ESPN’s College GameDay aired last weekend without the presence of Lee Corso on set. The longtime face of the program, who has been part of the Saturday morning staple since 1987, was absent following his final show the week prior at Ohio State, leaving a noticeable void for colleagues and viewers alike.
Host Rece Davis, who has shared the desk with Corso since taking over as lead anchor in 2015. He addressed what it was like to work through the show without the program’s most iconic presence on the Stugotz & Company podcast.
“I think not having him in the meeting and his the number of segments he had been in has diminished over the years. Just to keep him fresh and put him in the strongest positions possible,” Davis said. “So, I think from a planning standpoint it didn’t feel a ton different. Just his presence is really infectious around us.”
Corso, 90, has been a fixture on College GameDay. Although he became a full-time analyst in 1989, he contributed from the show’s start and remained as the only original member still on air.
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, choosing the Buckeyes a record 45 times.
Over the years, Corso has made headgear picks for 69 different teams and appeared on GameDay sets in more than 70 cities. He’s delivered countless unforgettable moments. From riding motorcycles with mascots to surprise appearances by celebrities—and was known for his catchphrase, “Not so fast, my friend!” and his signature No. 2 pencil.
Davis reflected on the first episode without Corso following his retirement.
“Everybody enjoys spending time with him, talking to him, and, you know, teasing him about who the headgear pick’s going to be and all of that,” Davis said. “So, that part of it was missed for sure.”
The moment underscored just how significant Corso’s role has been, not only in shaping the identity of College GameDay but also in setting a tone of fun and unpredictability that has made the program an institution. Even as his on-air contributions have scaled back, his influence and personality continue to ripple through the production.
For Davis, the difference wasn’t logistical but emotional. The meetings and run-of-show planning went largely unchanged, but the absence of Corso’s energy left a noticeable gap. “Just his presence is really infectious,” Davis repeated. Signaling how much the veteran broadcaster contributes to the morale of the entire team.
Corso’s final appearance on College GameDay reached record viewership. Drawing an average of 4.0 million viewers, solidifying the episode as the most-watched in the program’s history.
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