NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Philadelphia, PA, October 28, 2025: Shaan Mishra, a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, became the latest Jeopardy! champion on October 24 after pulling off a remarkable comeback that stunned audiences and fellow contestants alike.
Mishra, who earned his degree in economics with a minor in computer science from Penn earlier this year, went up against Kristina Pohribnij, a stay-at-home mother, and three-time defending champion Tom Devlin, an attorney and 2007 graduate of the Penn Carey Law School.
“I was really struggling early on to get control of the buzzer,” Mishra told The Daily Pennsylvanian. “I kind of resigned myself to the reality that it might not be successful, but I was able to keep my wits about me and play my game, and it worked out in the end.”
Trailing for most of the game, Mishra seized a critical Daily Double in the “You ‘SC’ & You ‘CLA’” category, correctly responding “What is the sclera?” and climbing into second place. Going into Final Jeopardy, Devlin led with $22,800, followed by Mishra with $15,600, and Pohribnij with $10,800. The final clue, in the category Relics, became the turning point: Mishra wagered nothing, answered correctly, and overtook Devlin, who had bet and lost.
The 23-year-old Indiana native described the experience as “shock and awe.” A lifelong trivia enthusiast from Carmel, Mishra had applied to be on the show “on a whim.” When he was invited to compete, he postponed the start of his consulting job and spent weeks preparing — even while on a backpacking trip — by studying previous Jeopardy! archives and analyzing question patterns using his computer-science training.
Mishra credits his success to curiosity and composure. “Most of what I know comes from just being interested in everything,” he said.
His victory makes him one of the few contestants to defeat a multi-day champion in their debut appearance — a feat celebrated by both Penn alumni and fans of the long-running quiz show. Mishra will return to defend his title in the next episode.
Cover photo courtesy: “Jeopardy!”
