College professor Denison nearly matched James Holzhauer’s two-day 'Jeopardy!' earnings record, scoring $81,798 on March 9, 2026.

College professor and museum curator Denison nearly broke James Holzhauer’s two-day 'Jeopardy!' earnings record, reaching $81,798 after two games on March 9, 2026—just $808 short of Holzhauer’s $82,606 mark. Dominating his match against Katie Hoppenjans and Jonathan Rosales, Denison correctly identified the Gila monster as the source of research behind the weight-loss drug Ozempic in Final Jeopardy, wagering $14,599 to finish with $45,599 for the day. His strong performance, including strategic Daily Double plays, drew widespread praise. His third game aired the following day.