An era ended for ESPN‘s “College GameDay” on Saturday as Lee Corso, the renowned college football coach and football analyst, bowed out of the show after 38 years.
Corso, who turned 90 on Aug. 7, is understood for his sharp evaluation, stunts and folksy commentary on college football and its dynamics. He donned a tuxedo for his final show, which originated from Ohio Stadium in Columbus upfront of the Texas Longhorns taking over the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Corso is the last of “College GameDay’s” founding on-air team to log off. This system debuted in 1987 and has grow to be a part of the material of school football season because the commentators travel from city to city to cover key games and rivalries. Corso plays a key role in predicting the winner of the sport along with his selection of team headgear on the close of the three-hour telecast. The ritual of Corso putting on a hat or big-head mascot to point his pick began in 1996 with an Ohio State game.
For Corso, the headgear stunt that got here to define “College GameDay” ended because it began — with the coach choosing Ohio State as the expected winner. ESPN gave the moment big fanfare, leading into it with a prerecorded segment narrated by Herbstreit. After playing the National Anthem, the Ohio State marching band moved right into a formation on the sector that spelled out “Corso.”
When the moment of decision got here, Corso didn’t hesitate. “That is certainly one of the easist picks I’ve ever made. Gimme my old flame,” Corso said as a big-head of Ohio State’s famous Brutus mascot was placed on his head. Earlier within the show, the hosts dug in to an 85-pound cake made in the form of Brutus.
Based on ESPN, Corso’s record through the 2024 season is 286-144 and he has worn the headgear of 69 different teams. Saturday’s decision might be his 431st for “College Game Day.”
In the beginning of the show, Corso expressed his “deep thanks for everybody who’s been a part of the journey” to host Rece Davis and fellow analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban. In the group of fans that typically surrounds the show’s half-circle desk set, quite a few fans held big signs paying tribute to Corso and his signature taglines reminiscent of “Not so fast my friend.”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day brought a special Buckeyes helmet as a present for Corso with an emblem for every of the 45 times that Corso chosen the Buckeyes to win.
Based on ESPN, Corso also “once held a live baby alligator in his hands” while choosing his alma mater, Florida State, to win. Within the crowed on Saturday, one fan had a homemade sign comparing Corso’s affinity for Ohio State with that of newly engaged superstars Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. With 45 picks, Ohio State ranks as Corso’s most-picked team overall, followed by Alabama (38), LSU (25), Florida (22) and Oregon (21), per ESPN stats.
This system also featured pre-recorded tributes to the famed coach from gridiron notables reminiscent of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in addition to stars Matthew McConaughey and Will Ferrell.
Corso made a daring prediction within the opening minutes of his final show, chosing Louisiana’s LSU as the last word champion of the 2025 college football season.
Corso spent 28 years as a university football coach before segueing full time into TV. He spent 17 seasons as a head coach for Indiana, Louisville and Northern Illinois. He gained fame after he began appearing on and hosting local TV sports programs in Indiana and Louisville.
“How lucky was I to sit down next to the best entertainer within the history of sports television,” Herbstreit said of his longtime ESPN colleague in a recorded segment. In a while the live program Herbstreit likened Corso to a “Don Corleone or Yoda” for his keen ability to listen and offer sage advice.
Corso gained respect for his move in 1962 to recruit the primary Black player, Darryl Hill, to play for the University of Maryland, which was a landmark move for a team within the outstanding Atlantic Coast Conference. “Due to what you probably did, I’m,” fellow analyst Howard, a former NFL player, told Corso throughout the live program.
When asked by Herbstreit if he had any final message for his legion of fans, Corso said simply, “Thanks.”
Because the show ended following Corso’s final pick, cameras panned out to point out a sea of fans mobbing the “College GameDay” set before kickoff.