2025 Preseason Herbie Awards: Lee Corso named Legend of the Game

Every once in a while, a person is so deserving of an award, no other nominees are necessary. On Friday, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit named longtime College GameDay host Lee Corso the “Legend of the Game” Herbie Award winner.

“It’s been amazing having a chance to sit next to him for the last 29 years on this show, and he’s taught me so much,” Herbstreit said. “Sometimes it was just me subconsciously watching him early, going way back when I first started.

“There’s so many moments of just so much joy and laughter… I think what the entire show will really remember about Lee is how he would come into a Friday meeting, first one there, sitting in his seat, 20 to 30 minutes before, pencil ready to go, ready to take his notes for the meeting. And, everybody that walked into that room, he hugged or smiled and just greeted them with the exact same way.”

While fans weren’t in the pre-show meetings with Corso, they certainly won’t forget the college football icon anytime soon. Corso has been hosting ESPN’s College GameDay since 1993.

As a former college football head coach, Corso brings a wealth of knowledge to the panel, but he also provides a surplus of entertainment. Most notably, fans tune in each week to see Corso make his Game of the Week pick, which he reveals by putting on the mascot head of whichever team he’s backing.

Of course, on special occasions, such as when he picks Notre Dame, Corso will don a full costume instead of some simple mascot gear. Before joining ESPN, Corso served as the head coach at Louisville (1969-72), Indiana (1973-82) and Northern Illinois (1984).

He accumulated a career head coaching record of 73-85-6 and won two conference titles at Louisville. Although Corso boasts countless accomplishments for his work behind a clipboard or a news desk, he’s been just as successful as a friend.

“He just always had that big smile, always had that love and always had that energy,” Herbstreit said. “I think the show will miss him, obviously on the air, but I think it’s how he impacted everybody from the bottom to the top, treated everybody the same, and that’s what we’ll really miss.”

On Aug. 30, Lee Corso will make his final appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay. The crew will travel to Columbus for No. 3 Ohio State‘s showdown against No. 1 Texas.