Lee Corso sends message to Oregon with College GameDay absence set to continue

“College GameDay” presenter Lee Corso is disappointed he will miss out on seeing Oregon mascot The Duck as his absence from the show continues .

Last week, ESPN's "College GameDay" was filmed live from Berkeley, setting the stage for a battle between the University of California and No. 8 Miami - but panel mainstay Corso was away . The 89-year-old’s wit and insight on "College GameDay" have endeared him to college football enthusiasts.

Corso is the last remaining figure still on “ College GameDay” who was there for its ESPN debut in 1987. He has been a crucial component in the show since, including in the landmark decision to take the show on the road each week.

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On Friday, host Rece Davis announced that Corso won’t be on the show in Eugene for No. 2 Ohio State vs No. 3 Oregon on Saturday. It will serve as the second straight week Corso is absent after he missed Miami’s win over California.

Corso has previously said Eugene was his favorite GameDay location before. With his absence from the upcoming show confirmed, Davis said: “I talked to him earlier and he said he was sorry he is missing his best friend, The Duck.”

Davis added that Corso is improving, but he is still not feeling 100 percent. During Week 6, Davis informed viewers and acknowledged Corso’s absence. “Lee Corso a little bit under the weather,” Davis said. “We expect to get him back soon.”

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Davis shared a hopeful message, implying an anticipation of Corso's quick return: “I know LC is watching. Speedy recovery, my friend. You'll be back at it soon.”

Famed for his infectious energy and tradition of donning a mascot head from one of the featured schools, Corso has missed several recent episodes of “College Gameday”. Notably, he skipped the season opener between Georgia Tech and Florida State held in Dublin, Ireland.

He also missed a game at Utah in October 2023 due to a “family matter,” along with at least three games in 2022 due to health issues. Heading into the 2024 college football season, there were rumors Corso may stand down from “College Gameday” following ESPN’s hire of prominent former coach Nick Saban.

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