In 1996, a young Kirk Herbstreit sat in the ESPN office sweating as he auditioned for College GameDay. Just a year prior, he had been a sideline reporter for the network, his resume respectable but hardly screaming “future broadcasting legend.” But during his first rehearsal, Lee Corso, who by then had established himself as a reputed broadcaster, saw something special in Herbstreit. “I knew, when I first met him, that he would be a star in television,” Corso recalled and he would be proven right. Over the years, Herbstreit not only became a prominent name on GameDay but branched into other roles such as a color commentator with Amazon on TNF, while voicing video games for EA. However, through all these years and the changes that came with them, one thing stood out the most—his deep bond with Corso.

Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso’s friendship goes beyond the bright lights of College GameDay. They have shared GameDay desk on Saturday mornings for nearly three decades and for many college football fans, their chemistry and charisma are the highlight of the show over analyzing the X’s and O’s. Since Corso took Herbstreit under his wing in 1996, he has been a “father figure” to him, helping him navigate the challenges of life. Now, that Corso, 89, is dealing with health issues, Herbstreit is by his side, looking out for him.

On the March 10 episode of the Built 4 More Podcast, Kirk Herbstreit reflected on the biggest lesson he’s learned from College GameDay. And surprisingly, it’s not about football. “You know what people come up to me and say? ‘Thanks for what you do with Lee Corso, and I love your dogs.’ Those are the two things, it has nothing to do with football, nothing to do with X and Os.” said Herbstreit. Despite calling national championship games since 2008, it is his connection with Corso that endears him to the fans.

Corso’s health isn’t what it used to be and being there with him, Herbstreit sees it as his duty to look out for him—not because he has to, but because it’s the right thing to do. “I was always taught to respect my elders. You take care of them when you can,” stated Herbstreit. Look, sitting next to Corso on live TV, he’s simply doing what comes naturally. Although it’s a tricky balance, making sure Lee Corso is supported without drawing attention to it. But for Herbstreit, it’s not about the cameras—it’s about friendship, loyalty, and respect.

However, their friendship started early, but over time, it grew into something much deeper. And Herbstreit explained how it all began and how it became so meaningful by recalling the moment everything changed. “When I first started, I was 26 on College GameDay, and he was helping me. You know, I had so many questions. And I’ll tell you when it changed for us—I just knew him as a guy I worked with on TV. And then I got married. Then I had my twins. They were born at 28 weeks, and they were two pounds each. I could take my ring, [slide it] down their foot, all the way up to their hipbone when they were first born. Their skin was transparent, and you could see their organs when they were in the NICU. And I went through that for about eight weeks,” said the ESPN commentator.

But through the toughest time in Herbstreit’s life, Corso was there. “And I’ll tell you, the guy that probably got me through that as much as anyone was Lee Corso. You know, we’d be out in L.A. shooting a commercial, and I’d be in the back of a car. He and I just happened to be alone, driving, and he was one of the few people I could open my heart up to. And he would just sit and listen, you know? And then he would have—almost like Yoda or Don Corleone—he would listen and listen and listen. Then he would just have like a sentence. After I just poured out 10 or 15 minutes, he would have a sentence or two, and it gave me clarity,” said Herbstreit.

Safe to say, what started as a working relationship became a lifelong bond—one built on trust, wisdom, and unwavering support. And it kept happening, time after time. Look, as his kids grew—2, 3, 4 years old—he leaned on Corso for guidance. And Corso had been through it all before, making him the perfect mentor. Whenever a parenting challenge came up, Kirk’d ask, “Man, I don’t know what to do with this.” And in classic Corso fashion, he’d listen, pause, and drop a few words of wisdom that made everything clearer. So, their bond wasn’t just about football or TV—it was about life, and Lee Corso became like another dad.

But then, everything changed in 2009. Well, Corso suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed, and over the years, other health issues limited his appearances. He could not make the full 3-hour broadcast in the 2022 season, having missed 5 shows. The man who had always been the mentor now needed support of his own. Reflecting on the shift, Kirk said, “When he got older and he had a stroke, it was like our relationship switched, and I became the one that was trying to, you know, just do what I could. But yeah, he’s my guy and has been, you know, since I’ve been on the show.”

While Kirk stands tall in support of Corso, concerns continue to grow for the ESPN legend’s health.

Lee Corso’s health: An update

This season, Lee Corso has been absent from several important College GameDay broadcasts, including the CFP’s first round, due to health problems. And his absence has left a noticeable void on the iconic show. But now, as 2025 unfolds, questions remain about his future with the program. To be honest, fans can only hope to see Corso back where he belongs—on set, calling the shots with his signature flair.

However, during the Rose Bowl showdown between OSU and Oregon, Lee Corso made a rare College GameDay appearance. However, his brief analysis didn’t go as smoothly as fans had hoped. As of now, with concerns growing about his future on the show, ESPN president Burke Magnus shed light on what’s next for Corso in 2025. And during an appearance on SI’s sports media podcast, he laid out the network’s plan for the beloved analyst.

However, Magnus shed light on Corso’s future, emphasizing a thoughtful approach, and he said, “I think we’re going to do what we’ve done now for a couple years running, which is we’re gonna have a conversation with him after the season and see where things are. You know, he’s a special guy. I mean, he’s one of the nicest men you or any of your listeners or anybody on Earth could ever come across. And he’s been absolutely iconic on the show. So we’re going to get through the playoff this year, let everybody decompress, and then we’ll have some time to figure out what we’re going to do for next season.”

So, the message is clear—Corso’s legacy is untouchable, and his future rests in careful hands. Now, the big question—will we hear from Corso this season or not? Let’s wait and see.