Lee Corso, the beloved face of ESPN’s College GameDay known for his colorful headgear picks, will retire after one last show on August 30, the network said Thursday, April 17. The 89-year-old former coach, a fixture of college football Saturdays since 1987, leaves behind a legacy that shaped the sport’s TV era.
ESPN announced Corso’s exit ahead of the 2025 college football season’s Week 1, when he’ll don a mascot headgear one final time at a yet-to-be-named site. The decision comes after years of health struggles, including a 2009 stroke that left him briefly unable to speak. Lately, Corso’s role shrank, with limited travel and fewer segments, but his headgear moment stayed a fan favorite.
“He’s a legend,” said Kirk Herbstreit, Corso’s longtime co-host. “It’s been an honor to sit next to him, helping him like he helped me when I started.”
Corso’s career began as a coach at Louisville and Indiana, but his GameDay run made him a household name. Since 1996, he’s made 430 headgear picks, starting with Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye. His catchphrase, “Not so fast, my friend,” and mascot costumes—like Alabama’s elephant or Oregon’s Duck—became must-watch moments. He’s picked 69 teams, with Ohio State leading the list.
“It’s tough to imagine GameDay without him,” said Jenna Walsh, a Tallahassee fan who saw Corso at FSU’s campus show in 2023. “Every Saturday, you waited for that pick.”
ESPN plans a big send-off, with tributes leading up to August 30.
“Lee’s joy changed college football,” said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s chairman. “We’ll celebrate him right.”
Corso, who turns 90 in August, reflected on his run.
“I’ve loved every minute,” he said in a statement. “The fans, the campuses—it’s been a wild ride.”
For now, fans are gearing up for one last headgear pick, hoping Corso goes out with the flair he’s brought for decades.