One of the Last Pandas in the U.S. Predicts the Winner of College Football's Peach Bowl

Mar. 15, 2025

Yang Yang the Giant Panda.Photo:Zoo AtlantaOne of the Peach Bowl competitors will have to grin and bear this prognosticator’s prediction.As college students, fans, and experts gather to predict who may win the upcoming Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Zoo Atlanta asked their go-to expert, Yang Yang, a male giant panda, about which team will return victorious.On Dec. 14, the Atlanta zoo had 26-year-old Yang Yang decide if the Ole Miss Rebels or the Penn State Nittany Lions would go home champions on Dec. 30.The two boxes that Yang Yang used to predict the Peach Bowl.Zoo AtlantaFor the prediction, Yang Yang entered his outdoor habitat and found two boxes of identical size, one painted with the Ole Miss logo, the other with Penn State’s logo. The giant panda immediately went for the Penn State box and tore through it while pulling out the hay inside — making his official pick, the Penn State Nittany Lions. Yang Yang’s 2023 prediction marks the eighth year the panda prognosticator has attempted to choose the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl winner.Yang Yang the Giant Panda.Zoo AtlantaThe Atlanta-based prognosticator is one of four giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta — the only zoo in the U.S. currently housing these bears. The three giant pandas living at theSmithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation Biology Instituterecentlyreturned to China.On Nov. 8, 26-year-old Tian Tian, 25-year-old Mei Xiang, and their3-year-old son Xiao Qi Jibegan their return trip to Chengdu, China. The departure of these three beloved bears marks the first time the National Zoo has been without pandas since 2000.The Atlanta zoo’s giant panda loan agreement with China expires in late 2024, but the site has yet to share details on the pandas’ future travels. There have not been discussions between Zoo Atlanta and its partners in China about the status of the giant panda program beyond the loan ending in 2024.Yang Yang’s Zoo Atlanta has contributed over $16 million to support giant panda conservation.Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Ole Miss Rebels or the Penn State Nittany Lions are facing off at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 30, in Atlanta. The game will air on ESPN at 12:00 p.m. EST.

Yang Yang the Giant Panda.Photo:Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta

One of the Peach Bowl competitors will have to grin and bear this prognosticator’s prediction.As college students, fans, and experts gather to predict who may win the upcoming Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Zoo Atlanta asked their go-to expert, Yang Yang, a male giant panda, about which team will return victorious.On Dec. 14, the Atlanta zoo had 26-year-old Yang Yang decide if the Ole Miss Rebels or the Penn State Nittany Lions would go home champions on Dec. 30.The two boxes that Yang Yang used to predict the Peach Bowl.Zoo AtlantaFor the prediction, Yang Yang entered his outdoor habitat and found two boxes of identical size, one painted with the Ole Miss logo, the other with Penn State’s logo. The giant panda immediately went for the Penn State box and tore through it while pulling out the hay inside — making his official pick, the Penn State Nittany Lions. Yang Yang’s 2023 prediction marks the eighth year the panda prognosticator has attempted to choose the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl winner.Yang Yang the Giant Panda.Zoo AtlantaThe Atlanta-based prognosticator is one of four giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta — the only zoo in the U.S. currently housing these bears. The three giant pandas living at theSmithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation Biology Instituterecentlyreturned to China.On Nov. 8, 26-year-old Tian Tian, 25-year-old Mei Xiang, and their3-year-old son Xiao Qi Jibegan their return trip to Chengdu, China. The departure of these three beloved bears marks the first time the National Zoo has been without pandas since 2000.The Atlanta zoo’s giant panda loan agreement with China expires in late 2024, but the site has yet to share details on the pandas’ future travels. There have not been discussions between Zoo Atlanta and its partners in China about the status of the giant panda program beyond the loan ending in 2024.Yang Yang’s Zoo Atlanta has contributed over $16 million to support giant panda conservation.Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The Ole Miss Rebels or the Penn State Nittany Lions are facing off at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 30, in Atlanta. The game will air on ESPN at 12:00 p.m. EST.

One of the Peach Bowl competitors will have to grin and bear this prognosticator’s prediction.

As college students, fans, and experts gather to predict who may win the upcoming Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Zoo Atlanta asked their go-to expert, Yang Yang, a male giant panda, about which team will return victorious.

On Dec. 14, the Atlanta zoo had 26-year-old Yang Yang decide if the Ole Miss Rebels or the Penn State Nittany Lions would go home champions on Dec. 30.

The two boxes that Yang Yang used to predict the Peach Bowl.Zoo Atlanta

For the prediction, Yang Yang entered his outdoor habitat and found two boxes of identical size, one painted with the Ole Miss logo, the other with Penn State’s logo. The giant panda immediately went for the Penn State box and tore through it while pulling out the hay inside — making his official pick, the Penn State Nittany Lions. Yang Yang’s 2023 prediction marks the eighth year the panda prognosticator has attempted to choose the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl winner.

Yang Yang the Giant Panda.Zoo Atlanta

The Atlanta-based prognosticator is one of four giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta — the only zoo in the U.S. currently housing these bears. The three giant pandas living at theSmithsonian’s National Zoo Conservation Biology Instituterecentlyreturned to China.

On Nov. 8, 26-year-old Tian Tian, 25-year-old Mei Xiang, and their3-year-old son Xiao Qi Jibegan their return trip to Chengdu, China. The departure of these three beloved bears marks the first time the National Zoo has been without pandas since 2000.

The Atlanta zoo’s giant panda loan agreement with China expires in late 2024, but the site has yet to share details on the pandas’ future travels. There have not been discussions between Zoo Atlanta and its partners in China about the status of the giant panda program beyond the loan ending in 2024.

Yang Yang’s Zoo Atlanta has contributed over $16 million to support giant panda conservation.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Ole Miss Rebels or the Penn State Nittany Lions are facing off at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 30, in Atlanta. The game will air on ESPN at 12:00 p.m. EST.

source: people.com