Having lived all 21 years of my life in the Southeastern United States, college football is more than just a game—it’s a way of life. Down here, there are no real weekends between August and January. Friday signals the end of the workweek, Saturday is reserved entirely for football, and Sunday is for church and family before Monday rolls back around.
But what makes college football so special—especially for fans beyond the South—isn’t just the players and coaches. It’s also the voices and faces that define the sport. And for nearly four decades, one face has kept ESPN’s College GameDay alive—and arguably, kept ESPN relevant as a whole. That face belongs to Lee Corso.
Each Saturday morning during the college football season, College GameDay airs live from the campus of one of the week's biggest matchups. These games often include heavyweight clashes like Michigan–Ohio State, Alabama–Georgia or Texas–Oklahoma. A panel of four or five analysts, plus a celebrity guest, breaks down the top matchups and makes their picks.
That’s where Corso’s legendary Headgear Pick comes in.
A former coach and longtime ESPN personality, Corso is best known for donning the mascot head of the team he believes will win the featured matchup. If GameDay visits Columbus for Ohio State vs. Penn State and he picks the Buckeyes, you’ll see him slam Brutus the Buckeye’s giant head onto his own. The tradition began in 1996—coincidentally, with a correct Ohio State pick—and Corso’s headgear antics have continued ever since, amassing a 287–144 record.
But all good things must come to an end.
In 2009, Corso suffered a stroke that impacted his speech and memory, forcing him to rely on scripts rather than ad-libbing. Still, that didn’t slow him down. He remained the comic foil and heart of College GameDay for another 16 years. Then, on April 17, 2025, Corso announced he would retire after the first game of the 2025 season.
So why does all this matter?
Because without Lee Corso and College GameDay, ESPN might have become a thing of the past. Corso brought fun, personality and unpredictability to the network. He reminded us all that sports aren’t just about X’s and O’s—they’re about joy. His antics drew in not just diehard fans, but casual viewers who tuned in just to see what mascot head he’d wear.
In 2024, ESPN reported GameDay drew over 30 million viewers—roughly 11% of the U.S. population. That number marked an 84% increase from previous seasons. The network has also seen strong growth with shows like First Take, The Pat McAfee Show and SportsCenter, though many argue SportsCenter has lost its original spark, with GameDay becoming the flagship brand.
People love a show that mixes humor with what they’re passionate about. I’m not sure how well GameDay will fare without Coach Corso. Sure, they’ve added Nick Saban and Pat McAfee—two electric personalities with great chemistry—but let’s be honest: nobody wants to see Nick Saban in anything but Big Al’s headgear.
Corso is irreplaceable. If he goes, the headgear tradition likely goes with him.
To be fair, ESPN has placed itself in a strong position with many successful ventures. But after Aug. 30, 2025, College GameDay will never be the same.
