Lee Corso has been a staple of ESPN’s college football coverage for nearly four decades, but the longtime analyst’s wildly popular run will soon come to an end.
ESPN announced on Thursday that Corso will work his final “College GameDay” show on Saturday, Aug. 30, which is Week 1 of the 2025 college football season. Corso will make his final headgear selection during the show and be honored for his contributions to ESPN.
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in a statement. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.
“ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years. They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days of College GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans…truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”
Corso, who will turn 90 in August, has been one of the main draws of ESPN’s “College GameDay” since the program premiered in 1987. He made his first headgear pick during the 1996 season, when he put on the Ohio State Brutus Buckeye mascot head. Kirk Herbstreit’s wife Alison, a former Ohio State cheerleader, helped Corso gain access to the Brutus mascot head so the former coach could use it on the air, and the rest is history.
Following a lengthy coaching career that included stops at Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois and the USFL, Corso joined ESPN as an analyst in 1987. That is the same year “College GameDay” debuted, and Corso is the only personality who has been with the show since its inception.
Corso has had some health issues in recent years, but he has continued to make his popular headgear picks. He became emotional on the air during the 2023 season when ESPN paid tribute to his 400th headgear pick (video here).
Corso’s quirky personality and unpredictable antics will be tough for ESPN to replicate.
