Lee Corso, the legendary college football analyst, is set to retire after nearly four decades on air with ESPN.
Corso, 89, said he plans to retire after one final “College GameDay” broadcast later this summer. Here’s what to know:
Lee Corso to retire, thanks Kirk Herbstreit and fans
What we know:
Corso made the announcement on Thursday, sharing the news in a statement provided by ESPN. He will officially enter retirement after his last broadcast with “College GameDay” on Aug. 30, 2025 – at which point he’ll be 90 years old.
What they’re saying:
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years. I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement,” Corso said in a statement provided by ESPN.
“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.”
In his final goodbye, Corso also thanked one person in particular.
“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.”
Messages of support and adoration for Corso quickly poured in amid news of his retirement.
“I just wanted to say I love you,” Herbstreit said in a video posted on X. “I thank you for so many lessons you taught me. Almost 30 years together, I’ve enjoyed sitting next to you watching you do your thing. So much fun. We’ve had so many great moments on the show, off the show.
“You’re an icon,” he added. “You’re a once-in-a-lifetime person, once-in-a-lifetime broadcaster.”
The backstory:
Corso first joined the network 38 years ago in 1987 and remains, at least for a short while, the only remaining original on-air personality for “College GameDay.” He became a full-time analyst in 1989, working alongside many greats.
He became known for his popular headgear picks over the years, which began in October 1995 at a game at Ohio State, and his popular slogan, “Not so fast, my friend.”
The Source: This story was reported using information provided in a statement by Lee Corso via ESPN on April 17, 2025. It was reported from Cincinnati, and FOX News contributed.
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