Longtime College GameDay analyst Lee Corso will be signing off for the final time this August, ending an ESPN career that began with the show’s inception back in 1987.
Corso, who turns 90 this August, is famous for wearing the headgear of team mascots when picking who he thinks will win. He’s also known for his unofficial catchphrase, “Not so fast, my friend,” which he often said when debating with other College GameDay panelists.
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in a statement. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories, and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
After 38 incredible years, Lee Corso is retiring ❤️
For multiple generations, Coach has been the face of our Saturday mornings and the sport we love.
Our friend, our coach, our heart … LC, you will forever be a College GameDay legend! pic.twitter.com/AjK8iNw7ye
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) April 17, 2025
Even after he suffered a stroke in 2009, Corso returned to the College GameDay set later that year to continue providing analysis and insights. Though he cannot travel as easily as he used to, he was still able to attend the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
“ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years,” Corso said. “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.”
Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kirk Herbstreit joined ESPN as a sideline reporter in September 1995 before moving to the College GameDay desk the following year, where he and Corso developed an immediate rapport that has lasted almost 30 years.
“Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we’re all lucky to have been around to witness it,” Herbstreit said in a statement. “He has taught me so much throughout our time together, and he’s been like a second father to me. It has been my absolute honor to have the best seat in the house to watch Coach put on that mascot head each week.”
One last show 👏
Lee Corso will make his final College GameDay headgear pick on August 30th. pic.twitter.com/MKBuFOtVOw
— ESPN (@espn) April 17, 2025
Before becoming a broadcaster, Lee Corso played college football at Florida State University from 1953 to 1957. After his playing career, Corso became a coach at both the collegiate and professional levels for programs such as Northern Illinois, Indiana, and Louisville. In 1979, he led the Indiana Hoosiers to a win in the Holiday Bowl over the previously undefeated BYU Cougars.
“Lee is the quintessential entertainer, but he was also a remarkable coach who established lifelong connections with his players,” explained Rece Davis, ESPN’s College GameDay host since 2015. “When GameDay went to Indiana last season, the love and emotion that poured out from his players was truly moving. It was also unsurprising. Every week, Lee asks about our families. He asks for specifics. He celebrates success and moments, big and small, with all of us on the set. He’s relentless in his encouragement. That’s what a great coach and friend does. Lee has made it his life’s work to bring joy to others on the field and on television. He succeeded.”
Corso’s final broadcast will take place on August 30th, 2025, during Week One of the 2025-26 college football season.
