The heartbreaker
1.7028
points from the title
Came within 1.7028 points of the Grand Championship at Smoke on the Falls (Apr 3, 2026).
Pork Life
Pork Life is a competition barbecue team with 56 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2019 and 2026. They have won 1 Grand Championship, at the O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 (2024), and finished Reserve Grand Champion once. They are ranked #1325 of 6,476 teams in the KCBS power rankings.
At a glance (the record in numbers)
Rating
1578
peak 1578 · rated over 46 contests
Contests
56
in the data
First seen
Apr 12, 2019
latest Sep 18, 2026 · 7.4 years on the trail
Grand champs
1
1 reserve · wins it all 2% of the time
Category wins
0
12 podiums
Overall top-10s
16
29% of 56 contests
Best top-10 run
3
straight overall top-10s, still running
Avg finish
top 56%
overall standings
Perfect 180s
1 🔥
Current form
341.78 ▲
last 5 Backyard vs avg 336.15 (+5.63)
Walk rate
54%
contests with a top-10 call
Consistency
±9.47
spread of their Backyard overall scores (lower = steadier)
Strongest meat
Chicken
avg 168.63 · weakest Brisket (160.52)
Road miles
3,654
across 56 mapped stops · furthest 342 mi
Schedule strength
62%
of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1578)
Purse competed for
$386K
listed at 50 contests — purses, not winnings
State championships
0 🏅
won from 18 state-championship entries
Master (1-meat) avg
163.97 / 180
1 Master (1-meat) contest · 0 GCs
Backyard avg
336.15 / 360
42 Backyard contests · 1 GC
Backyard (3-meat) avg
487.33 / 540
3 Backyard (3-meat) contests · 0 GCs
These overall scores sit on different scales (Master (1-meat) out of 180, Backyard out of 360, Backyard (3-meat) out of 540), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ↗ | Backyard | #33 (1,012 pts) | #34 (976 pts) | #26 (1,070 pts) | — | — |
| 2026 ↗ | Master | — | #1093 (60 pts) | #1161 (60 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Backyard | #74 (704 pts) | #53 (925 pts) | #93 (661 pts) | — | — |
| 2025 ↗ | Master | — | #564 (352 pts) | #809 (203 pts) | #771 (182 pts) | #1050 (99 pts) |
| 2024 ↗ | Backyard | #64 (838 pts) | #50 (892 pts) | #67 (812 pts) | — | — |
| 2023 ↗ | Backyard | — | #107 (572 pts) | #110 (612 pts) | — | — |
Overall rank by season
Teams like this (closest power rating)
The teams rated closest to Pork Life, each with one reason worth a look.
34 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.
#1,328 of the rated field
- Contests
- 49
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 18%
- Peak
- 1615
1–3 in 5 shared contests (20% to Pork Life)
These two have cooked 5 of the same contests — Slayton's Barbeque Company ahead 3–1 — so there's a record behind this pairing and not just a matching number.
⚔ Head-to-head#1,330 of the rated field
- Contests
- 41
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 15%
- Peak
- 1588
Their last contest in the data was back in 2023, 3 years before Pork Life's most recent — their rating stopped moving when they stopped cooking.
⚔ Compare careers#1,324 of the rated field
- Contests
- 57
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 53%
- Peak
- 1672
They've been 1672 at their best, 94 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.
⚔ Compare careers#1,323 of the rated field
- Contests
- 67
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 19%
- Peak
- 1604
Careers of much the same size, 67 contests to 56, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.
⚔ Compare careers#1,326 of the rated field
- Contests
- 71
- GCs
- 0
- Top-10s
- 10%
- Peak
- 1598
71 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 10% top-10 finishes rather than wins.
⚔ Compare careers#1,321 of the rated field
- Contests
- 30
- GCs
- 1
- Top-10s
- 43%
- Peak
- 1632
They were already cooking in 2013, 6 years before Pork Life's first contest.
⚔ Compare careersFamiliar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)
| Opponent | Meetings | Ahead | Behind | Win rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEE LA Q | 33 | 7 | 26 | 21% | ⚔ compare |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 31 | 5 | 26 | 16% | ⚔ compare |
| Rollin Smoke BBQ | 30 | 11 | 19 | 37% | ⚔ compare |
| Deviant Smoke | 28 | 8 | 20 | 29% | ⚔ compare |
| Modest Meats | 25 | 13 | 12 | 52% | ⚔ compare |
| Dixie Pigs & Chick's BBQ Team | 22 | 11 | 11 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| Wee Daddy's BBQ | 22 | 10 | 12 | 45% | ⚔ compare |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 22 | 2 | 20 | 9% | ⚔ compare |
| Bentley Que | 22 | 1 | 21 | 5% | ⚔ compare |
| BAMA BOYS BBQ | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| Say My Name BBQ | 18 | 8 | 10 | 44% | ⚔ compare |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 17 | 4 | 13 | 24% | ⚔ compare |
| LENOX & SON BBQ COMPANY | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50% | ⚔ compare |
| 931 BBQ | 16 | 4 | 12 | 25% | ⚔ compare |
| Electro-Que-ted | 16 | 1 | 15 | 6% | ⚔ compare |
By meat
| Category | Entries | Calls | Wins | Podiums | Best | Worst | Average | Avg finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 49 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 178.2972 | 153.6228 | 168.63 | top 53% |
| Pork Ribs | 49 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 180 🔥 | 153.0972 | 166.66 | top 58% |
| Pork | 15 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 176 | 152.4800 | 163.99 | top 61% |
| Brisket | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 161.6916 | 158.2056 | 160.52 | top 35% |
“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) | 14 | 0 | top 62% |
| Medium (20–39) | 24 | 1 | top 57% |
| Large (40+) | 8 | 0 | top 44% |
Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)
| Contest | Visits | Best | GCs | Avg finish | Last visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke on the Falls | 6 | 2 | 0 | top 74% | Apr 3, 2026 |
| Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) | 5 | 5 | 0 | top 54% | Jun 5, 2026 |
| Poosa Q | 4 | 14 | 0 | top 53% | Jun 20, 2025 |
| O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | top 25% | May 2, 2025 |
| Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 8 | 0 | top 30% | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) | 2 | 6 | 0 | top 37% | Mar 27, 2026 |
| O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | top 75% | May 3, 2025 |
More numbers
Busiest season
2025
20 contests
Contests a season
7
across 8 seasons in the data
Most contests held in
AL
48 of 56 contests · 4 states in all
Contests visited
30
7 of them more than once
First title
May 3, 2024
O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1
Opponents faced
790
finished ahead 1,031 times, behind 1,077
Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)
20265 milestones
- First Reserve Championship Smoke on the Falls
- 50th tracked contest O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1
- First perfect 180 (Pork Ribs) Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY)
- Peak power rating (1578) Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff
- Most recent contest Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff
20251 milestone
- 25th tracked contest Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY)
20242 milestones
- First overall podium O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1
- First Grand Championship O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1
20232 milestones
- 10th tracked contest Smoke on the Falls
- Career-best overall score493.6000 Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE)
20201 milestone
- First overall past 90% of a perfect score328.5372 Smoke on the Falls
20193 milestones
- First tracked contest Smoke on the Falls
- First call Smokin' & Stokin' Trussville (BACKYARD ONLY)
- First overall top-10 Smokin' & Stokin' Trussville (BACKYARD ONLY)
Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)
📈 Biggest rating jumps
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| +19.1 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 | May 3, 2024 |
| +16.3 | Smoke on the Falls | Apr 3, 2026 |
| +14.7 | Smoke on the Falls | Apr 12, 2024 |
| +14.4 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 | May 1, 2026 |
| +13.6 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) | Mar 21, 2025 |
📉 Toughest weekends
| Swing | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| -12.2 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 | May 3, 2025 |
| -10.5 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) #2 | Sep 22, 2023 |
| -10.3 | Smoke on the Falls | Apr 12, 2019 |
| -9.8 | Smoke on the Falls | Apr 7, 2023 |
| -8.7 | 2nd Annual Oscar Bothwell Memorial Scholarship Rib Rally (One Meat Ribs) | Oct 7, 2022 |
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 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 67% | top 37% | 97.8% | 95.1% |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55% | top 59% | 96.7% | 93.9% |
| 2024 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 56% | top 43% | 97.1% | 94.7% |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43% | top 72% | 91.4% | 89.8% |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50% | top 64% | 93.6% | 91.7% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 82% | 90% | 90% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | top 86% | 91.3% | 91.3% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% | top 91% | 88.5% | 87.9% |
Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)
| Date | Event | Overall | Chicken | Ribs | Pork | Brisket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Mike Gannon BBQ Cookoff 🏅 Columbiana, AL | 5 / 16 (338.2288) | 3 (170.8344) | 7 (167.3944) | — | — |
| Sep 11, 2026 | Bands & BBQ at the Point 🏅 Carrollton, KY | 3 / 38 (347.9888) | 2 (176.5600) | 4 (171.4288) | 10 (159.9428) | 6 (158.2056) |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 8 / 31 (345.6684) | 23 (165.6684) | 2 (180) | — | — |
| Jun 5, 2026 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 15 / 26 (344.5488) | 21 (167.9772) | 4 (176.5716) | 17 (169.1200) | — |
| May 15, 2026 | High on the Hog Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Winchester, TN | 21 / 29 (332.4800) | 14 (170.8228) | 20 (161.6572) | — | — |
| May 2, 2026 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 Cleveland, AL | 10 / 15 (343.9544) | 9 (173.1316) | 9 (170.8228) | — | — |
| May 1, 2026 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 Cleveland, AL | 3 / 17 (348.5372) | 6 (173.1200) | 4 (175.4172) | — | — |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 2 / 36 (352.0116) | 3 (177.1544) | 3 (174.8572) | — | — |
| Mar 27, 2026 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 26 / 43 (335.9200) | 29 (167.3828) | 21 (168.5372) | — | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship 🏅 Lebanon, TN | 36 / 125 (335.9084) | 41 (166.2400) | 26 (169.6684) | 4 (176) | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Lebanon, TN | — | 45 (168.5140) | — | — | — |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship (ONE MEAT RIBS) Lebanon, TN | — | — | 76 (160.5144) | — | — |
| Oct 25, 2025 | Last Chance Points Dance (BACKYARD) Cleveland, AL | 14 / 16 (337.0856) | 6 (176.5600) | 15 (160.5256) | — | — |
| Oct 24, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Cleveland, AL | — | 21 (166.2400) | — | — | — |
| Oct 24, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT PORK) Cleveland, AL | — | — | — | 18 (166.2400) | — |
| Oct 24, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-Off (ONE MEAT RIBS) Cleveland, AL | — | — | 24 (160.4912) | — | — |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Central AL BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Clanton, AL | 11 / 15 (340.5256) | 10 (168.5484) | 6 (171.9772) | — | — |
| Sep 26, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Friday Night Chicken Fight" (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Clanton, AL | — | 9 (167.9656) | — | — | — |
| Sep 20, 2025 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD) Glencoe, AL | 5 / 22 (342.8000) | 3 (173.1200) | 11 (169.6800) | — | — |
| Sep 19, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Don't Burn the Brisket" (ONE MEAT BRISKET) Glencoe, AL | — | — | — | — | 14 (161.6572) |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 24 / 30 (330.1944) | 20 (169.6800) | 24 (160.5144) | 29 (160.5028) | — |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Smoke on the Water Guntersville (BACKYARD ONLY) Guntersville, AL | 21 / 28 (335.4060) | 4 (178.2972) | 28 (157.1088) | — | — |
| Sep 12, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Lakeside Pork Fest" (ONE MEAT PORK) Guntersville, AL | — | — | — | 13 (162.7884) | — |
| Sep 12, 2025 | The Great Alabama BBQ Cook-off Qualifier "Battle of the Bones" (ONE MEAT RIBS) Guntersville, AL | — | — | 7 (173.1200) | — | — |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Cullman, AL | 23 / 29 (337.0744) | 8 (175.4288) | 27 (161.6456) | — | — |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Bernard Blues & BBQ Cookoff (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) Cullman, AL | — | 6 (174.2628) | — | — | — |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 28 / 42 (329.6228) | 23 (169.6684) | 35 (159.9544) | — | — |
| May 3, 2025 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 Oneonta, AL | 22 / 23 (331.3256) | 16 (168.5256) | 22 (162.8000) | 21 (163.9428) | — |
| May 2, 2025 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 Oneonta, AL | 13 / 28 (339.3716) | 8 (170.8344) | 17 (168.5372) | 9 (170.8228) | — |
| Apr 25, 2025 | BBQ & Boogie 🏅 Calhoun, GA | 9 / 32 (343.3828) | 7 (174.8456) | 9 (168.5372) | 2 (173.1200) | 5 (161.6916) |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Smoke on the Falls BBQ Competition 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 14 / 31 (342.7884) | 14 (173.1084) | 14 (169.6800) | — | — |
| Mar 21, 2025 | Singing River Smoke-O-Rama (BACKYARD ONLY) Athens, AL | 6 / 43 (347.9772) | 5 (177.7028) | 17 (170.2744) | — | — |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 37 / 59 (334.8000) | 45 (162.2400) | 17 (172.5600) | — | — |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 8 / 18 (342.2284) | 3 (174.8456) | 10 (167.3828) | 17 (159.3712) | — |
| Sep 6, 2024 | Bernard Blues and BBQ Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) Cullman, AL | 13 / 27 (341.0972) | 18 (169.1084) | 13 (171.9888) | — | — |
| Jul 12, 2024 | The Art of the 'Cue (BACKYARD ONLY) Shelbyville, TN | 11 / 17 (342.2400) | 3 (177.1428) | 12 (165.0972) | 16 (159.3716) | — |
| Jun 7, 2024 | Reelin N Smokin Backyard BBQ Competition (BACKYARD ONLY) Huntsville, AL | 12 / 35 (340.5028) | 13 (170.8228) | 12 (169.6800) | — | — |
| May 4, 2024 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 2 Oneonta, AL | 11 / 20 (340.5144) | 12 (168.5372) | 10 (171.9772) | — | — |
| May 3, 2024 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) Day 1 Oneonta, AL | 1 / 27 (349.6916) | 3 (175.4172) | 4 (174.2744) | — | — |
| Apr 12, 2024 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 5 / 31 (345.7032) | 13 (169.1316) | 2 (176.5716) | — | — |
| Apr 5, 2024 | Fire at the Foothills (BACKYARD ONLY) Chelsea, AL | 9 / 16 (331.3488) | 12 (165.0972) | 11 (166.2516) | 15 (152.4800) | — |
| Oct 5, 2023 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 46 / 73 (324.4800) | 51 (160.5144) | 37 (163.9656) | — | — |
| Sep 22, 2023 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) #1 Oneonta, AL | 14 / 18 (327.9200) | 16 (161.0856) | 9 (166.8344) | — | — |
| Sep 22, 2023 | O'So Good BBQ Festival (BACKYARD ONLY) #2 Oneonta, AL | 11 / 11 (315.2800) | 11 (153.6228) | 9 (161.6572) | — | — |
| Aug 26, 2023 | Smoke on the Water BBQ Fest (BACKYARD ONLY) Lincoln, AL | 11 / 17 (323.8740) | 13 (156.4912) | 9 (167.3828) | — | — |
| Aug 11, 2023 | Smoke in the Park (BACKYARD & KIDS QUE) Glencoe, AL | 23 / 35 (493.6000) | 12 (170.8228) | 23 (162.8228) | 31 (159.9544) | — |
| Apr 7, 2023 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 38 / 39 (316.4228) | 37 (160.5028) | 39 (155.9200) | — | — |
| Mar 3, 2023 | Sip & Swine BBQ Festival 🏅 Lawrenceville, GA | 22 / 65 (490.7200) | 27 (162.2400) | 13 (166.8228) | 28 (161.6572) | — |
| Dec 1, 2022 | Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship 🏅 Demopolis, AL | 6 / 13 (335.9200) | 7 (171.9772) | 11 (163.9428) | — | — |
| Oct 7, 2022 | 2nd Annual Oscar Bothwell Memorial Scholarship Rib Rally (One Meat Ribs) Oneonta, AL | 5 / 6 (163.9660) | — | 5 (163.9660) | — | — |
| May 5, 2022 | Poosa Q 🏅 Montgomery, AL | 14 / 72 (337.1316) | 26 (166.8344) | 11 (170.2972) | — | — |
| Apr 8, 2022 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 37 / 34 (319.3260) | 45 (157.0744) | 34 (162.2516) | — | — |
| Apr 9, 2021 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 31 / 38 (323.8856) | 38 (159.3484) | 26 (164.5372) | — | — |
| Sep 18, 2020 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 24 / 28 (328.5372) | 20 (166.8228) | 31 (161.7144) | — | — |
| Oct 11, 2019 | Smokin' & Stokin' Trussville (BACKYARD ONLY) Trussville, AL | 9 / 17 (477.6576) | 6 (159.4060) | 14 (153.6572) | 2 (164.5944) | — |
| Apr 12, 2019 | Smoke on the Falls 🏅 Gadsden, AL | 39 / 30 (314.7544) | 33 (161.6572) | 42 (153.0972) | — | — |