The winner of Big Brother season 26 is about to be crowned.
On Sunday, October 13, viewers will watch Chelsie Baham, Makensy Manbeck and Cam Sullivan-Brown compete in the season finale in hopes of securing jury votes and winning the $750,000 cash prize.
For many Big Brother alums, this season was a huge success thanks to big personalities and even bigger game moves.
“There are a lot of iconic moments from this season, like Angela’s infamous meltdown when she called Matt ‘crazy eyes’ or when Tucker used his Power of Veto to save Angela instead of himself from the block,” season 25 winner Jag Bains exclusively told Us Weekly before premiere night. “This cast was like no other.”
Before host Julie Chen Moonves crowns a winner on live TV, Us Weekly spoke with previous Big Brother winners and fan-favorite contestants. Keep reading to see their predictions and takeaways from an unpredictable season.
‘Big Brother’ Season 24 Winner Taylor Hale
“Big Brother is Chelsie’s game to lose,” Taylor told Us at the Us Weekly + Pluto TV Reality Stars of the Year Party at Hollywood’s Dream Hotel on Thursday, October 10. “Chelsie has played an incredible game head to toe. She’s played from the top. She’s played from the bottom. She’s everything I would have wanted to do on my first season that I didn’t have the space to do. It’s been really, really cool to see her just absolutely dominate the game.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 26 Contestant Lisa Weintraub
“I would love to see a woman win and I’m rooting for Makensy,” Lisa told Us at the Us Weekly + Pluto TV Reality Stars of the Year Party. “Chelsie’s playing a really good game. She has her hand in some sticky jars of honey throughout the whole game, whether people realize it or not. So her game, in terms of strategy, is crushing it, but it’s also a social game, and so you have to play that smart.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 25 Winner Jag Bains
“Hands down, Chelsie is playing the best game in the house and is setting herself up in a strong position to win the show,” Jag proclaimed. “America’s Favorite Player is going to be the one and only Tucker. He brought so much chaos and entertainment to the game. It’s hard not to love him!”
‘Big Brother’ Season 20 Runner-Up Tyler Crispen
“I got Chelsie winning Big Brother because I drafted her first in my Big Brother fantasy draft and because she has played the most well-rounded game,” Tyler shared with Us. “I think Tucker takes home America’s fav. The man was casting gold.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 22 Winner Cody Calafiore
“The Winners Circle Podcast” host believes Chelsie will win the game partly because of her four HOH wins. He would also love to see Tucker with America’s Favorite Player. “He brought back a form of entertainment to Big Brother that we hadn’t seen in a little while,” Cody shared with Us, “and it was so refreshing.”
An honorable trophy, however, also goes to Angela. As Cody explained, “Her blow-ups and behavior were so memorable. She was great.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 20 Contestant Haleigh Broucher
“Unless Makensy is able to secure the HOH and absolutely shocks everyone by taking Cam (in which case, I think she wins), I think the win is Chelsie’s for the taking,” Haleigh shared with Us. “What I’ll remember most from this season is Angela as an all-around character and Chelsie’s talent at puppeteering the game. Honorable mention to Makensy’s comp wins when it mattered most — Aggies support Aggies!”
‘Big Brother’ Season 18 Winner Nicole Franzel
“I think Chelsie will win because she was controlling most of the season!” Nicole shared with Us. “She will be in [the] final two regardless and I think that says a lot.” While she called the entire cast “super kind-hearted,” Nicole’s hope is that Leah is crowned America’s Favorite Player “for being so loyal!”
‘Big Brother’ Season 10 Runner-Up Memphis Garrett
“I’m putting my money on Chelsie,” Memphis shared with Us. “She has played an amazing game with so many HOH wins. She has set herself up to win this game.”
The Garrett Hospitality Group founder also gave credit to the entire cast for a great season by explaining, “I think the takeaway this year of the houseguests is that a diverse cast can coexist in the Big Brother house, celebrate their differences while still playing the great game of Big Brother.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 25 Contestant Cory Wurtenberger
“Chelsie is going to win Big Brother — any other outcome would be an atrocity,” Cory told Us. “If MJ fights off her rationalizing demons and takes Cam to the final 2, she’ll also be an extremely fun winner. But that’s not gonna happen.”
In a season full of blindsides, Cory will also never forget Joseph’s eviction. “Cedric’s eviction was exhilarating, but we were truly blindsided by Joseph being ousted over Kimo,” he added. “Watching Chelsie and MJ flip their votes in the diary room while voting was a perfect encapsulation of this season’s chaotic, unconventional and entertaining gameplay.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 25 Contestant America Lopez
“I think Chelsie will win, duh! She’s been running circles around the other houseguests all season, so she deserves it!!” America told Us. “I love a good blindside, so I’m hoping she wins final HOH and cuts MJ.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 23 Contestant Claire Rehfuss
While Claire thinks Chelsie is going to win, she has an unexpected pick for America’s Favorite Player. “I think Cam will win,” she said. “All the dogs at the crib are going to show up and vote!”
Overall, The Amazing Race winner praised the cast for their serious gameplay. “I will remember all the flips!” she told Us. “I mean, a veto was used essentially every single week! This cast played with their heart and DELIVERED!”
‘Big Brother’ Season 19 Winner Josh Martinez
“I think it’s safe to say that a woman is winning this season and I’m really hoping it’s Chelsie,” Josh told Us. “She’s played the perfect end game and has set herself up for the win. As the only Latino winner, I love to see representation as well and she would just be the best rep for this season. Honestly, this cast was so good and made for such an entertaining season. But I love bold chaotic players and Angela checks all of the boxes.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 21 Contestant Tommy Bracco
“Chelsie will win,” Tommy told Us after celebrating his bachelor party. “If anyone else wins, it’ll be such a letdown. Makensy won competitions when it mattered, but Chelsie had a hold on this game from very early on. Just as she’s been able to manipulate Makensy and Cam throughout the season, I predict she will until she wins the entire thing.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 23 Winner Xavier Prather
“The only way Chelsie doesn’t win is if Makensy or Cam win the final HOH and decide to cut Chelsie,” Xavier explained to Us. “If Chelsie wins the final HOH or sits in the final two chairs, she’s got the game on lock (unless there’s a bitter jury) and will be one of the more impressive winners we’ve seen in recent years. The America’s Favorite Player race is likely between Tucker and Angela, who are easily the two biggest characters from the season.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 23 Contestant Hannah Chaddha
Like many past contestants, Hannah believes Chelsie will win the game with Tucker being named America’s Favorite Houseguest. When it comes to the whole season, however, Hannah can’t help but applaud the entire cast and crew.
“From the equitable competitions to the theme to the AI arena twist to the houseguests, this season has been absolutely incredible!” she told Us. “We will still be quoting ‘Crazy Eyes’ and ‘Shoutout to All My Dawgs at the Crib’ for years to come, but most importantly, the houseguests this season gave us personality and unpredictability, while still remaining respectful of one another.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 15 Winner Andy Herren
“I’m REALLY hoping that Makensy wins the final HOH, takes Chelsie to the end and loses to Chelsie 7-0,” Andy told Us. “After a season of amazing gameplay from Chelsie and appalling gameplay from MJ, it is what they both deserve.”
After watching the season, Andy will cherish one specific fight captured on camera. “The moment I will remember most from the season is Angela calling Lisa a twit,” he said. “It was the perfect fight. Angela was nasty, but she didn’t go too far, which is all we can ask of a great reality TV villain.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 21 Contestant Christie Murphy
Although Christie predicts Chelsie will win the game, she can’t help but give credit to Angela for being a great contestant to watch. “I will forever remember the season for Angela’s obscenities!” she told Us. “That woman made me laugh so damn hard! Literally, every moment she was on my screen was TV gold.”
‘Big Brother’ Season 23 Contestant Britini D’Angelo
If Britini was a betting woman, she would place her money on Chelsie to win the game with Tucker being named America’s Favorite Houseguest. “What I will remember most about this season’s houseguests is that they were PLAYING!” she explained to Us. “The AI Arena made eviction night more exciting to watch because the outcome of Thursday’s eviction was unknown until the competition was over. The blindsides were big. The veto was used left and right. It was truly just a very exciting season to watch as a viewer!”
Big Brother’s season 26 finale airs Sunday, October 13 on CBS at 9 p.m. ET.
