Lee Corso is set to make his final headgear pick as an analyst for College GameDay on ESPN ahead of Ohio State’s season opener against Texas at Ohio Stadium. As the football community prepares for No. 3 Ohio State to face No. 1 Texas, speculation has grown over who will serve as the celebrity guest picker alongside Corso during this notable enshrinement in sports broadcasting.
Among the candidates discussed are Travis and Jason Kelce, both graduates of Cleveland Heights High School. Jason joined Monday Night Countdown last year, while Travis, whose Kansas City Chiefs recently became the subject of an ESPN documentary, has also engaged in name, image, and likeness activities connected to Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith through his brand Tru Kolors and a collaboration with American Eagle. If the Kelce brothers appear, there may be an invitation extended to Travis’s new fiancée, Taylor Swift.
Another possibility is Alison Herbstreit, wife of Kirk Herbstreit. She played a key role in launching Corso’s headgear segment by helping College GameDay secure Brutus Buckeye headgear for the first time in 1996 when she was a former Ohio State cheerleader.
Eli and Peyton Manning are also considered potential guest pickers despite not having direct ties to Ohio State or Texas. Their influence in football is significant, and Arch Manning—Eli and Peyton’s nephew—is set to start at quarterback for Texas. This connection might prompt ESPN to feature Eli and Peyton on set.
Professional golfers Scottie Scheffler and Jack Nicklaus have been mentioned as options after Scheffler won his second consecutive title at Nicklaus’s PGA Tour event earlier this year. While speaking with media after that tournament, Scheffler was noncommittal about returning to Ohio for the season opener; however, if available, both could appear due to their respective Longhorn and Buckeye backgrounds.
Other prominent names under consideration include NBA star LeBron James—a native of Akron who supported Ohio State during January’s national championship game—and Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio State graduate who voiced his support for the team throughout last season.
Musician Machine Gun Kelly has also been listed due to his Cleveland ties and his anthem being featured in ESPN’s college football coverage this year.
Lastly, former Buckeyes could fill the spot since many are available before NFL games commence next week. This group includes Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Steelers rookie Will Howard among others returning to Columbus.
