When college football legend Lee Corso makes his final “College GameDay” appearance this fall, it will mark a return to where it all began almost 40 years ago.
When the show hits the road to begin the 2025 season on Aug. 30, its first stop will be in Columbus, Ohio for the high-anticipated College Football Playoff semifinal rematch between Texas and Ohio State.
For Corso, that means his storied career will culminate where he made his first headgear selection ahead of the 1996 meeting between Ohio State and Penn State.
Since Corso first put on Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye mascot head in 1996, fans have eagerly waited to see to see which team he picks each week prior to the Saturday slate of games kicking off.
A former player at Florida State from 1953-57, Corso was a head coach from 1969-84, making stops at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois before joining “College GameDay” for its inaugural season in 1987. In fact, he is the only personality that has been a mainstay on the show since its debut nearly 40 years ago.
Heading into his final show on Aug. 30, it is hard to imagine where the show would be if Corso was not making his headgear pick each week. And of course, his signature “Not so fast, my friend’ catchphrase will forever be remembered as one of his most iconic lines.
From live animals to F-bombs and everything in between, Corso has certainly had some memorable moments during his 38-year run on “College GameDay.”
In total, Corso has made 430 headgear picks, 286 of which were correct. He even went a perfect 11-0 in 1999, while his 45 times selecting Ohio State are the most of any team.
Corso suffered a stroke in 2009 and has missed multiple “College GameDay” episodes in recent years due to health issues. He will turn 90 in August.
With a colossal showdown between two top-five programs and a return to the location where Corso made his first headgear selection, expect an emotional and heartfelt send-off as one of the sport’s most respected personalities wraps up a storied career.
