ESPN’s top brass just got blindsided.
A college football legend is walking away.
And Lee Corso left ESPN executives panicking after making this shocking announcement about College GameDay.
College football’s most beloved personality says goodbye after 38 years
The man who made “not so fast, my friend” a household phrase is calling it quits.
Lee Corso, the heart and soul of ESPN’s College GameDay for nearly four decades, announced Thursday that he’s hanging up his headgear and retiring from broadcasting after one final appearance this summer.
The 89-year-old broadcasting icon will make his farewell on August 30th, just shy of his 90th birthday, leaving a massive void in college football’s most popular pregame show.
“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 released by ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
For ESPN executives, replacing Corso presents a nearly impossible challenge. His weekly headgear selections became appointment television, and his unpredictable personality made him the perfect counterbalance to the show’s more analytical voices.
Kirk Herbstreit delivers emotional tribute to his longtime partner
No one has spent more time alongside Corso than Kirk Herbstreit, who joined College GameDay in 1996 and has been trading friendly barbs with Corso for almost 30 years.
Upon hearing the news, Herbstreit released an emotional video tribute that revealed just how deep their friendship runs beyond the cameras.
“I just wanted to say I love you,” Herbstreit said in the video posted on X. “I thank you for so many lessons you taught me. Almost 30 years together, I’ve enjoyed sitting next to you watching you do your thing. So much fun. We’ve had so many great moments on the show, off the show.”
“You’re an icon,” Herbstreit continued, his voice filled with emotion. “You’re a once-in-a-lifetime person, once-in-a-lifetime broadcaster.”
The raw sentiment in Herbstreit’s message showed that Corso’s impact went far beyond just being an entertaining television personality – he was a mentor and father figure to many in the broadcasting world.
The headgear tradition that changed sports television forever
While Corso’s catchphrases and personality made him beloved, nothing defined his legacy more than his famous headgear selections.
In October 1995, during a broadcast from Ohio State University, Corso shocked viewers by putting on Brutus Buckeye’s oversized mascot head to predict an Ohio State victory. What began as an impromptu moment became one of sports television’s most enduring traditions.
For the next 29 years, college football fans would eagerly await Corso’s final prediction on each broadcast, watching as he’d reach under the desk to reveal which team’s mascot head he’d don to make his pick for the day’s biggest game.
His selections became so popular that mascots from across the country would prepare special versions of their headgear specifically designed to fit Corso, and crowds would erupt in either cheers or boos depending on his choice.
ESPN stood by Corso through health struggles
In 2009, Corso suffered a significant stroke that left many wondering if his broadcasting career was over. The stroke affected his speech and required extensive rehabilitation.
Rather than pushing him aside, ESPN adapted the show to accommodate his recovery, allowing him the time and space to return at his own pace.
In his retirement announcement, Corso specifically thanked the network for their support during these challenging times.
“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,” Corso stated.
That loyalty shown by both Corso and ESPN created one of the most enduring partnerships in sports broadcasting history.
The end of an era for college football Saturdays
When College GameDay returns this fall without Corso, the show will face its greatest challenge yet – replacing the irreplaceable.
In his final acknowledgment, Corso made sure to thank both his longtime broadcasting partner and the fans who made the show a phenomenon:
“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.”
For millions of college football fans, Saturday mornings without Corso won’t feel the same. No mascot head, no catchphrases, no unpredictable moments that made even the most serious football analysts break into laughter.
The toughest job in television now belongs to whoever ESPN selects to fill the empty chair beside Herbstreit – a seat that belonged to a one-of-a-kind personality who didn’t just analyze college football, but helped America fall in love with it.
