Luke's Hometown Date Proves He's The Next Bachelor

Are we all feeling the pressure, Bachelor Nation? And I don't mean the pressure for JoJo to pick her winner on Season 12 of The Bachelorette (although her tears at the end of Week 8 seem to indicate she's certainly feeling that pressure). No, I'm talking about the pressure to make your pick for who will be the next star of The Bachelor. Considering the hometown dates from this season, it seems to me that The Bachelorette's Luke Pell will be the next Bachelor and that's the topic of conversation on this week's installment of Bustle's Bachelorette podcast.

Based on Luke's super sweet family/friends party during his hometown date and the fact that he finally — finally! — laid out his feelings for JoJo, he's either going to win (which is looking doubtful since JoJo came so close to sending Luke home) or he's going to be the next Bachelor. Personally, I'm still leaning toward Luke ending up as the winner, but he certainly has some competition in Jordan Rodgers, Robby Hayes, and Chase McNary. On this episode of Will You Accept This Podcast?, Romper TV Editor Allison Piwowarski and Bustle Entertainment Editor Kelsea Stahler discuss why they think Luke will be the next Bachelor, digging deep into Luke's edit in Week 8 from his cute hometown date (with that music) to his Hail Mary proclamation of love.

Of course, what I can't help but notice are the parallels between Luke and JoJo on their respective seasons. Hear me out: Both had trouble opening up and telling their partners that they were in love with them, both seem like a good fit with their partner, and both may end up losing out because someone else was a better fit. If James Taylor is the Ben Higgins of this season, then maybe Luke is the JoJo, which would make him a perfect fit for The Bachelor.

Still, with the crazy cliffhanger at the end of Week 8 and the promise of a Bachelorette extravaganza in Week 9 — that will include not only a resolution to the cliffhanger but fantasy suite dates and the Men Tell All episode — anything could happen in the last few weeks of JoJo's season. Sure, Luke's edit during his hometown date could totally be foreshadowing for him to be the next Bachelor, but we'll have to wait and see what happens next.

For everything Bachelor Nation, check out Bustle's Bachelorette podcast.

Images: Felicia Graham/ABC