ESPN College GameDay has entered a new era without Lee Corso, and longtime analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes the transition has gone about as smoothly as anyone could hope for. Speaking about Corso’s retirement on the SI Media Podcast, Herbstreit acknowledged how impossible it would be to fully replace a figure who helped define the show for nearly four decades.
Yet, he pointed to Pat McAfee as the personality who has embraced the responsibility of closing the program and giving fans a jolt of energy before kickoff.
“I think Pat’s done a pretty good job. We have the celebrity, we do all the picks, and then he does some kind of version of his own stamp on making the pick,” Herbstreit said on the SI Media Podcast. “We’re never going to have — hey, why don’t you put the headgear on? That’s it. I mean, Lee Corso was the headgear. But I think he’s done a pretty good job of capturing that moment.”
For years, the show’s signature finale centered on Corso’s headgear picks. A tradition that turned into one of college football’s most recognizable television moments. After health challenges limited Corso’s appearances in recent seasons, ESPN faced the delicate question of how to evolve the ending of a program that draws millions of viewers each Saturday morning following Corso’s retirement earlier this season.
Yet, Herbstreit also acknowledged the personal and professional void left by Corso.
“The toughest part is just not having him around,” he said. “Not so much on the show, which is obvious, but Friday meetings… he’d bust on us about something little, like stealing potato chips or just messing around… Those little things are no longer there. That to me is something I miss personally because we had a very strong relationship. The show’s vibe is still talking about the games, but not having him there is just different.”
Herbstreit praised the current team for filling the space with strong personalities, including McAfee and analyst Nick Saban. “Nick gets misunderstood,” he said. “People see him dancing or smiling, and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ But we know him on a different level than people are used to seeing him standing at the Alabama podium and you know yelling at the media. He’s got a really good personality and is doing a great job fitting in with our crew.”
Since joining full time in 2022. McAfee has generated conversation both for his over-the-top personality and the way he interacts with fans on site. While some traditionalists initially wondered if his style would mesh with a broadcast that had thrived for decades, GameDay has continued to post strong ratings, and the live crowds remain as vocal as ever.
According to Herbstreit, that speaks to McAfee’s ability to be authentic without forcing the issue. For ESPN, striking that balance between honoring Corso and embracing McAfee has been crucial. With college football’s media landscape more competitive than ever, GameDay’s ability to stay relevant relies on both tradition and reinvention. Herbstreit sees McAfee as the right person to help thread that needle.
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