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Where have you gone, Lee Corso? College football fans falling out of love with Saturday pregame shows

ESPN's College GameDay and FS1's Big Noon Kickoff should leave you feeling excited about the games ahead, but it doesn't feel that way to some.

awfulannouncing.com

Where have you gone, Lee Corso? College football fans falling out of love with Saturday pregame shows

## “I miss when this show was about an old guy putting on funny mascot heads.” That comment came from an X user quoting a video of ESPN’s _College GameDay_ on Saturday. Specifically, a clip of Mississippi Army National Guard helicopters flying overhead as analyst Pat McAfee says, “We certainly appreciate the hell out of the American military. And if you’re not the United States of America and you hear that sound, your a** better run.” > I miss when this show was about an old guy putting on funny mascot heads https://t.co/0rzjB92FIF > > — Velodus✨ (@velodus) September 19, 2026 It was a moment emblematic of _GameDay’s_ recent transformation and a comment that seemed to speak for many college football fans about what they watch Saturday mornings on both ESPN and Fox. _GameDay’s_ evolution was already underway when Lee Corso retired at the beginning of last season. The only remaining member of the show’s original incarnation, Corso became the heart and soul of the Saturday morning program as it grew from its studio-based origins into the on-campus tailgate party it became. As the show became one of ESPN’s iconic programs, Corso became the personification of what it represented: Fun, excitement, and the driving heartbeat of the sport. The former coach quite literally embodied the spirit of college football, ending each show by donning the mascot head of the team he picked to win that day’s big game, providing the perfect complement to the show’s smart analysis and perspective. Unlike similar broadcasters who became living memes, like Dick Vitale or Bill Walton, Corso rarely got in over his head with social media takes and agenda-setting opinions. He was there to talk about college football games, say some catchphrases, wag his pencil, kiss a helmet, and don a mascot head or two. And college football fans loved it. As the Sunshine Scooter’s age and health caught up with him, _GameDay’s_ heart and soul had to step aside and make room for the show’s future. That arrived in the form of Nick Saban and Pat McAfee. The former brought unparalleled coaching acumen while the latter brought an infectious energy that kickstarted a new era. All of that has been reflected in the show’s ratings, which have never been better. Purposefully or coincidentally, the arrival of Saban and McAfee also ushered in a new sensibility that _GameDay_ has carried forward. One that often sets aside Corso’s playful banter for pointed criticism, sky-is-falling commentary, weird fanbase feuds, and the insertion of overtly political segments. There’s a palpable sense that Saban, McAfee, and Kirk Herbstreit often come in with an agenda and use their platform to speak it into existence. > Quick summary in case you missed any of the first hour and a half of Gameday. https://t.co/cDcr9XsI5V pic.twitter.com/gNrncdo0QE > > — CFB Kings (@CFBKings) September 12, 2026 Meanwhile, Fox created _Big Noon Kickoff_ as an alternative for college football fans on Saturday mornings. And for a moment there, they were onto something, challenging ESPN and _GameDay_ for ratings supremacy more than a few times. However, Fox seems to have taken its foot off the gas in recent years, opting instead to focus on hyping up its _Big Noon Saturday_ and Big Ten offerings at the expense of appealing to a wider college football audience. The obvious indicator of that decision is Dave Portnoy, who joined the show last year as a part-time contributor. Portnoy is, in many ways, the anti-Corso. Whereas Corso’s energy was infectious and uplifting, Portnoy’s energy is all about controversy and anger. While Corso’s catchphrases and game picks could get you hyped for any college team, Portnoy is constantly reminding you that your team stinks and his team rules. When the camera would cut to Corso, you smiled. When the camera cuts to Portnoy, you roll your eyes. > FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” is so unserious. 😂 pic.twitter.com/EiipefVFQt > > — College Sports Only (@CSOonX) September 19, 2026 Portnoy isn’t there by chance. You can draw a straight line between him and McAfee in terms of why they’re both there. While their styles and uses differ, they represent the same thing. Loud, outspoken, red-coded talking heads who appeal to 18-35 male audiences and what they apparently want. And while there is more to both shows than their antics, there’s a palpable sense that both programs are bending toward them in ways both obvious and not. None of this is random and, by all accounts, this is what audiences are telling ESPN and Fox they want. And yet, the cumulative effect of these shows remaking themselves into conference-jingoism ecosystems and agenda platforms led by loud, obnoxious personalities seems to be taking its toll on college football fans who just want to watch a show about college football. > Never thought I’d say this, but there’s a gap in the college football Saturday pregame market. > > There’s been a vibe shift in the TV offerings that I just don’t think is working for me (or many others). > > — Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) September 19, 2026 > College Gameday just simply isn’t fun to watch anymore… Regardless of your political affiliation, it’s just not fun to have all these specific viewpoints shoved down your throat. I miss when the stories were fun, not serious and political > > — Jake Thompson (@Jthomp72) September 19, 2026 > I can’t even have College Gameday on in the background while I hang out with my kids on Saturday morning anymore. Lost count of the number of curse words Pat has let out in the first 5 minutes of the show. Ridiculous and unnecessary for a show I used to love so much. > > — Jake Mastroianni (@ShortStopBall) September 19, 2026 > I know the ESPN hype machine says differently, but there’s something different about College Game Day now – and it feels like Rece Davis is not being given enough airtime, or respect. Maybe it’s my own personal prejudice against Pat McAfee, but I just don’t care for him and have… pic.twitter.com/6kD9J4lCVj > > — Buddy Martin (@buddyshow) September 19, 2026 > College GameDay by 2030: So we have Kyle Rittenhouse here to pick some games for us, but first, we sat down with an AI hologram of William F. Buckley to hear what he thinks about the transfer portal. > > — Velodus✨ (@velodus) September 19, 2026 > I hate not enjoying @CollegeGameDay anymore. Drives me nuts. > > — On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) September 19, 2026 > The Barstoolification of it all has been so disappointing to watch. I used to have Gameday on while setting up the smoker for the day but neither it nor Big Noon have anything worth tuning in for. https://t.co/VgzTCurhmd > > — John Sigler (@john_siglerr) September 19, 2026 Opinions vary, of course, and ESPN can point to the ratings at any time to prove why their strategy is working. As for Fox, we know they’ve got no problem with any of it, even if the Barstool partnership hasn’t turned into ratings success. Setting ratings aside for a second, it’s hard not to see how “Barstoolification,” as some have called it, has infected both shows, mirroring the harshness of the larger media ecosystem that currently exists in America. Fun and enjoyment take a backseat to shock, awe, and an “if you don’t like it, change the channel” mentality. In Lee Corso’s day, it was about putting a smile on your face. Now, _GameDay_ and _Big Noon Kickoff_ seem more interested in rubbing your nose in it.

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