Saturday was the end of an era. Lee Corso shared his goodbye with the eyes of college football upon him. The final showing for Corso was the highest-viewed College GameDay ever. A fitting salute to a man who elevated the sport through his love of entertainment and passion for the game.
Not to mention a perfect 6-0 on his picks during his final sendoff. No one else thought Florida State would upset the 14.5-point favorite Alabama on Saturday afternoon.
Now that the hype and celebration of college football’s return is over, the real quest begins for College GameDay. How do you replace the crescendo that Corso’s final headgear selection provided? How do you create a new standard for appointment viewing when the audience tunes in the most? Do you replicate what was, or redefine it with what is?
I recalled asking Desmond Howard about how you replace the ramp-up to the kickoff like the Corso headgear selection did for nearly 40 years. At that time they had yet to have any production meetings to discuss not just what will replace it, but whether it should be replaced.
It’s a signature moment on Saturdays that became tradition. It kept audiences tuned in for generations. Corso’s grand finale was so important that even rival networks carried it live on air. College football is about celebration and pageantry. No one embodied that better than Corso, who served as College GameDay’s grand marshal every weekend.
Ideas On How To Replace The Moment
Watching College GameDay and the characters on the program, there’s little to be desired from an entertainment standpoint outside of Pat McAfee’s role. I couldn’t imagine Nick Saban doing a dance and a whistle. Or Kirk Herbstreit leaning into taking the mantle and the headgear selection from Corso’s throne.
One possibility: evolve McAfee’s signature kicking segment. What if the result of the student’s kick didn’t just mean tuition money, but also determined McAfee’s pick in the game? That twist would add suspense, drama, and a monster crowd reaction right before kickoff. Imagine the storyline if the hometown student misses. Forcing McAfee to pick the road team and unintentionally jinx the game’s outcome.
Another option would be for the celebrity guest picker to continue the tradition Corso built. While the selection itself would often be obvious—since College GameDay brings on celebrities who don’t necessarily root for the road team in the game—it would still make for fun and viral moments with some stars of pop culture.
Imagine if Blake Shelton represented the Sooners on Saturday as they take on Michigan, placing the Oklahoma Conestoga wagon on his head and running through the crowd to start college football Saturday. That would be a sight to capture on air and for digital.
With Stanford Steve being situated in the Bear’s old cave on the program. Could Stanford Steve become the facilitator of the crescendo? With Corso’s role now gone in the selection process, could GameDay elevate Steve’s role to one more of entertainer than handicapper?
Another option could be with ESPN partnering with Bussin’ With The Boys for the football season. Could there be a play here with College GameDay? Will it be seen as a copycat counter to what Big Noon Kickoff is doing with Barstool Sports and Dave Portnoy? Sure—but who else on the stage outside of McAfee has the persona that connects with the live, in-person College GameDay crowd?
You could utilize both Will Compton and Taylor Lewan every Saturday and deepen the connection in the partnership just created by the worldwide leader and the Bussin’ brand.
It’s Important To Find A Solution
I’m not naïve enough to believe that the brains at College GameDay don’t already have an answer as to how to replace the appointment viewing Corso provided for so many years. The answer on Saturday will be revealing. We’ll see how much thought was put into the action.
No matter what direction they choose, some fans will love it and others will hate it. It won’t be perfect from the start and will likely evolve over time. But what Corso provided wasn’t just flair—it was a vital piece of the show’s success. His finale wasn’t filler; it was the heartbeat of college football Saturday.
Now, the challenge is clear. Beginning this weekend in Norman, Oklahoma, College GameDay must reimagine its grand sendoff. Because while football will always be the vehicle, entertainment will always be the fuel sweetheart.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
That was a brilliant send off! I’d love to see Coach Saban take over the headgear tradition!