User blog comment:Gordon003/What if… Courtney wasn’t eliminated in Basic Straining?/@comment-31556666-20161006161640

The teams didn't merge in Brunch of Disgustingness. Owen and Trent simply joined the Killer Bass, while Bridgette joined the Screaming Gophers. They were officially announced as dissolved in No Pain, No Game.

I think Courtney was mainly eliminated before Harold because if he had left in Basic Straining, it would be impossible to do another vote off on the team without it seeming out of character. Bridgette can't vote anyone on her team besides Duncan, who none of that team would really want to vote off. DJ and Geoff essentially can't vote anyone without betraying someone, Courtney has Duncan and Bridgette as solid voters on her side, Bridgette was liked by her entire team besides Duncan. There is absolutely no way to do a proper elimination if Harold had been eliminated in Basic Straining. I'll agree that from that perspective, it probably was the most realistic scenario for DJ to quit