166.2972)	17 (149.0400)	11 (160.5716)	15 (155.3944)
Oct 15, 2021	Maryland State BBQ Bash 🏅 Belair, MD	22 / 25 (307.3828)	22 (157.0972)	25 (150.2856)	—	—
Aug 31, 2019	BBQ on the Bow Calgary	29 / 37 (607.3376)	6 (168.5716)	30 (151.4060)	34 (142.2400)	32 (145.1200)
Sep 1, 2018	BBQ on the Bow Calgary	36 / 43 (584.2748)	2 (172)	42 (124.3544)	15 (158.8000)	41 (129.1204)
Sep 2, 2017	BBQ on the Bow Calgary	26 / 42 (609.0516)	22 (157.7144)	30 (149.0972)	26 (153.7256)	28 (148.5144)
Jun 10, 2017	Porkapalooza BBQ Festival Edmonton	32 / 39 (594.7320)	13 (161.0972)	35 (141.6804)	37 (142.8456)	28 (149.1088)
Sep 3, 2016	BBQ on the Bow Calgary, Alberta, CA	31 / 35 (601.4976)	19 (158.2172)	33 (138.2060)	16 (161.1544)	32 (143.9200)
Jun 18, 2016	Porkapalooza BBQ Festival Edmonton, CA	18 / 42 (626.8116)	36 (147.3944)	18 (155.4744)	9 (162.8228)	7 (161.1200)
Sep 5, 2015	BBQ on the Bow Calgary, AB	20 / 35 (623.8628)	25 (156.5716)	16 (155.9656)	30 (146.7884)	6 (164.5372)
Apr 10, 2015	Bib's Camel City Cookoff (formerly Jammin' Pig) Winston-Salem, NC	27 / 51 (657.6344)	36 (164)	12 (170.8344)	24 (165.1428)	34 (157.6572)
Sep 5, 2014	Smoke on the River Sacramento, CA	—	—	—	—	—
Aug 30, 2014	Barbecue on the Bow Calgary, Alberta, CA	26 / 32 (607.8516)	32 (137.0972)	16 (159.9772)	19 (157.1200)	18 (153.6572)

Big Boy BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

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

Backyard avg

Storylines (8 found in their record)

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

The comeback

Chicken nemesis

Looking over their shoulder

The long haul

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 — 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)