Legendary ESPN personality Lee Corso is retiring after one final College GameDay broadcast during the first week of the upcoming season.
Corso — who has become an iconic part of Saturday mornings with his donning of the mascot head of the team he is picking to win that day — has been slowing down over the years. He missed several broadcasts last season, making his retirement not much of a shock, though it will be a big change for many college football fans.
He has been with ESPN for 38 seasons and his personality and analysis ingratiated him to fans across the country week after week for nearly four decades.
After entertaining fans for 38 college football seasons, ESPN broadcaster Lee Corso will put on one more mascot headgear
The legendary analyst’s final @CollegeGameDay show will be Week 1 of the 2025 CFB season on Saturday, Aug. 30
Complete details: https://t.co/RpjhSPhmQJ pic.twitter.com/DRrTjOJxfc
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 17, 2025
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” said Corso in a press release from ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement…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. 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.”
Corso has donned the mascot head 430 times and has an impressive win-loss record of 286-144 all-time. He has put on Alabama’s Big Al elephant head 38 times, second only to Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeye head.
The first week of the season and the final broadcast for Corso will come shortly after his 90th birthday on August 30, 2025.
