Tonight is the national championship game, meaning its the last time this season for Lee Corso to make a headgear pick.
Corso has been a beloved member of ESPN’s College GameDay crew for decades. While he’s getting up in age and his performance in recent years has suffered as a result, fans still enjoy the former longtime coach’s presence on the show. Traditionally, Corso caps off the picks segment of GameDay by donning the mascot headgear of the team he thinks will win the main game of the day.
On Monday, that’s Notre Dame and Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Corso, wearing a Kelly green suit reminiscent of Notre Dame’s leprechaun, picked the Fighting Irish to spring the upset.
Instead of a full mascot head, Corso put on the leprechaun cap instead to solidify his choice.
You’ve got to love it. Corso, who turns 90 in August, is a college football institution.
Back in November, ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, shared that he and Corso will sit down in the offseason and decide on the best course of action for him moving forward.
“Listen, I think we’re going to do what we’ve done now for a couple of years running which is we’re going to have a conversation with him after the season, see where things are,” Magnus said, via On3. “You know, he’s a special guy. I mean, he’s one of the nicest men any of your listeners or anyone on Earth could ever come across. And he’s been absolutely iconic on the show.”
“We’re going to get through the playoff this year, let everybody decompress and then we have some time to figure out what we’re going to do for next season.”
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 1: Lee Corso of ESPN College GameDay speaks on set before the Rose Bowl between Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
If Corso does return next fall, college football fans will welcome him back with open arms, even if it can be sad watching him on the air at times.
And if Corso decides to retire, he will be widely celebrated as one of the things that has made college football more fun over the years.
You can watch Ohio State-Notre Dame right now on ESPN.
