College football’s most beloved on-air personality, Lee Corso, will make his final headgear pick on ESPN’s College GameDay during its season-opening broadcast on August 30, as the defending national champion Ohio State hosts Texas. The choice will signal the close of an iconic 38-year era.

Corso, who will celebrate his 90th birthday on August 7, first joined GameDay in its debut year of 1987 and became a cornerstone of the show. He gained national fame for his signature headgear picks—where he dons the mascot head of the team he’s predicting to win—a tradition that began in October 1996 during a game in Columbus.

Across his tenure, Corso has made 430 headgear picks, boasting an impressive 286–144 record and a success rate exceeding 66%. His most picked team: Ohio State (45 selections), followed by Alabama (38), LSU (25), Florida (22), and Oregon (21).

Past picks are rich with memorable moments—from dressing as the Notre Dame leprechaun or Stanford tree, to riding a motorcycle with the Oregon Duck mascot. He even held a live alligator during one selection and once matched wits with Katy Perry in The Grove.

Beyond the theatrics, Corso’s journey wasn’t without challenge. A stroke in 2009 left him partially paralyzed and greatly limited his ability to ad-lib on camera, forcing him to rely on scripted performances. Yet, he returned later that year and continued to be present—even as travel became harder with time.

To celebrate his legacy, ESPN is airing a special—Not So Fast, My Friend: A Lee Corso Special—premiering August 22, ahead of his final appearance. The program features contributions from players, coaches, and broadcasters across generations, including Patrons like Nick Saban, Desmond Howard, and even celebrities such as Ken Jeong and Drew Brees.

As College GameDay makes its way to Columbus, Ohio for Week 1 of the 2025 season, Corso will take his rightful final bow—bringing down the curtain on a signature tradition imbued with humor, authenticity, and boundless affection from fans nationwide.