Big Brother: Who went home in episode 18?

Big Brother 27's episode 18 delivered a shocking elimination that transformed the season's power dynamics on August 14, 2025. The CBS reality competition show places houseguests in isolation where they compete in challenges and vote each other out weekly until one winner remains. This week's drama began when Head of Household Ava Pearl targeted the house's dominant forces by nominating three major threats for eviction.

Former baseball player Zach Cornell entered the week as a frontrunner with strong alliances and a secret $10,000 Power of Veto that could guarantee his safety. However, his decision not to use this advantage to protect ally Morgan Pope proved costly.

The nominations put Zach alongside Vince "Vinny" Panaro and competition beast Keanu Soto on the chopping block. Before the eviction vote, all three nominees competed in the "BB Block Buster" challenge, where the winner would earn automatic safety. Keanu's victory left former allies Zach and Vinny facing elimination.

Despite believing he had secured enough votes to survive on Big Brother, Zach was blindsided when houseguests voted him out 8-2. His elimination marked one of the season's most surprising departures, ending the stay of a player many considered the favorite to win the entire competition.

What happened in episode 18 of Big Brother?

Ava Pearl's Head of Household victory on Big Brother disrupted the established power structure that had controlled previous weeks. Her decision to target three strong competitors demonstrated bold gameplay that challenged the dominant alliance. The "aura painter" specifically chose nominees who posed the greatest threats to her individual game.

Her nominations created immediate tension throughout the house as longtime alliances faced potential fractures. Ava revealed emotional conflict about her choices, particularly regarding Vinny, whom she respected for handling his nomination gracefully. The move established her as a serious strategic player rather than just a quirky personality.

The nomination strategy effectively broke up the alliance that had been running the house. By forcing three allies to compete against each other, Ava ensured that at least one major threat would be eliminated this week.

Zach's choice not to use his $10,000 Power of Veto became the defining moment of his Big Brother journey. He possessed the ability to remove himself from the nomination block but chose loyalty to Morgan over personal safety. This decision showed character but proved strategically fatal.

His reasoning centered on protecting Morgan from replacement nomination, as he viewed her as his closest ally. Zach revealed this secret power to Morgan during their emotional conversation, explaining his sacrifice for their partnership. The gesture moved Morgan to tears in the Diary Room.

However, this loyalty ultimately backfired when Morgan joined the majority vote against him. The betrayal left Zach feeling blindsided and questioning his strategic choices throughout the game. Host Julie Chen Moonves even physically smacked him with papers for the poor decision, referencing a similar moment from season 3.

The three nominees faced the crucial "BB Block Buster" challenge before the eviction vote. This competition offered the winner guaranteed safety, removing them from elimination consideration entirely. Keanu Soto's victory continued his impressive challenge performance streak.

Keanu had lost his first Veto competition this season, making him vulnerable for the first time. His win demonstrated why houseguests considered him a competition beast who could perform under pressure. The victory secured his position for another week.

The competition results left former allies Zach and Vinny facing each other in the elimination vote. This outcome created difficult decisions for houseguests who had worked with both players throughout the season.

Both remaining nominees struggled with their final campaign efforts before the vote. Vinny attempted humor with an elaborate detective movie-themed presentation to houseguests. While entertaining, this approach may not have addressed serious strategic considerations.

Zach and Vinny's emotional breakdown together showed their genuine friendship, but potentially hurt their individual games. Instead of fighting separately for votes, they appeared to accept their fate too readily on Big Brother. More aggressive campaigning might have changed the outcome.

The lack of strong individual campaigns led houseguests to make decisions based on existing relationships rather than new promises or deals.

What happened during the elimination?

The 8-2 vote to eliminate Zach stunned both the nominee and viewers, who expected closer results. His confidence about having sufficient votes proved completely wrong as even close allies voted against him. The margin suggested coordination among houseguests to remove the perceived biggest threat.

Zach's elimination, carrying $10,000, added insult to injury, as he left with money but no chance at the grand prize. His shocked reaction to Julie revealed how completely he had misread the house dynamics and voting intentions.

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Big Brother airs on CBS, with episodes available to stream on Paramount+.

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