Warning: This page contains spoilers for the July 31, 2026, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that today’s game is an encore presentation of the game that originally aired on January 9, 2026.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Notable Americans) for Friday, July 31, 2026 (Season 42, Game 90):
Known in Mexican history as the sale of the Mesilla Valley, the 30,000 square mile deal was negotiated by this U.S. diplomat
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Ian Morrison, an airline ramp agent originally from Aurora, Colorado
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Ryan Sharpe, a recent graduate from Oakville, Ontario, Canada
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James Corson, a nuclear engineer from Frederick, Maryland
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Our first week of encore presentations this summer ends with quarterfinal #5 of Champions Wildcard, with James Corson, Ryan Sharpe, and Ian Morrison doing battle. James was a 2-game winner who won more than $70,000, while Ian lost to Paolo Pasco and Ryan Sharpe made his way through Week 3 of Second Chance to make the field.
ESPN Jeopardy! drops today on Hulu, Disney+, and the ESPN app. As I said earlier this week, my coverage will not consist of recaps of the full set of episodes; within the next few days, though, I’ll do a more holistic article covering various interesting strategic points from the games, with an eye to detailing what I think prospective contestants can learn from the series.
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who is James Gadsden?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2026 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
In the early 1850s, the Mexican government was short of cash, and the Americans were in search of an easier route to build a railroad (businessmen in the South wanted a railroad to the Pacific coast). Thus, James Gadsden, U.S. Minister to Mexico, set out to acquire territory along the U.S.-Mexico border, and did so by 1853 (the Treaty of Mesilla was ratified by both countries in 1854).
The United States paid $10 million for the land; interestingly, this railroad was not built until after the Civil War, as opposition to slavery prevented there being enough federal interest in providing funding to a Southern railroad. Instead, the first transcontinental railroad was built between Council Bluffs, Iowa and San Francisco; the Southern Pacific Railroad was not completed until much later.
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Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, July 31, 2026 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: All These Things That I’ve Done; Alliteration; Biblical Language; That’s Fashionable; Why Not? Football!; Teaching To The Test)
Ian got the Daily Double incorrect and sat third at the first break as a result, while James did very well in the football category to lead at the first set of commercials. After 15 clues, the scores were James $3,200 Ryan $3,000 Ian $1,400.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
James 5 correct 0 incorrect
Ryan 4 correct 0 incorrect
Ian 4 correct 1 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Ian is starting a college fund for his nephew with his winnings.
Ryan regrets an incorrect response during Second Chance.
James bought Scotch and breakfast cereal with his winnings
All three players played well after the break; Ryan led after 30. Over the course of the opening round, Ryan went 4/5 in a historical biographies category, Ian went 3/5 in alliteration, while James went 4/5 in the football category.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Ryan 10 correct 0 incorrect
James 8 correct 0 incorrect
Ian 8 correct 1 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Ryan $6,400
James $4,200
Ian $3,600
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: U.S. Bodies Of Water; Known Whereabouts; Adapted For High School; They Call Me Mellow Yellow; Fantastic Tales; Teaching To The Test)
Ryan dominated the early part of Double Jeopardy, finding both Daily Doubles and cruising to a runaway. James and Ian battled back in the second half of the round to make for a very nervy Final Jeopardy round for both Bill and Dave in the audience. Over the second board, Ryan ran bodies of water and went 4/5 in the yellow category, while James went 3/5 in fantastic tales.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Ryan 22 correct 0 incorrect
James 15 correct 2 incorrect
Ian 14 correct 2 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 8 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Ryan $24,222
James $11,000
Ian $8,800
Ian was correct in Final, putting him in the semifinals. Unfortunately, James was missing a letter, changing the pronunciation, meaning he was incorrect and eliminated.
Tonight’s results:
Ian $8,800 + $8,800 = $17,600 (Who is Gadsden?)
James $11,000 – $11,000 = $0 (Who is Gasden Gadsen?)
Ryan $24,222 + $1,729 = $25,951 (Who was Gadsden) (Semi-Finalist)
Wild Card standings:
Monday: Stella Trout, $26,401
Tuesday: Michelle Tsai, $14,398
Wednesday: Harvey Silikovitz, $12,998
Thursday: Jonathan Hugendubler, $18,400
Friday: Ryan Sharpe, $25,951
1. Ian Morrison, $17,600
2. Vickie Talvola, $13,600
3. Cameron Berry, $12,599
4. Bill McKinney, $12,200
5. Dave Bond, $10,000
6. Pete Johnston, $3,199
7. Dargan Ware, $2,200
8. Geoff Barnes, $800
9. James Corson, $0 ($11,000)
10. Jason Singer, $0 ($3,900)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) BIBLICAL LANGUAGE $600 (clue #4)
Ian 800 -1000 (James 0 Ryan 1800)
2) U.S. BODIES OF WATER $2000 (clue #3)
Ryan 9200 +6174 (James 4200 Ian 3600)
3) THEY CALL ME MELLOW YELLOW $1600 (clue #10, $20800 left on board)
Ryan 18974 +2048 (James 4600 Ian 5600)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: -22
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
James 4
Ryan 5 4
Ian 3*
DJ! Round:
James 5
Ryan 4 5* 3 4 4 3 4*
Ian 3 3
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Ryan 4.00
Ian 3.00
James 4.50
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 8 (0.09 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Ryan $19,600 Coryat, 22 correct, 0 incorrect, 29.82% in first on buzzer (17/57), 3/3 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Ian $9,800 Coryat, 14 correct, 2 incorrect, 26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 2 rebound opportunities)
James $11,000 Coryat, 15 correct, 2 incorrect, 29.82% in first on buzzer (17/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 1 rebound opportunity)
Combined Coryat Score: $40,400
Lach Trash: $10,200 (on 8 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $3,400
Lead Changes: 2
Times Tied: 1
Player Statistics:
James Corson, career statistics:
76 correct, 9 incorrect
3/3 on rebound attempts (on 10 rebound opportunities)
32.46% in first on buzzer (74/228)
4/4 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $18,200)
2/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,550
Ryan Sharpe, career statistics:
119 correct, 10 incorrect
9/9 on rebound attempts (on 17 rebound opportunities)
37.54% in first on buzzer (107/285)
7/8 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $37,326)
4/5 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $18,880
Ian Morrison, career statistics:
59 correct, 11 incorrect
5/5 on rebound attempts (on 12 rebound opportunities)
35.09% in first on buzzer (60/171)
1/2 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $2,000)
2/3 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $11,133
Andy’s Thoughts:
- So why wouldn’t the judges just accept James’s spelling, because, as many detractors would say, “we knew who he was talking about?” Because every time the judges rule too leniently for one player, it ends up disadvantaging another. So, had they taken James’s spelling, it would have disadvantaged Bill McKinney, the last wild card. The spelling rules as they currently are are meant to not differentiate between someone learning by hearing or by reading—and the show wouldn’t have accepted his response if it was pronounced, so they wouldn’t take it when written.
- Today’s J!6 clues can be found at the monthly archive.
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