College football has undergone numerous changes in the last decade, but the sport will feel much different this fall without Lee Corso. The former head coach of Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois has been a staple on ESPN’s College Gameday since 1987.
Corso won’t be picking teams as the schedule gets intersting in 2025.
Lee Corso is retiring from ESPN College Gameday
Per a release by ESPN’s PR department on Thursday, Corso is set to retire from the show on Aug. 30.
“Lee Corso, the legendary ESPN broadcaster and former coach who has entertained fans for 38 college football seasons, will make his final headgear pick on College GameDay Built by The Home Depot on Saturday, Aug. 30 – Week 1 of the 2025 college football season – at a destination to be announced later this spring,” the PR statement reads.
“Corso, who turns 90 in August, has been a part of college football’s premier pregame show since it debuted in 1987. His very first headgear pick was October 5, 1996, when he donned Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye mascot head in Columbus, Ohio.
“Corso’s weekly end-of-show pick during GameDay’s Saturday Selections has become a college football tradition, surprising and delighting fans for nearly three decades. Entering his final broadcast in August, Corso has made 430 headgear picks all-time, including the Buckeyes a record 45 times.”
After entertaining fans for 38 college football seasons, ESPN broadcaster Lee Corso will put on one more mascot headgear
The legendary analyst's final @CollegeGameDay show will be Week 1 of the 2025 CFB season on Saturday, Aug. 30
Complete details: https://t.co/RpjhSPhmQJ pic.twitter.com/DRrTjOJxfc
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 17, 2025
Corso was a beloved figure on the show, and broadcasts in 2025 won’t be the same without him. At 89, he was bringing passion to the sport every Saturday morning.
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” said Corso in the PR statement. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
College football fans are saddened by the news
Fans on social media were saddened by the news of Corso’s retirement.
“I am both happy and sad. Happy for Lee to enjoy his retirement – but sad for college football. Lee is a national treasure. There will be tears,” wrote a fan.
“End of an era: Lee Corso’s last headgear pick is coming—after 38 seasons of chaos, quips, and college football magic. Who cries first: the mascots or America,” asked a fan.
“Saturday mornings will not be the same. Coach Corso has been a great ambassador for college football and his love of the game was infectious,” posted another.
“Well, they should have done a better job of this. Always hard ‘retiring’ people. Lee is a treasure, and will be missed. I think it’s also fair to say watching his decline (every week) couldn’t have been easy for anyone on the show. It’s time,” suggested one fan.
“He made College GameDay the behemoth it is now. It’s good at that he gets a chance to say goodbye and see how loved he is one last time,” wrote another.
“Sad to see him go, but it was time,” posted a fan.
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