If you’re a college football fan, you probably start every Saturday morning during the season by turning on ESPN’s College Gameday. And if you watch College Gameday, you probably wait until the show’s end every week to see Coach Lee Corso make his famous headgear pick.
Unfortunately, on Aug. 30, Coach will make his final headgear pick before he steps away and retires from the show. It’s a sad time for all college football fans who have spent their Saturday mornings with Corso for the last 38 years, but ESPN just revealed that his final headgear pick will be a full circle moment for Coach and those who love him.
Lee Corso Will Make His Final Headgear Pick for the Ohio State-Texas Season Opener
Corso began doing his famous headgear selection on Oct. 5, 1996, when he threw on the Ohio State Brutus head to make his pick for Ohio State vs Penn State.
In commemorating Corso’s historic broadcasting career, the Coach will make his final headgear pick back in Columbus for the Texas-Ohio State season opener on Aug. 30.
College Gameday announced this in an awesome trailer for week one next season, with all the members of the Gameday crew saying a few words about what Corso has done for college football.
📍 Week 1: Columbus, OH
We’re kicking off College GameDay with a trip to Texas-Ohio State, as we celebrate Lee Corso’s final show back where he first made headgear history! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/FtOLmXPXKB
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) June 10, 2025
My favorite of the short tributes is Rece Davis’s, which says, “It’s something that he’s taught us from the beginning: It’s entertainment, sweetheart; football is the vehicle.”
That quote encapsulates how Corso approached each college football Saturday throughout his broadcasting career. Coach was nothing short of entertaining in his time on College Gameday, and all college football fans will miss his presence.
Since 1996, Corso has made 430 headgear picks and holds an all-time record of 286-144, resulting in a 66.5% win rate. In 1999, Coach had his best season, going a perfect 11-0 on his picks.
KEEP READING: Lee Corso Retires at 89: Desmond Howard Shares Unforgettable College GameDay Story
Corso has picked 69 different teams all time, and he’s chosen five teams over 20 times. He has worn the Oregon Duck head 21 times, the Florida Gator head 22 times, the LSU Tiger head 25 times, the Alabama Crimson Tide elephant head 38 times, and finally, the Ohio State Brutus head 45 times.
Corso will have his last chance to put on Brutus in August, and I would be shocked if he didn’t for the 46th and final time. Regardless of who Coach chooses, it’s been a blast watching him every Saturday, and fans look forward to seeing him one last time before he officially walks away.
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