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Nick Saban Announces Decision On Taking Over For Lee Corso

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 20, 2025 4:57 PM ET

In his second season on College GameDay, Nick Saban will play a pivotal role in the show adjusting to Lee Corso's pending retirement. However, he wouldn't dare fill the beloved anchor's shoes, or oversized heads.

Corso will make his final College GameDay appearance to start the 2025 season before stepping down. Since 1996, the former head coach has made game picks by donning the head of school mascots.

On the Rick Burgess Show, Saban celebrated his departing colleague.

"Lee Corso's a phenomenal person," Saban said. "He's a real professional, has been a part of the show and the tradition of the show for 20-something years. And we're all going to miss him."

Saban noted that "everybody looked forward to" Corso's headgear picks. Burgess, seemingly jokingly, asked if ESPN expects Saban to keep Corso's tradition alive.

“Well, I hope not," Saban said with a chuckle.

Burgess pointed out the obvious when noting that he didn't see Saban as a fit for that jovial task.

“I don't either," Saban said. "But it's probably not my decision."

Corso made 430 headgear predictions since first wearing Ohio State's Brutus Buckeye mascot head nearly three decades ago.

"Lee Corso has developed a special connection to generations of fans through his entertaining style and iconic headgear picks," ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a release announcing Corso's retirement last month. "Lee is one of the most influential and beloved figures in the history of college football and our ESPN team will celebrate his legendary career during his final College GameDay appearance this August."

It seems safe to say ESPN won't force Saban to continue a College GameDay staple forever attached to Corso. If anything, Pat McAfee is better suited for the role, but nobody else on the panel should ever touch a mascot head.

Saban must instead find his own ways to help fill the seismic void created in Corso's absence. The seven-time national champion shares different sensitivities and skill sets from Corso, a grandiose entertainer who never took himself too seriously on the air.

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

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