For nearly four decades, Lee Corso’s headgear picks have defined the crescendo of ESPN’s College GameDay. On Saturday, the tradition will take a historic turn. In an unprecedented move, FOX Sports will also televise Corso’s final headgear selection. They will honor him during their Big Noon Kickoff program on Saturday, according to a report by Brett McMurphy of On3.
McMurphy reports that Big Noon Kickoff will carry the final headgear selection moment live from inside Ohio Stadium. This will be prior to the showdown between Texas and Ohio State. The broadcast on FOX Sports will not use ESPN’s feed. Instead, Ohio State will display Corso’s pick on the stadium Jumbotron. This allows fans inside and viewers at home to experience the moment simultaneously.
The request to air the final headgear moment was made by FOX Sports, and ESPN approved the request according to a source with knowledge speaking with Barrett Media.
“You will be able to see and experience what the fans inside the stadium are experiencing,” a source familiar with the plans said to On3.
The final headgear pick is set to occur shortly before Saturday’s noon kickoff on FOX Sports. Beyond showing the segment, FOX Sports is also expected to air a tribute to Corso during its pregame coverage. Longtime storytellers Tom Rinaldi and Chris Fallica, who both previously worked with Corso at ESPN, will help honor the 90-year-old analyst.
Corso has been synonymous with ESPN’s College GameDay since joining the show in 1987. His oversized mascot heads, introduced in 1996, turned a pregame pick into must-watch television. This helped fuel the program’s rise into one of the most influential shows in sports. While rivals have built competing platforms, the headgear moment remained exclusively tied to ESPN’s brand—until now.
By televising Corso’s finale, FOX Sports acknowledges that his tradition transcends network borders.
The tradition that defined his legacy—wearing a mascot head to predict the winner of the day’s biggest game—began in 1996 in Columbus, Ohio. That day, Corso picked Ohio State by donning Brutus Buckeye’s head. Since then, he has made 430 headgear picks. He chose the Buckeyes a record 45 times.
For Corso, the finale will be both celebratory and poignant. After battling health issues in recent years, he scaled back appearances but insisted on continuing the headgear ritual. Each selection since then has carried added weight. This builds anticipation for this final act on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
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Not surprising that Big fail Saturday is using ECoach Corso to boost ratings. I’m sure having urban liar on their team isn’t helping anything.