Jeopardy! Fan-Favorite Drew Goins Advances to Tournament of Champions Despite Tough Loss

A surprising twist in Jeopardy!‘s rules has given Drew Goins an unexpected second chance at glory. Despite falling short in the Champions Wildcard Tournament finals, a game show loophole has secured his spot in the upcoming Tournament of Champions.

Goins, a journalist from Honolulu, Hawaii, competed fiercely in the finals against Will Yancey, a history lecturer from Texas, and Mehal Shah, a software engineer from Seattle. With their scores carrying over from the previous game, Mehal started Friday’s match in the lead with $27,200, followed by Drew with $17,600 and Will with $5,600.

Although Drew briefly surged ahead in Double Jeopardy!, a missed Daily Double cost him crucial points, allowing Mehal to regain the lead. Heading into Final Jeopardy!, Mehal held $19,000, while Drew had $10,200—meaning he needed to wager everything and hope for a misstep from Mehal.

Unfortunately, none of the contestants correctly answered the final clue about composer Edvard Grieg. Mehal smartly bet $0, securing his victory with a two-day total of $46,200. Drew finished as runner-up with $17,600, and Will placed third with $5,600.

While it initially seemed that only the tournament winner would move on, an unusual rule allowed Drew to claim a spot in the prestigious Tournament of Champions. This opening arose due to Celebrity Jeopardy! champion Lisa Ann Walter’s scheduling conflicts, which prevented her from competing, leaving a wildcard entry available.

Fans celebrated the news, expressing excitement over Drew’s return. “Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly adore Drew Goins more… so glad we’ll be seeing him in the ToC!” one viewer wrote.

With the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions set to begin on January 27, 2025, Drew will have another shot at victory—alongside the best players of the season.