Lee Corso signs off during GameDay’s most-watched episode ever

Rodney Knuppel

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Lee Corso signs off during GameDay’s most-watched episode ever image

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

No frills, no hyperbole... Just a Saturday morning turned historic. On August 30, 2025, ESPN’s College GameDay aired from Columbus, Ohio, for what would be Lee Corso’s final show. It wasn’t just the usual energy; you could feel that fans were watching something unique unfold. And they did in droves: it became the most-watched GameDay in the show’s history.

A familiar place, a special vibe

Thousands of Buckeye fans braved the early morning for the live broadcast outside Ohio Stadium. There was chatter in the air, homemade signs raised high, and a sense of celebration, not so much foggy nostalgia, but admiration for a legend calling it quits. Corso, joined by Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and Pat McAfee, moved through the morning with familiar banter, light laughs, and just enough sentiment.

Corso’s final pick, full circle

Then came the moment, Corso’s 431st and final headgear pick. He paused, grinned, and reached for the Brutus Buckeye head. Just like he had during his first pick in Columbus back in 1996, Corso chose Ohio State to beat Texas. The crowd erupted. It’s the kind of send-off only Corso could deliver: simple, classic, low on theatrics, high on meaning.

The game reflected the morning

What he picked turned out to be right. Ohio State edged out top-ranked Texas 14-7 in a defensive slugfest. Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin did what was needed, throwing 13 of 20 passing, a touchdown to Carnell Tate in the fourth, and no turnovers. His offensive line didn’t give up a sack. And the defense? They bottled up Arch Manning, kept him from finding rhythm, and delivered clutch stops in the red zone. Buckeye linebacker Arvell Reese made play after play to make sure.

MORE: LSU snaps drought, clamps Clemson as defense flips the script

A record audience tuned in

Fans at the set weren’t the only ones locked in. ESPN reported that Corso’s farewell drew 3.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode in College GameDay history. That number speaks to just how much Corso meant to college football Saturdays. Whether you loved his jokes, his pauses, or the headgear tradition, viewers across the country wanted to see how he would close it out.

The five biggest GameDay audiences

  1. Ohio State vs Texas – August 30, 2025 (3.5M) – Lee Corso’s farewell in Columbus.

  2. Alabama vs LSU – November 9, 2019 (2.7M) – An SEC showdown that drew massive numbers.

  3. Michigan vs Ohio State – November 26, 2022 (2.6M) – A rivalry with playoff stakes.

  4. Notre Dame vs Georgia – September 21, 2019 (2.5M) – A rare SEC vs. independent clash.

  5. Florida State vs Miami – October 7, 2006 (2.4M) – A classic rivalry at its peak.

A natural exit

When the show wrapped, Corso offered a wave and that grin of his. No grand monologue. No dramatic flourishes. Just one of the most beloved figures in college football standing where he belongs, doing what he’d done for decades, making his pick, and walking away.

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Rodney Knuppel

Rodney Knuppel is a freelance writer for The Sporting News. When not watching, listening or writing about sports, Rodney enjoys following the travels of his three kids, who are all active in their own sports and activities. A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, Rodney also enjoys St. Louis Blues hockey and is a big Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan.