Lee Corso rode off into the sunset in the most fitting way possible this past weekend, closing the curtain on his legendary career with perfection in his college football picks for Week 1. The longtime ESPN College GameDay analyst, who became an icon not only for his headgear picks but also for his humor, passion, and encyclopedic knowledge of the sport, managed to capture the magic one last time by calling the games with the kind of accuracy that has made him a beloved voice for decades. It was more than just a weekend of picks—it was a reminder of what Corso meant to college football and why his presence will always remain unforgettable in the hearts of fans, coaches, and players alike.
What made Corso’s final weekend so poetic was that he didn’t just get one or two games right—he nailed every single prediction, and he did so with the energy of someone who still loves the game as much as he did on his very first broadcast. His biggest and most memorable call was choosing LSU over Clemson on the road, a pick that raised eyebrows at the time. Clemson was highly ranked, they were at home, and they had a strong roster that many analysts believed could make a deep playoff run. Yet Corso, with the intuition and experience that has carried him for over 30 years on television, trusted LSU. He saw something in the Tigers that perhaps others overlooked, and when LSU delivered a gritty road victory, it validated not only his confidence in the team but also his unique ability to read the sport in a way very few others could.
What makes this even more special is that LSU wasn’t just a Week 1 pick for Corso. Back before the season began, during his preseason predictions, Corso went bold and named LSU as his pick for the National Champion this year. It wasn’t the popular choice—many pointed toward Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, or Michigan—but Corso saw something in LSU’s mix of talent, depth, and coaching. It was vintage Corso: going against the grain with conviction, trusting his instincts, and embracing the drama of college football. To see LSU prove him right in Week 1 against one of their toughest early-season opponents gave his farewell an almost storybook quality.
Corso’s final weekend was more than just predictions—it was a celebration of everything that has made him an institution. For years, his Saturday morning energy set the tone for college football fans nationwide. He was never afraid to be funny, never afraid to be bold, and never afraid to be wrong. That’s part of why fans loved him. But when he was right, he was often spectacularly right, and his last weekend served as a reminder of just how sharp his instincts have always been. Going perfect in his picks gave fans one last chance to say, “That’s our Coach,” and to appreciate the wisdom behind the theatrics.
For the LSU faithful, Corso’s faith in the Tigers this season is another rallying point. This is a program that has always thrived when they are believed in, and having someone as iconic as Corso throw his weight behind them as national championship favorites is more than just a prediction—it’s a cultural stamp of approval. Corso has always had a way of connecting teams to larger narratives, and his LSU pick feels like a passing of the torch. He is essentially saying, “This is the program that embodies the spirit of college football this year,” and fans across Baton Rouge and beyond will carry that with pride all season long.
Clemson, meanwhile, will have to regroup after the tough loss, but even that fits into Corso’s legacy. For years, his picks have added drama and weight to certain games. By picking LSU on the road, he put Clemson on notice, and when the outcome matched his forecast, it became part of the story. That’s the magic of Corso—his predictions were never just guesses, they were moments that shaped how fans and analysts looked at the sport. Whether he was donning a mascot head or confidently declaring an upset, his presence made the game bigger than the game itself.
What made Corso’s farewell so moving is the fact that it wasn’t about him basking in the spotlight. It was about the sport he loves. Every smile, every joke, every piece of analysis came from a place of genuine passion for college football. Even in his final weekend, he approached the job the same way he always has: make it fun, make it insightful, and make it memorable. And in doing so, he gave fans one last reminder of why his career has been so important.
The timing of his perfect picks adds another layer to his farewell. For a man who has become synonymous with the start of the college football season, going undefeated in Week 1 feels like a symbolic closing chapter. It’s as if the sport itself gave him a standing ovation, allowing him to leave on top. Rarely do legends get to walk away on such a high note, but Corso managed to do it with style. His last weekend wasn’t just about accuracy—it was about affirmation. It showed that his voice, his perspective, and his passion are still as relevant as ever.
Beyond the picks and predictions, Corso’s farewell weekend was also a reflection of his impact on fans. For generations, families have gathered around the TV on Saturday mornings to hear his thoughts, laugh at his jokes, and wait in anticipation for his final headgear pick. He became part of the tradition of college football itself. To see him leave on such a high note gave those fans closure. It reminded them that the man who helped define their Saturdays for decades was still at the top of his game as he said goodbye.
His colleagues on set were visibly emotional as well, knowing that this was more than just another weekend. It was the end of an era. Corso has been a mentor, a friend, and a source of joy for those who have worked with him. His departure leaves a hole that can never truly be filled. Sure, others will make picks, others will put on mascot heads, but there will never be another Lee Corso. He is one of one, a true original who combined coaching knowledge with entertainer charisma in a way that redefined sports broadcasting.
Fans will no doubt remember his farewell picks as a symbolic gesture of confidence in the sport’s future. By picking LSU, by going undefeated in Week 1, he essentially handed the baton to the next generation of players, coaches, and fans. He reminded everyone that the beauty of college football lies in its unpredictability, its passion, and its ability to bring people together. His final act was to embody all of those qualities, leaving fans with memories that will last long after his voice is gone from the broadcast.
