Lee Corso, the former head coach for Louisville and Indiana and now prominent figure on ESPN's College Football GameDay, made his 400th pick on the program today, choosing the Colorado Buffaloes to beat the in-state rival Colorado State Rams.
Corso takes @CUBuffsFootball as his 400th career headgear pick ? pic.twitter.com/AEuw72ye7f
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 16, 2023
Corso, 88, joined ESPN as an analyst for College GameDay in 1987. This was six years before the program would go on the road from the site of the big game of that week.
Not only does Corso make picks on the program, though, he wields and wears the headgear of the mascot for the team he's choosing—a tradition he's had since 1996. His first-ever pick using the headgear gimmick was the Ohio State Buckeyes when he was still alongside Kirk Herbstreit. Ohio State took on the Penn State Nittany Lions in that game, and the Buckeyes won 38-7.
Throwback to Lee Corso?s very first headgear pick on College GameDay ? pic.twitter.com/5DRKwOwuAe
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 12, 2023
Throughout his time picking teams using the headgear, he's selected 68 teams. The Buckeyes, his first-ever choice, have been chosen by him 38 times.
Some other iconic moments include a moment in 2019 where Corso chose the Florida Gators, wore the headgear, and wielded a live gator while selecting.
When Coach held a live gator ??
His 400th pick happens this Saturday on #CollegeGameDay ? pic.twitter.com/OWxteEwvCs
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 12, 2023
According to "Cole's GameDay Blog," Corso has a 66.5% success rate with his picks, with 266 wins.
The Buffaloes are massive favorites heading into the game tonight as more than three-touchdown home favorites. Head coach Deion Sanders has appeared on ESPN programming throughout the week, including the Pat McAfee Show, where he gifted McAfee a pair of sunglasses in response to Rams head coach Jay Norvell's comments about Sanders' attire.
Also appearing on College Football GameDay today was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who was also gifted sunglasses by "Coach Prime," wearing those along with a Buffaloes jersey.
Corso looks to add to his superb record as the Buffaloes, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, is a 24-point favorite.
