Why did Lee Corso miss ESPN College GameDay show in Week 6? Rece Davis offers insight on the situation

For Week 6, "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" is heading to Berkeley for a Saturday showdown between the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes and the California Golden Bears. Hosted by Rece Davis, the popular pregame show will air from 9 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN and ESPNU.

But there's some buzz leading up to the event—ESPN PR's weekly release left out any mention of Lee Corso, sparking speculation.

Is Lee Corso coming on ESPN College GameDay?

According to an ESPN statement, it’s likely Lee Corso won’t make the trip to Berkeley or get to do his signature headgear pick. At the start of the broadcast, Rece Davis addressed Corso's absence:

“Lee Corso a little bit under the weather,” Davis said. ‘We expect to get him back soon. I know LC is watching. ‘Speedy recovery, my friend. You’ll be back at it soon.’”

Corso, a beloved figure in college football, has been a staple on "GameDay" every Saturday, sharing his predictions and famously picking game-winners by donning team headgear.

Corso celebrated his 89th birthday in August. Although health issues limited his appearances last season, fans were thrilled to see him on set for Week 1 of the 2024 season.

For now, host Davis will lead the charge, alongside analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban. College football insider Pete Thamel, betting expert ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin, and reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims round out the team.

Lee Corso an iconic figure of College GameDay

Lee Corso has been a College GameDay regular since 1987, becoming a household name along the way.

This season, he selected Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, and Notre Dame as his final four in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Corso believes that the Bulldogs and Longhorns will meet in the national championship, with Texas eventually winning the title.

Before joining ESPN as an analyst, Corso had a coaching career, leading teams at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.

This week's "College GameDay" will take place at Memorial Glade on the UC Berkeley campus, with the pit opening at 6:30 a.m. ET.

Miami last appeared on "GameDay" in 2020, when they fell to Clemson. Meanwhile, Cal’s last GameDay feature was back in 2015, a tough loss to Utah, 30-24.