On August 30, 2025, the sport of college football witnessed the end of an era. After nearly 40 years, Coach Lee Corso made his final appearance on ESPN College GameDay in Columbus, Ohio ahead of the highly anticipated No. 1 Texas vs No. 3 Ohio State matchup.

 After spending 15 years as a college coach for Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois, Lee Corso joined College GameDay in 1987. What started as an in-studio show soon expanded into a traveling program that brought GameDay to college campuses.

Corso made his first headgear pick in 1996 when GameDay visited Ohio State for the first time. The Buckeyes were set to face the Penn State Nittany Lions when he famously put on the Brutus Buckeye mascot head. This iconic moment started a tradition that would last for decades.

Every Saturday for the next 28 years, fans tuned in to see which mascot head Corso was going to wear. Throughout his career, he posted a 286-144 record, picking a total of 69 different programs. His playful personality, along with his catchphrase “Not so fast, my friend,” made him a fan favorite everywhere he went.

Corso’s final GameDay was bittersweet as he was surrounded by thousands of supportive fans. His long-time crew members also paid tribute, thanking him for the countless memories and joy that he brought to the show. In a full-circle moment, Corso put on the Brutus head one last time as he picked the Buckeyes to beat the Longhorns. Sure enough, Ohio State won the game 14-7, giving him the perfect send-off.

While College GameDay will never be the same without Lee Corso, his legacy will live on. He will always be remembered for the impact he had on college football and its fans.