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Ryan Day Makes Feelings On Lee Corso Clear Before Final 'GameDay' Show

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 1:18 PM ET

In just a few days Lee Corso will be making his final appearance on ESPN's College GameDay. The huge game between Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes and the visiting Texas Longhorns almost feels like an afterthought by comparison.

Speaking to reporters this week, Day reflected on the impact that Coach Corso has had on college football. Per Eleven Warriors deputy editor Dan Hope, Day said that Corso has always been "a great ambassador" for the sport of college football and that it means a lot to the entire school for him to have his final sendoff in Columbus.

“He’s certainly made a major impact on a lot of people... for him to be here for his last game in his last year, it means a lot to us," Day said.

Ryan Day says Lee Corso has been “a great ambassador” for college football.

“He’s certainly made a major impact on a lot of people ... for him to be here for his last game in his last year, it means a lot to us.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 26, 2025

Coach Corso's Sendoff

At 90 years of age and one of the longest-tenured people in all of ESPN, let alone their college football coverage, Lee Corso is an institution of college fall all to himself.

Corso's blend of humor, passion, and showmanship helped transform the way college football is presented to fans, turning Saturday mornings into a cultural event that transcends the kickoff and touchdowns. His iconic tradition of donning a mascot head to predict the winner of a featured game became one of the most recognizable rituals in all of sports, blending entertainment with his genuine football insights. His influence helped elevate college football’s national profile well beyond its traditional boundaries, ensuring it wasn’t just a sport but a shared weekly celebration.

The Game

The game itself will feature the No. 3 Buckeyes, the reigning national champions, hosting Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns.

The two teams squared off in last year's Cotton Bowl Classic, with the Buckeyes emerging the winners in a 28-14 win en route to their national title victory over Notre Dame.

But while Ohio State will be bringing back all-world wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and some extremely talented recruits, many of their starters from last season left for the NFL. Texas, by contrast, retained a larger percentage of last year's starters, which is why they leapfrogged them in the preseason rankings.

It may not be a "Game of the Century," but the impact that Saturday's game will have on the entire 2025 college football season is enormous.

It's a perfect game to send off a true legend of college football.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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