ESPN announced Tuesday that “College GameDay” will kick off the 2025 season in Columbus, Ohio for Ohio State’s home game against Texas. The Aug. 30 opener marks the final show for Lee Corso, whose headgear picks have defined Saturday mornings for nearly three decades.
This homecoming carries significance beyond the farewell tour.
Corso made his first headgear pick in 1996 when the show originated outside Ohio Stadium. He donned Brutus the Buckeye’s head while picking Ohio State to beat Penn State, launching what became the show’s signature moment.
The 89-year-old has affectionately called Brutus his “first love” over the years.
The Texas-Ohio State matchup is a rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinal, which Ohio State won 28-14 before beating Notre Dame in the national championship game. A visit to the defending champs makes sense given the magnitude, though several other high-profile Week 1 contests likely earned consideration.
Alabama at Florida State probably got a look, particularly since Corso is a former Seminoles defensive back. He once held the program’s career interception record before Deion Sanders matched it and Terrell Buckley eventually broke it.
The game will actually air on Fox as part of the network’s “Big Noon Kickoff” window. Fox’s traveling pregame show will also be on site.
The Numbers Behind the Picks
Corso has made 430 headgear selections with a record of 286-144. He’s been with GameDay from the beginning in 1987, though the show only went on the road starting in 1993.
He’ll turn 90 on Aug. 7.
ESPN announced Corso’s retirement on April 17, confirming he would step away after one final show in Week 1. The former head coach at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois entered broadcasting after his sideline career ended.
The headgear tradition that started with Brutus will end where it began, bringing Corso’s journey full circle in Columbus.
