By Danielle Daniels
June 10, 2025
He started his popular headgear picks in 1996 in Columbus and he’ll make his final pick in Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio – ESPN College GameDay analyst and commentator Lee Corso first wore a mascot’s headgear, signaling his choice for which team would win that day’s big game, on Oct. 5, 1996, before an Ohio State vs. Penn State game at Ohio Stadium. He’ll don his last headgear Saturday, Aug. 30, in front of 100,000-plus fans at Ohio Stadium when the Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns in a juggernaut of a season-opening game.
ESPN, which had previously announced Corso’s retirement in May, confirmed Tuesday that its first College GameDay show of the season would be Week 1 in Columbus and it will be Corso’s final College GameDay show.
Corso, the last remaining cast member from the original College GameDay shows that started in 1987, has made 430 mascot headgear selections all-time, according to ESPN, and has a record of 286-144 for a winning percentage of .665. He wore Brutus’ headgear for that initial pick in 1993, and the Buckeyes won, 24-6.
Corso will turn 90 three weeks before his last College GameDay show. He played football and baseball at Florida State University and graduated from there with both bachelor’s (physical education in 1957) and master’s (administration and supervision in 1958) degrees.
He was a collegiate head coach for 15 years – at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois – and spent one season coaching in the USFL (Orlando) before joining ESPN in 1987.
Lee Corso and College GameDay notes:
- Corso has selected and worn Brutus Buckeye headgear a record 45 times (Alabama is next with 38);
- Corso has worn 69 different school’s mascot headgear;
- This will be the 67th time Ohio State will be playing at a College GameDay locale, the most among all schools (Alabama is second with 60);
- Ohio State has the most College GameDay victories: 45;
- Ohio State has hosted GameDay the most, with the Aug. 30 Saturday morning show before Ohio State vs. Texas representing the 26th College GameDay broadcast from Columbus; and
- Ohio State is 19-6 when hosting College GameDay.
Ohio State has a 45-21 record when appearing on the pregame show and is 19-6 when hosting College GameDay.
#GoBucks
The People. The Tradition. The Excellence.
COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETICS
