For 38 seasons, Lee Corso has been the heart, humor, and spirit of College GameDay Built by The Home Depot. On Saturday, college football fans will witness history as Corso makes his final appearance on the iconic ESPN pregame show.
The curtain call comes with fitting symmetry: GameDay kicks off its 39th season live from Ohio State’s campus, outside St. John Arena, ahead of a clash between No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State — a College Football Playoff semifinal rematch. It marks the show’s 26th visit to Columbus, the most of any school, and the place where Corso first donned a mascot headpiece in 1996 when he slipped on Brutus Buckeye’s head to cap his weekly pick.
Now 90 years old, Corso will bring his trademark showmanship one final time, closing his career with headgear pick No. 431. Fittingly, it comes at Ohio State, the team he has picked more than any other (45 times) throughout the tradition he popularized.
Corso joined College GameDay at its inception in 1987, helping transform the program from a studio show into a traveling spectacle that has visited more than 70 campuses and game sites. His blend of football insight, quick wit, and larger-than-life personality elevated GameDay into a cultural phenomenon.
From “Not so fast, my friend!” to his unpredictable mascot reveals, Corso became the show’s signature. The headgear tradition, which began as a spontaneous gag, grew into the most anticipated moment of every Saturday morning for college football fans.
“Lee Corso didn’t just make picks — he made memories,” said host Rece Davis. “GameDay simply wouldn’t be what it is today without him.”
To commemorate Corso’s impact, ESPN and The Home Depot unveiled a one-time special logo for the 2025 season opener: College GameDay Built by The Home Depot and Lee Corso. The rebrand features Corso’s signature woven into The Home Depot’s iconic branding — a symbolic thank you to the man who helped shape the show into a multi-Emmy-winning juggernaut.
GameDay enters the new season after a record-breaking 2024 campaign, averaging 2.2 million viewers — the most-watched in its history — and winning its second straight Sports Emmy Award.
While Corso departs, the rest of the cast remains firmly in place. Rece Davis returns for his 11th season as host, joined by longtime analyst and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit (29th season), Heisman winner Desmond Howard (20th season), and energetic West Virginia alum Pat McAfee (4th season). Hall of Fame coach and 2025 Sports Emmy winner Nick Saban returns for his second year at the desk.
The extended GameDay team also includes insider Pete Thamel, betting analyst “Stanford Steve” Coughlin, and reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims. Together, they’ll continue the tradition Corso helped build, though his absence will be deeply felt.
Saturday’s show will celebrate Corso with a lineup of guests and surprises:
- Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian will represent Ohio State and Texas, respectively.
- Former OSU quarterback Will Howard will provide on-set insights.
- Chris Fowler, ESPN’s lead play-by-play voice and former GameDay host, will join a roundtable on Corso’s legacy.
- Actor Glen Powell, a Texas superfan and star of Hulu’s Chad Powers, will bring some Hollywood flavor to the festivities.
Pat McAfee’s fan-favorite $50,000 kicking contest also returns, ensuring the show retains its balance of entertainment and high stakes.
The finale belongs to Corso. His 431st headgear pick will be simulcast live across ESPN, SEC Network, ACC Network, and ESPN Radio in a rare tribute to his cultural significance. Surrounded by mascots, fans, and colleagues who’ve shared decades of Saturday mornings with him, Corso’s last pick promises to be one of the most emotional moments in college football television history.
When he lifts that mascot head for the final time, it will not just be the end of an era for College GameDay — it will be a farewell to one of the most beloved figures in all of sports broadcasting.
“Not so fast, my friend,” became Corso’s calling card. But after 38 unforgettable years, Saturday will be the day college football finally says, “So long, Coach.”
