Tears are falling as this legendary broadcaster calls it quits

ESPN’s College GameDay will never be the same.

A legend is riding off into the sunset.

And tears are falling as this legendary broadcaster calls it quits. 

Lee Corso broke down in tears on College GameDay when Kirk Herbstreit hit him with this emotional bombshell.

ESPN announces Lee Corso’s retirement from College GameDay after nearly four decades

College football Saturday mornings will have a very different feel this fall.

Legendary broadcaster Lee Corso, the heart and soul of ESPN’s College GameDay, announced Thursday that he will retire after 38 years with the network.

The 89-year-old icon will make his final appearance on the show’s broadcast on August 30th – making one last headgear pick before hanging up his microphone for good.

“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 a statement released by ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”

Corso joined ESPN back in 1987 and is the only remaining original on-air personality for College GameDay. He became a full-time analyst in 1989 and has been a Saturday morning fixture for generations of college football fans.

Herbstreit’s emotional tribute leaves fans stunned

While tributes poured in from across the college football world, it was his longtime broadcasting partner Kirk Herbstreit who delivered the most emotional farewell.

“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,” Herbstreit added. “You’re a once-in-a-lifetime person, once-in-a-lifetime broadcaster.”

Love ya Coach-you’ll be missed more than ya know. Been our honor to be with ya all these years. https://t.co/tQHMn5wjyV pic.twitter.com/XdH0btZx9K

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) April 17, 2025

The genuine emotional connection between the two broadcasters left fans stunned – a testament to their nearly three-decade partnership that transformed college football coverage forever.

Corso’s legacy defined by iconic catchphrases and traditions

For millions of fans, Corso became synonymous with college football’s most cherished traditions. His famous catchphrase “Not so fast, my friend!” became a cultural touchstone, often delivered as a spirited disagreement with his fellow analysts’ predictions.

But nothing defined Corso’s time on GameDay more than his legendary headgear picks.

The tradition began in October 1995 during a broadcast at Ohio State when Corso first donned Brutus Buckeye’s oversized mascot head to predict an Ohio State victory. The crowd erupted, a tradition was born, and college football coverage was forever changed.

Over the next 30 years, Corso would put on hundreds of mascot heads – from Sparty to Big Al to Sebastian the Ibis – creating weekly viral moments before “going viral” was even a thing.

ESPN stands by Corso through health challenges

Corso’s retirement announcement included a special acknowledgment of ESPN’s support through his health difficulties in recent years.

“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,” Corso said.

In 2009, Corso suffered a significant stroke that affected his speech and communication abilities. Rather than forcing him into early retirement, ESPN made accommodations that allowed him to continue his role on the show.

His triumphant return to broadcasting after the stroke became one of sports television’s most inspiring comeback stories.

College football Saturdays will never be the same

By the time Corso makes his final headgear selection this August, he’ll have reached the age of 90 – a remarkable milestone for someone who has remained relevant in sports broadcasting for nearly four decades.

In his statement, Corso made sure to thank his broadcast partner Herbstreit specifically: “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.”

The announcement came as a shock to many fans who, despite Corso’s advanced age, had come to believe the broadcaster might continue forever – a fixture as permanent as the college football season itself.

Now, when fall Saturdays arrive this season, there will be an unmistakable absence on screens across America. No “not so fast,” no mascot head selection, no Corso.

College GameDay will continue, but an era has ended. A piece of college football’s soul is retiring with Lee Corso – the man who didn’t just analyze the game, but helped generations of fans fall in love with it.