Lee Corso, the legendary ESPN broadcaster and former coach synonymous with the college football experience, is set to make his final headgear pick on “College GameDay.”
Corso will retire from “College GameDay” in August, ending a career with the show that started in 1987. ESPN announced the news on Thursday morning.
His final show will be on Saturday, Aug. 30 during Week 1 of the 2025 college football season. The location of “College GameDay” has yet to be announced.
Corso, who turns 90 in August, has been a part of “College GameDay” for 38 years. His first headgear pick was October 5, 1996, when he wore Ohio State’s Brutus Buckeyes mascot head ahead of a top-five matchup against Penn State.
Unless ESPN decides to come to Penn State for its 2025 season opener against Nevada — highly, highly unlikely — Corso’s last headgear pick in Happy Valley came last fall. Corso went with the Buckeyes over the Nittany Lions on Nov. 2, 2024. Corso also picked Notre Dame to beat Penn State ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinals.
With the help of gamedaycole.com, let’s take a look through the years at all of Corso’s Penn State headgear picks for “College GameDay.”
Who did he pick? And was he right?
The ESPN Gameday crew Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso talk with guest picker CJ Stroud during pregame at Ohio Stadium for the Ohio State game on Oct. 21, 2023. Joe Hermitt | [email protected]
Oct. 5, 1996: No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 38-7
Oct. 3, 1998: No. 7 Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 28-9
Aug. 28, 1999: No. 4 Arizona at No. 3 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Penn State 41-7
Sept. 25, 2004: Penn State at No. 20 Wisconsin
Corso’s pick: Wisconsin
Result: Wisconsin 16-3
Oct. 8, 2005: No. 6 Ohio State at No. 16 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Penn State 17-10
Nov. 19, 2005: No. 5 Penn State at Michigan State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Penn State 31-22
Sept. 23, 2006: No. 24 Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 28-6
Oct. 27, 2007: No. 1 Ohio State at No. 25 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 37-17
Oct. 25, 2008: No. 3 Penn State at No. 10 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Penn State
Jan. 1, 2009: No. 5 USC vs. No. 6 Penn State (Rose Bowl)
Corso’s pick: USC
Result: USC 38-24
Sept. 26, 2009: Iowa at No. 4 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Iowa 21-10
Sept. 11, 2010: No. 18 Penn State at No. 1 Alabama
Corso’s pick: Alabama
Result: Alabama 24-3
Nov. 13, 2010: Penn State at No. 7 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 38-24
David Pollack, Desomd Howard, Race Davis and Lee Corso of ESPN’s College Football GameDay during the broadcast held at Pan Am Plaza Indianapolis on Dec. 3, 2016. The teams will meet in the Big Ten Championship Saturday night in Lucas Oil Stadium. Joe Hermitt | [email protected] HARPennLive
Dec. 3, 2016: No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Penn State (Big Ten championship)
Corso’s pick: Wisconsin
Result: Penn State 38-31
Jan. 2, 2017: No. 5 Penn State vs. No. 9 USC (Rose Bowl)
Corso’s pick: USC
Result: USC 52-49
Oct. 21, 2017: No. 19 Michigan at No. 2 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Penn State 42-13
Oct. 28, 2017: No. 2 Penn State at No. 6 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 39-38
Sept. 29, 2018: No. 4 Ohio State at No. 9 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Ohio State 27-26
Oct. 16, 2019: No. 16 Michigan at No. 7 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Penn State 28-21
Nov. 23, 2019: No. 8 Penn State at No. 2 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 28-17
Oct. 31, 2020: No. 3 Ohio State at No. 18 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 38-25
ESPN commentator Lee Corso talks with Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft during the first quarter on Oct. 21, 2023. Joe Hermitt | [email protected]
Sept. 18, 2021: No. 22 Auburn at No. 10 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Penn State
Result: Penn State 28-20
Jan. 2, 2023: No. 8 Utah vs. No. 11 Penn State (Rose Bowl)
Corso’s pick: Utah
Result: Penn State 35-21
Oct. 21, 2023: No. 7 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 20-12
Nov. 2, 2024: No. 4 Ohio State at No. 3 Penn State
Corso’s pick: Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 20-13
Jan. 9, 2025: No. 4 Penn State vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (CFP semifinal)
Corso’s pick: Notre Dame
Result: Notre Dame 27-24
CORSO’S RECORD IN PENN STATE GAMES: 20-6
CORS0’S RECORD PICKING PENN STATE: 5-2
