Overview
- The 90-minute CBS finale aired Thursday, October 1, with the season ending in a live studio show that included the final HOH, a jury segment, the last eviction, and the winner reveal.
- The Final HOH uses three rounds: the Round 1 winner advances automatically to Round 3, the two losers face off in Round 2, and the Round 3 winner decides who to evict for a spot in the Final Two.
- Taylor won the endurance Round 1 and Rick won Round 2, leaving Taylor and Rick to compete live in Round 3 while Drew is ineligible to win the final HOH and must be chosen by the Round 3 winner to reach the Final Two.
- A seven-member jury will vote the $750,000 grand prize, with a prerecorded Jury Round Table hosted by Chelsie Baham and a separate America’s Favorite fan vote awarding $50,000.
- Late twists and single-competition swings concentrated power at the finale, making jurors’ views and contestants’ live speeches decisive and keeping CBS casting for Season 29 as the season closes.