June is here and before you know it, so will the start of the college football season. The first “College GameDay” show of the 2025 college football regular season is set for Saturday, Aug. 30. It will be a historic one.
Legendary ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso will be retiring following the first show of the season. It’s been an iconic run for the former college football head coach turned beloved analyst. Corso has spent the past 38 seasons analyzing college football every Saturday.
“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. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
Corso added: “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.”
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But who is going to “replace” Corso on the air?
Former Alabama coach turned College GameDay analyst Nick Saban was recently asked if he would be up for doing the headgear picks moving forward. Saban, who joined ESPN’s college football pregame show last year, made it clear that he was not interested in that.
“I hope not,” Saban said when asked if he would be doing the headgear picks on set.
Others have speculated that “College GameDay” could have Pat McAfee do the headgear picks. That certainly seems to fit with his personality.
But ESPN host Rece Davis already made things clear – he’s not letting anyone fill Corso’s seat.
“I think I’m going to have to tackle anybody that tries to do a headgear pick, other than Lee Corso,” Davis told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins. “That, to me, is his signature moment and it should stay with him, in my judgment.
“And I will fight very hard not to be overruled or vetoed on that. Because many people tell me that it’s something that they look forward to every week. And I think that is his and his alone.”
Rece Davis on the future of the headgear pick: "I think I'm going to have to tackle anybody that tries to do a headgear pick … that to me is his signature moment and it should stay with him." https://t.co/Khp2KYPf0x pic.twitter.com/YFza0Hh3FM
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 18, 2025
College football fans are praising “College GameDay” for the decision.
“Absolutely respect the position and agree with it. Only thing is, I think I might be ok with it if Saban did it. I dont now why, dont ask me to defend it. Maybe its just because it would be funny to watch the GOAT cover his face with mascot heads,” one fan wrote.
“I think the headgear pick will retire with Corso. Fans won’t accept McAfee doing it,” one fan added.
“I 100% get this and wouldn’t have any issue with it at all BUT if it is allowed to continue, Herbstreit should be the only one for it, given the relationship he had with Corso,” one fan added.
“I agree, that’s Lee Corso’s patented move and let’s leave it as such. I’m sure they can come up with something new in its place,” one fan added.
It’ll be fun to see what ESPN comes up with in Corso’s place.
