The former Colorado alum and sports broadcaster for ESPN and former College GameDay from 1990 to 2014, Chris Fowler, was all drained in “golden treasures.” But as he rifled through a set of unexpected artifacts from his past, the memories took center stage in a way that even he wasn’t prepared for. It was a trip back in time, a collection of relics from his earliest days at ESPN, a golden-age time capsule that had him grinning like a freshman on his first College GameDay road trip. Yet, while Fowler’s trip down memory lane was filled with laughter and nostalgia, it came with a bittersweet undertone—because one familiar face, the heartbeat of College GameDay, faces an uncertain future.

It all started with a simple Instagram post. Chris Fowler, now one of ESPN’s premier play-by-play voices, had received six cardboard boxes that arrived from “the mother ship,” as he called them, from the network. Inside? A treasure trove of history. Among the relics were old notebooks, stuffed animals, CU Buffs memorabilia, and even a stack of three-quarter-inch videotapes that, as Fowler joked, “no player that could play this exists on the planet.” However, one particular image stood out: a throwback of Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit—who, according to Fowler, appeared to be about 12 years old—and Lee Corso, all dressed in their finest.

“85% sure Mr. Corso still owns that drip,” he quipped in his teaser Instagram story. Then came the full unboxing. In a long video, Chris Fowler marveled at the randomness of the keepsakes ESPN had preserved, from bobbleheads to magazines covering Colorado’s lone national championship, a title he was on-site to cover back in 1990. “This is out of this treasure trove time capsule,” he said. And right in the middle of it all, Lee Corso made a brief but hilarious cameo in the video—a reminder of the countless Saturdays spent together, the irreplaceable chemistry that made GameDay an institution. But while Fowler’s past was neatly packaged in those boxes, Corso’s future remains anything but certain.

The signs have been there. The 88-year-old Corso, a fixture on College GameDay since its inception, has had a difficult few months. His on-air presence, once defined by his booming voice and larger-than-life antics, has become noticeably strained. During the College Football Playoff semifinals, he nearly fell backward while dancing with Notre Dame’s mascot.

On another broadcast, his speech was difficult to understand, even for Herbstreit, who has been his right-hand man for decades. The moments have been challenging to observe, and fans are starting to express what ESPN is reluctant to publicly: it might be time for Corso to step down.

Yet, there has been no official word from the network or Corso himself. Fowler, for all his reminiscing, remained noticeably silent on the matter. He’s been around long enough to know that certain conversations aren’t meant for Instagram posts or casual interviews.

Meanwhile, Chris Fowler himself finds his own name at the center of fan discussions for a very different reason. Usually praised for his professionalism and unbiased calls, he has been accused—fairly or unfairly—of favoring Ohio State in the CFP National Championship over Notre Dame. Fans have dissected his commentary, convinced that his longtime partnership with Herbstreit, a former Buckeye, has subtly tilted his perspective.

That might seem a bit far-fetched, but some people are convinced that’s the truth.

Chris Fowler and Mr. Corso in the middle of nostalgia and harsh reality

Saturday night’s CFP final game brought more than just on-field drama—it also sparked some heated debates in the broadcast booth. Fans were not shy about calling out ESPN’s Chris Fowler, especially after he repeatedly pointed out that Notre Dame’s touchdown drive was aided by a pass interference call. By the third quarter, social media was buzzing with frustration.

“Chris Fowler with a HORRIBLE call for that touchdown,” one fan ranted. “He breaks two tackles, and he doesn’t get excited until he’s almost in the end zone. Realized right before he crossed the goal line that he needs to not be biased.” Meanwhile, longtime ESPN icon Lee Corso found himself at the center of a different conversation—his future with College GameDay. With concerns about his age becoming more prevalent, ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, confirmed that a postseason discussion with Corso is on the agenda.

“Listen, I think we’re going to do what we’ve done now for a couple of years running, which is have a conversation with him after the season, see where things are,” Magnus said via On3. If this is truly it for Corso, it’s been one heck of a ride.