Former college football coach and legendary TV analyst Lee Corso has called it a career. The 90-year-old sat at ESPN’s “College Gameday” desk for the final time on Aug. 30.
The iconic pregame show aired from Columbus before the highly anticipated Week 1 showdown between the N0. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 1 Texas Longhorns, led by quarterback Arch Manning.
Everything came full-circle, when Corso successfully selected the correct mascot headgear to wear, choosing Brutus Buckeye at Ohio State, where the legendary headgear pick segment was launched. The Buckeyes won 14-7 over the Longhorns.
Corso now sets sail into retirement and spending more time with his family. Here’s what to know about his background, wife and family.
1. Corso Was Born in Illinois to Italian Immigrants
Corso was born in Cicero, Illinois, on Aug. 7, 1935. Corso’s parents, Alessandro and Irma, were Italian immigrants. His father left Italy at age 15 to escape the turmoil of World War I.
At age 10, Corso’s family moved to Miami and he later attended Miami Jackson High School, where he played quarterback.
A promising baseball prospect, Corso was offered a $5,000 bonus to join the Brooklyn Dodgers as a shortstop. Instead, he opted for college, playing both football and baseball at Florida State University.
After college, Corso became a football coach, with stops at Maryland, Navy, Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.
2. Corso Married Wife, Betsy Youngblood, in 1957
Lee Corso has been married to Betsy Youngblood since 1957, when he was in his early 20s. The couple has four children and ten grandchildren, and their marriage has spanned nearly 70 years.
Youngblood has supported Corso throughout his coaching and broadcasting career, including helping him recover from a stroke in 2009. Though she has mostly stayed out of the public eye, Corso spoke about their relationship during the 2025 ESPYs.
“My wife, Betsy, and I have been married for 69 years, and I just wanted to thank her for loving me and allowing me to love her for all those years,” Corso said.
3. Corso Has Three Sons
Corso and Youngblood share three sons: Dan, David, and Stephen.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Dan works in the sports industry as president of the Atlanta Sports Council, where he helps attract events to Atlanta.
When ESPN announced that Corso’s final broadcast would be the Ohio State vs. Texas, Dan told the Tallahassee Democrat that he was excited for the matchup, but wished ESPN had chosen Florida State’s game against Alabama instead.
“He was consistent with his love for FSU and the pageantry and tradition of college football, and on a weekly basis for 38 years reminded everyone that college football is a great form of entertainment,” Dan told the Tallahassee Democrat. “As a family of Seminoles, yes, it was disappointing, but at the same time, it will be fun to watch his last GameDay and headgear in Columbus.”
Corso’s other son, Steve, played as a wide receiver under his father’s coaching at Indiana in 1979 and 1980, appearing in 22 games and recording 537 receiving yards with four touchdowns.
Not much is publicly available about son David.
GettyCOLUMBUS, OHIO – AUGUST 30: Nick Saban talks with Lee Corso as he arrives on the set of College GameDay at Ohio Stadium on August 30, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
4. Corso Has One Daughter
Corso and Youngblood’s daughter is Diane. She is a teacher, author, and advocate for wellness and eating disorder awareness, drawing from her own past experiences with these challenges.
Diane authored “The Uncomfortable Truth,” a book that explores the harsh realities of living with adult anorexia and the resolve required to overcome it. Diane’s website describes her as an “inadvertent expert on eating disorders,” reflecting her personal experiences with the condition, including during her pregnancy with triplets.
5. Corso Has 10 Grandchildren and a Great-Grandchild
Corso has ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In May 2025, Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando shared a social media post featuring Corso, revealing that his grandsons would be joining the school in a fun nod with mascot headgear.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, at least two of Lee Corso’s grandchildren—children of his son Dan—also graduated from Florida State, following in the longtime broadcaster’s footsteps. The most recent Seminole in the Corso family, Julianna Corso, graduated in 2012, with her grandfather serving as her commencement speaker.
In October 2024, during the college football season, Lee wore a pin in support of his granddaughter, who was battling brain cancer and had recently undergone tumor removal. He did not disclose which granddaughter was affected.
“She’s all right now,” Corso said in the clip. “In support of brain cancer and research, I’m wearing this pin.”
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