Bryant Bank Earns Top Prize At 18th Annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Bryant Bank claimed the top prize at the 18th annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff, hosted by the Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa, earning Grand Champion honors for 2026 with its team “Serious Chili Situation.”

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Bryant Bank's theme paid homage to an episode from the hit sitcom "The Office," titled "Casual Friday."

The annual community event featured dozens of teams competing across creative, people’s choice and overall chili categories.

In addition to taking Grand Champion, Bryant Bank also received an honorable mention for Best Booth in the creative awards division.

Grand Champion category winners were:

• Grand Champion: Serious Chili Situation — Bryant Bank
• Second place: Limp Brizkit — Alabama Ag Credit
• Third place: TCSO The Posse — Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office

Finalists and honorable mentions in the Grand Champion division included Holt Ironmen (Help Holt Heal), Mortgage Minions (First Federal Bank) and Northport Firefighters.

People’s Choice winners were:

• First place: Legends of the Chili Trail — Capstone Village
• Second place: Northport Firefighters — Northport Fire & Rescue
• Third place: Limp Brizkit — Alabama Ag Credit

Creative award winners included:

• Bill Tate Best Booth: TSCO Posse — Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
  • Honorable mention: Serious Chili Situation — Bryant Bank
• Best Costume: Don’t Tread On Me Chili — Sons of the American Revolution
  • Honorable mention: Bridgerton Ball — Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra
• David Reynolds Showmanship Award: Love At First Bite — OLLI
  • Honorable mention: Hot Heads — Crimson Insulation

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