On Thursday, ESPN announced that longtime “College Gameday” host Lee Corso will be retiring after 38 years with the program.
Corso’s last show will be on August 30, 2025, with the Week 1 matchup that ESPN chooses at a later date. In all likelihood, it will be Corso’s final visit to Columbus, Ohio, as the Buckeyes will host Texas in the biggest game of the opening week of 2025.
Corso, 89, had a statement prepared for the announcement.
After 38 incredible years, Lee Corso is retiring ❤️
For multiple generations, Coach has been the face of our Saturday mornings and the sport we love.
Our friend, our coach, our heart … LC, you will forever be a College GameDay legend! pic.twitter.com/AjK8iNw7ye
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in an ESPN statement. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.
“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.”
Coach Corso had tenures at Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois before he joined the network in 1987 after his coaching career came to an end. He’s been a part of the Gameday traveling crew since they started going campus to campus in 1993.
