Career Timeline of Lee Corso: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Lee Corso made an impact.

Lee Corso is an American sports broadcaster and college football analyst, best known for his long-standing role on ESPN's College GameDay since 1987. A former coach, Corso transitioned to broadcasting and became a popular figure for his enthusiastic personality, signature headgear predictions, and insightful commentary on college football. His on-air antics and pre-game analysis have made him a beloved and recognizable personality in the world of college sports broadcasting.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1956: Played in the Blue-Gray Game

In 1956, Lee Corso was the starting quarterback for the South team in the Blue-Gray Game, which his team lost.

1962: Recruited Darryl Hill to Maryland

In 1962, Lee Corso recruited Darryl Hill to transfer to Maryland, making him the first African-American football player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

1966: Defensive Backs Coach at Navy

In 1966, Lee Corso became the defensive backs coach at Navy.

1969: Head Football Coach at Louisville

In 1969, Lee Corso became the head football coach at the University of Louisville.

1970: Louisville Bowl Game Appearance

In 1970, Lee Corso coached Louisville to only its second-ever bowl game.

1972: Hired by Indiana

In 1972, after taking Louisville to its second-ever bowl game in 1970, Lee Corso was hired by Indiana University Bloomington as head coach.

1973: Head Football Coach at Indiana

In 1973, Lee Corso started his tenure as the head football coach at Indiana University Bloomington.

1976: Took a team photo during a game

During a game in the 1976 season, Lee Corso called a timeout after his team scored a touchdown early in the second quarter and took a team photo with the scoreboard filling the background, which read: Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.

1979: Holiday Bowl victory

In 1979, Lee Corso coached Indiana to a 7-4 regular season record and a victory in the Holiday Bowl against the previously unbeaten BYU Cougars.

1980: Second winning season

In 1980, Lee Corso led the Hoosiers to their second winning season.

1982: End of Tenure at Indiana

In 1982, Lee Corso's tenure as head football coach at Indiana University Bloomington came to an end.

1984: Head Football Coach at Northern Illinois University

In 1984, Lee Corso served as the head football coach at Northern Illinois University.

1985: Head Coach for Orlando Renegades

In 1985, Lee Corso became the head coach for the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League (USFL).

1986: USFL Suspended Operations

In 1986, Lee Corso was slated to return to the Orlando Renegades, but the league suspended operations before the season began.

1987: Joins ESPN's College GameDay

In 1987, Lee Corso became an analyst on ESPN's College GameDay program, which began that year.

1993: College GameDay Originated On-Site

Since 1993, ESPN's College GameDay program has originated from the site of one of the day's big games, with Lee Corso as an analyst.

October 5, 1996: First Headgear Prediction

On October 5, 1996, prior to the Ohio State-Penn State game in Columbus, Ohio, Lee Corso began his tradition of making mascot headgear predictions on College GameDay by donning the OSU "Brutus Buckeye" mascot head.

2001: Soybean Crayon Effort

In 2001, Lee Corso spearheaded an effort to create a crayon completely out of soybeans while working as Director of Business Development for Dixon Ticonderoga.

2006: Appeared in NCAA Football titles

In 2006, Lee Corso appeared in EA Sports' NCAA Football titles along with Herbstreit and play-by-play man Brad Nessler.

2006: Nike Commercial Cameo

In 2006, Lee Corso made a brief cameo in a Nike commercial featuring the fictional Briscoe High School football team.

2011: Last appeared in NCAA Football 11

Lee Corso last appeared in EA Sports' NCAA Football 11, as he does not do play-by-play in this game.

November 1, 2014: 250th Headgear Pick

On November 1, 2014, Lee Corso made his 250th headgear pick, TCU's Super Frog, before the TCU-WVU game in Morgantown, West Virginia.

September 16, 2023: 400th Headgear Pick

On September 16, 2023, Lee Corso made his 400th headgear pick, Colorado's Chip the Buffalo, before the Buffaloes' game versus the Colorado State Rams in Boulder, Colorado.

December 9, 2024: Headgear Pick Record

As of December 9, 2024, teams chosen by Lee Corso with his headgear picks have had a record of 284 wins to 142 losses, producing a win percentage of 66.67%.