USC's Infamous Encounter with Lee Corso: A College Football Tale of Triumph and Tribulation

Well, folks, it’s a bittersweet moment for college football fans everywhere as the venerable Lee Corso, long-time star of ESPN’s College GameDay, has announced he’ll hang up his headgear come August. You know, I’ve been around this beat for a fair minute, and I’ve seen the game change in a myriad of ways, but seeing Corso retire truly marks the end of an era.

I’ll tell ya, plenty of good memories come to mind. His picks were not just predictions; they were events. USC fans, we’ve had quite the rollercoaster with Mr. Corso. Remember that time he was the harbinger of heartbreak at the 2006 Rose Bowl? Yep, that one still stings—Corso going against the grain, picking Texas over the heavily favored Trojans (Spoiler: he was right).

But let’s not dwell on the lows, because there were plenty of highs too. Those early Saturday mornings, sipping coffee, and waiting for that crucial headgear selection—this man had us up, eagerly watching. And when he picked USC, you nearly felt the tide turn in the Trojans’ favor—even if the game hadn’t kicked off yet.

It’s more than just the games; it’s the passion, the stories, the color he brought to the screen. College football games got a dramatic start with Corso’s headgear ritual – it was like signing a battle pact, a talisman for a battle played on the field.

From the electric atmosphere of the Coliseum to the nail-biting finish of the 2017 Rose Bowl, Corso sent us into the games with as much excitement as if it was kickoff. I’m with many of you when I say College GameDay just won’t feel the same without him.

There’s a certain melancholy in reflecting on the end of such a storied career, but I’ll tell you what: Lee Corso has left an indelible mark on college football and its fans. He sure has made my job as a sports writer a tad more colorful over the years.

We all have our favorite Corso moments, and fans of my blog will share that sentiment. If you’ve got stories or memories to share, I’d love to hear them.

For more on Corso’s retirement and his legacy at USC, and to just soak in the nostalgia, LEARN MORE.

On Thursday, it was announced that legendary ESPN College GameDay analyst Lee Corso will be retiring in August. Corso was a noted good luck charm for USC during his career, as the Trojans never lost a game when he donned their headgear.One of Corso’s most iconic moments, however, was one that USC fans would prefer to forget. Prior to the 2006 Rose Bowl, nearly everyone was picking the Trojans to win and claim their third consecutive national championship. Corso, however, went against the grain and picked Texas to pull off the upset.Of course, we all know how that story ended. Vince Young scored the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds, proving Corso correct, handing USC its first loss in over two years, and denying the Trojans a shot at history.

In California, College GameDay starts at 6 AM on Saturdays, with Corso’s head gear pick coming around 9. Many USC fans—myself included—would wake up far earlier than they usually would on Saturday mornings primarily to watch Corso make his selection. College GameDay will not be the same without Corso on the desk, and he will be massively missed by college football fans around the country.Despite this, however, USC fans still have many fond memories of Corso. His final visit to the Coliseum came in 2013, when he correctly picked the Trojans to upset No. 4 Stanford. Corso’s final time putting on the Trojan head gear was prior to the 2017 Rose Bowl, when he correctly picked USC to defeat Penn State.