He did it. He actually did it. On August 30, 2025, in front of a deafening crowd at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Lee Corso reached into a box, pulled out the head of Brutus Buckeye, and ended a thirty-eight-year run that basically defined the modern sports pregame show.
It was a full-circle moment. The first time he ever donned a mascot head was October 5, 1996, in this very same spot. Back then, it was just a goofy idea to liven up a broadcast. Nobody knew it would become a religion. But when the Lee Corso ESPN College GameDay retirement finally became official this past fall, it felt less like a media exit and more like a family member moving away.
At 90 years old, "Coach" has earned his rest. But man, the set feels empty without that yellow pencil.
The Day the Mascot Head Stayed in the Box
The retirement wasn't a sudden shock. Honestly, we’ve been watching the transition happen in slow motion for years. After his stroke in 2009, things changed. The sharp-tongued, "Not so fast, my friend!" firebrand had to relearn how to speak. He started using scripts. He needed Kirk Herbstreit to gently nudge him back on track when the words wouldn't quite come.
Then came the 2022 season, where he missed five shows. Then 2024, where his role was trimmed to just the final hour. People on Twitter—some being genuinely concerned, others being predictably mean—started saying he should’ve hung it up years ago. They called it "cringy."
They were wrong.
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They missed the point. Corso wasn't there for the "analysis" in the way a guy like Nick Saban is. He was there for the soul of the thing. When ESPN announced in April 2025 that Week 1 would be his swan song, the sports world finally took a breath and realized what was about to disappear. That final show at Ohio State for the Texas-Buckeyes game didn't just break viewership records with nearly 4 million people tuning in; it served as a three-hour wake for an era of television that is officially dead.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Corso Legacy
A lot of younger fans think Corso was just "the headgear guy." They see the clips of him accidentally dropping an F-bomb on live TV while holding a megaphone or getting blasted by a Bill the Goat mascot. But if you really look at the Lee Corso ESPN College GameDay retirement, you’re looking at the retirement of the man who saved the show.
In the late 80s, College GameDay was a studio show. It was boring. It was guys in suits sitting behind a desk in Bristol, Connecticut, talking about point spreads. Corso was the one who pushed to take it on the road. He understood that college football isn't about the stats; it’s about the 19-year-old kid in the third row of the bleachers who hasn't slept in three days because he’s waiting for the bus to arrive.
By the Numbers: A Career in Felt and Fur
- 431 Total Headgear Picks: He finished his career with a 287-144 record.
- The First Pick: 1996, Ohio State over Penn State.
- The Final Pick: 2025, Ohio State over Texas.
- Most Picked Team: Ohio State (46 times).
- The "Undefeated" Teams: He went 17-0 when picking USC. He never missed on the Trojans.
The Herbstreit Factor
You can't talk about Corso's retirement without talking about Kirk Herbstreit. Their relationship is the most authentic thing in sports media. Kirk often calls Lee a "second father," and you could see it in the way he protected him these last few seasons.
During the retirement special that aired leading up to August 30, Herbstreit got choked up talking about their Friday night meetings. It wasn't about the football. It was about Corso asking how Kirk's kids were doing. It was about the "Coach" mindset that never left him. Even when he was struggling with his health, Corso was the one lifting everyone else up.
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When the show officially "retired" the headgear tradition along with Corso—a move confirmed by the GameDay crew—it was a massive sign of respect. They knew nobody else could do it. If Pat McAfee or Desmond Howard tried to put on a mascot head every week, it would feel like a cheap imitation. Some things are just sacred.
Why the Show is Changing Forever
Now that the Lee Corso ESPN College GameDay retirement is fully in the rearview mirror, the dynamic has shifted. The desk is crowded now. You've got Rece Davis holding it all together, the legend Nick Saban bringing the "Process," Pat McAfee bringing the chaos, and Desmond Howard and Kirk providing the bridge.
It’s a more "professional" show now. It’s tighter. The analysis is probably better, if we’re being honest. Saban is a tactical genius on the mic. But the "weirdness" is gone. The feeling that anything could happen—that a 90-year-old man might pull out a live animal or a prop sword and nearly take out a producer—that’s over.
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro called him "one of the most influential figures in the history of college football." That’s not corporate fluff. Without Corso, College GameDay doesn't become the traveling circus that Fox's Big Noon Kickoff tries to copy. Without Corso, we don't have the "Not so fast!" culture.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
There was a lot of talk about whether Corso was "forced" out. Let's be real: at 90, with his travel schedule, it was time. Sources within ESPN mentioned that the conversation happened after the 2024 playoffs. They wanted to give him a "Derek Jeter" style send-off rather than just having him fade away.
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They did it right.
Fox Sports even collaborated with ESPN to broadcast his final pick on their own rival show. That never happens. It shows you how much the industry respected the man. He wasn't just an ESPN employee; he was the grandfather of the sport.
Actionable Insights for Fans Heading into 2026
If you’re wondering how to fill the Corso-shaped hole in your Saturday mornings, here’s how the landscape looks now:
- Watch the Saban/McAfee Dynamic: This is the new "Odd Couple." Saban is the straight man to McAfee’s wild card. It’s different, but it’s the future of the show.
- Appreciate the "Guest Picker" Segment: This has now become the "Main Event" since the headgear pick is retired. Expect bigger names and more production value here.
- Follow the "Corso Rule": Even in retirement, Corso’s advice remains the best for any fan: "Life is short. Wear the mascot head." Don't take the game too seriously.
The Saturday morning ritual has changed. We’ll still have the signs, the crowds, and the music. But when the clock hits 11:55 AM, and there’s no old man with a yellow pencil ready to shock the world, we’re all going to feel that sting again.
Thanks for the memories, Coach. You were never wrong—except when you picked against my team.