College Football

Lee Corso Tributes Roll In After College GameDay Host Announces Retirement

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Dan Girolamo
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Dan Girolamo Sports Editor

Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.

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Published17 Apr 2025

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Lee Corso puts his hand up on College GameDay.

After a nearly 40-year career with ESPN, Lee Corso is retiring from College GameDay. View the full announcement below, as well as the many tributes that fans and coworkers have shared online.

Lee Corso To Retire In 2025

Corso is signing off from College GameDay after 38 seasons with the show.

Corso will make his final headgear pick during Week 1 of the 2025 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 30. The location will be announced later this spring.

ESPN will run tributes and special programming in the days leading up to Corso’s final show.

“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 a statement released by ESPN. “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.”

After a 28-year coaching career, Corso joined ESPN in 1987. Corso has been on College GameDay since the show’s inception. Corso worked as an contributor for two years before joining as an analyst in 1989.

Corso, who turns 90 this August, worked alongside Chris Fowler and Craig James for GameDay’s first road show in November 1993.

Throughout his tenure, Corso became known for his headgear segment, which started in October 1995. Every show ended with Corso putting on the headgear of the team he thought would win.

Corso went 286-144 in his 430 selections. Brutus, Ohio State’s mascot, was Corso’s favorite headgear, as he selected the Buckeyes a record 45 times.

Three teams — USC (17-0), Virginia Tech (4-0) and North Dakota State (3-0) — never lost when Corso picked their headgear.

Lee Corso Tributes

GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit had one of the strongest relationships with Corso. Herbstreit also treated Coach Corso with compassion and empathy, especially the last few years.

“Coach, this is Kirk,” Herbstreit said in a video on X. “Just wanted to say I love you. I thank you for so many lessons you taught me.”

College GameDay host Rece Davis said Corso was a “trailblazer” for college football coverage, stating that his personality showed it was OK to have laugh and have fun while covering the sport he loved.

Former GameDay host Chris Fowler called it a bittersweet day, but one where he can’t help but smile thinking about Corso.