Lee Corso’s farewell on College GameDay felt like the end of an era. At 90, Corso has played a variety of roles, including head coach in college football, Florida State ball hawk in the 1950s, and the man who always made people laugh on Saturday mornings. Nearly thirty years after his first headgear selection with Brutus Buckeye in 1996, fans would continue to wonder what mascot he would unveil. As Rece Davis puts it, “There’s no one more responsible for what GameDay became than Lee Corso.”

In a recent X post, Logan B. Robinson wrote, “FSU legend Lee Corso is expected to return to Tallahassee to be honored during FSU-Miami, per the Tallahassee Democrat.” So Lee Corso is finally returning home, and Tallahassee could not have chosen a better stage for it. When FSU faces off against Miami in primetime on October 4, the 90-year-old Seminole legend, who retired from ESPN last month after nearly 40 years on College GameDay, will be at Doak Campbell Stadium. It’s also not just any other game; if both teams continue to win, this will be the rivalry’s first top-10 meeting since 2013, and there’s a legit chance that GameDay itself will return to campus.

But for Corso, this trip is about more than just football. He will go to what is being called the last reunion of “Nugent’s Boys,” the players who played for coach Tom Nugent in the 1950s. Former tackle Bob Swoszowski said, “Lee always promised us when he retired (from ESPN) he’d come to the next reunion, and it looks like he’s following through.” With the group down to less than 10 members, longtime organizer Bob Carnes admitted, “This is probably going to be our last fling.” Corso even contributed financially to help cover the dinner costs, showing how much those bonds still mean after all these years.

FSU legend Lee Corso is expected to return to Tallahassee to be honored during FSU-Miami, per the Tallahassee Democrat. pic.twitter.com/sr8Df0hUW2

— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) September 23, 2025

October 4 is more than just another Miami matchup for Garnet and gold fans. It’s about seeing the “Sunshine Scooter,” a man who once broke the interception record at FSU and went on to become the face of college football Saturdays, back where it all began. As Swoszowski said, “It’s a memory maker for the few of us left. It was such a great era. We played for the love of the game.” Corso’s return ensures that the night is gonna be more than just rankings or rivalries; it’s about honoring a Seminole who never stopped making the game fun.

Lee Corso returns following Pat McAfee’s GameDay dive

After an emotional farewell to Lee Corso, Pat McAfee wasted no time in adding his own touch to College GameDay. Corso handed the torch to McAfee with his approval after bowing out with his last choice of Brutus headgear in the Texas vs Ohio State opener. Pat, however, made his debut truly memorable. He went into full “McAfee mode” during Miami vs. Florida, energizing the crowd, tearing off his gear, and diving into the pool. After shouting, “I think the U is back,” he yelled, “Give me the Hurricanes!” as the crowd broke out. It was bold, chaotic, and made Corso laugh from a distance. But the 90-year-old acknowledged that he was a little worried, telling McAfee that he was just relieved that he “didn’t get electrocuted.”

The two had a heartfelt phone conversation after the show. “Hey, Pat. Great job. It was terrific,” Corso said, reassuring his successor that the torch had been handed to the right guy. McAfee, usually the one bringing the laughs, got really emotional. “Coach, I thank you so much for calling and saying that… You’ve done such amazing things for this sport, obviously for this show. I’m just gonna try to pay tribute, man, and do what the show deserves, if that’s alright by you.” Corso gave him the nod, saying, “I wanted to let you know that I passed the torch on to a great guy.”

But Corso, being Corso, is not just fading into the background. The “Sunshine Scooter” still has a lot of love for the sport, even though Rece Davis vowed that no one else would ever touch the headgear tradition, saying, “That, to me, is his signature moment, and it should stay with him.” He’s already scheduled to return to Tallahassee for FSU-Miami in October after witnessing McAfee’s pool diving antics. Corso will be back in the stands, enjoying college football on his own terms, and grinning at the circus he helped create while McAfee continues to make literal splashes.