ESPN College Game Day heads to Big Ten Country on Saturday for a huge matchup between No. 5 Indiana and No. 2 Ohio State. And another episode of College Game Day marks a new headgear choice for beloved analyst Lee Corso in a huge match close to his heart.

Corso, 89, has been an analyst College Game Day since its first season on the air in 1987. And over the years, the former college and professional football coach has become part of the Saturday morning routine of countless sports fans.

College Game Day first began broadcasting in an ESPN studio, but in 1993 began traveling to various schools, as they currently do. And then the show, with a backdrop of rabid college football fans holding up funny signs and lots of big personalities doing their analysis, really took off.

As part of the show’s grand finale, Corso, with fans of the host school roaring in his ear, makes his choice for the featured match of the week, teases his selection for excitement and then announces the choice by displaying an oversized mascot head or football to attract. helmet, to the delight or outrage of the crowd behind him. The former Louisville coach first started making choices in 1996 by donning a mascot or helmet headgear.

It makes for excellent and highly entertaining television. Over the years, many sports fans have started the day on Saturdays by tuning into ESPNCollege Game Dayshortly before noon ET, traditionally when Corso makes his choice between the host school and his opponent.

So if you missed Corso’s pick for the Indiana-Ohio State game, or if you are and want a more detailed account of the selection – as well as Corso’s past selections – look no further than this article.

First, let’s break down the matchup.

Featured Game of the Week: No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State

In the biggest game of the year for No. 5 Indiana, the Curt Cignetti-led Hoosiers travel to The Horseshoe for a game with huge implications for the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff picture. Indiana has beaten Ohio State just 12 times in the 97 times they have played, and the Hoosiers haven’t won since 1988. If they want to reverse that trend, the Hoosiers will need a big performance from quarterback Kurtis Rourke. , as long as they don’t make him sit before the game, of course! (Wink, wink). Rourke has missed just one game this season due to a thumb injury, and he has been everything the Hoosiers hoped for when he announced his move to the program in December 2023. He has completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 2,410 yards. , 21 touchdowns and four interceptions, good for the second-best QBR in the country. If Rourke wants to have a big game, he’ll have to do it against the Buckeyes’ No. 6 passing defense. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers’ stout defense will have its hands full against one of the most balanced offenses in the country. When asked at a press conference on National Signing Day in December what his message is to recruits, Cignetti simply said, “I win, Google me.” A win against the Buckeyes in this spot would certainly be the top search result for Cignetti’s name, and a huge message to recruits about the Hoosiers’ status as a national power. Oh, and it would almost ensure that Indiana will play in the Big Ten Championship Game vs. Oregon.

On the other hand, it’s a strength-on-strength matchup as the Buckeyes’ rushing attack, which produces 183.8 yards per game thanks to the two-headed monster of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, goes up against No. 10 Indiana. ranked rush defense, which allows just 72.2 yards per play on the ground. Whichever unit has the upper hand will likely go a long way in determining the outcome of this game. Indiana’s defense has been excellent at limiting big plays, but they will be going up against one of the nation’s best big-play receivers, freshman Jeremiah Smith, whose 17.7 yards per reception ranks third on the conference. How well the Hoosiers limit — or don’t limit — Smith and senior Emeka Egbuka will also have a major impact on the outcome of the game. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard played very well in each of the Buckeyes’ two biggest games of the year so far, against Oregon and Penn State. Another great performance from Howard vs. Indiana would secure the Buckeyes a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

That said, let’s take a look at Corso’s history of picking these teams.

Lee Corso’s previous picks for Indiana, Ohio State

Corso will make his 424th headgear selection on Saturday and he will have to choose between the Hoosiers, whom he coached from 1973 to 1982, or the Buckeyes, his first-ever headgear selection and a team he has picked more than any other team. College Game Day history.

Ohio State has appeared on the show 62 times, with Corso picking the Buckeyes 43 times.

Meanwhile, Corso picked Indiana once earlier this season, a game the Hoosiers won.

In terms of memorable choices, we’ll take a trip down memory lane and look back at another of Corso’s picks from this year, considering how near and dear this week’s show will be to him.

First, in a blast from the past, here’s Corso picking the Buckeyes to beat Notre Dame in South Bend way back in 1996, the year he started making picks. He didn’t even have a headgear yet!

But it was still the same old Corso.

“Forget all that stuff,” Corso said of Kirk Herbstreit’s analysis. “Lou Holtz is a Buckeye. Notre Dame is ready. I love the Irish!’

Just as Corso said that, he chose Ohio State.

For Indiana, look no further than Corso’s pick this year in Week 9. After being honored by the mayor of Bloomington, Corso was ready to make his pick for the Indiana-Washington game.

“It’s clear who I choose,” Corso said. He then donned the hat he wore to commemorate Indiana’s first-ever bowl game victory in 1979, a game in which Corso coached the Hoosiers to victory.

Corso will have to choose between two of his loves on Saturday. Who will he choose?

The moment of truth

When it was Corso’s turn to choose, he said, “I haven’t had the courage to choose against my first love in the state of Ohio in years.” So, would he do it today?

Corso’s chosen team

“But not so fast, my friend. Indiana upsets them,” Corso said as he placed an Indiana helmet on his head. Although somewhat surprising, the Hoosiers also hold a special place in Corso’s heart. Can they ease the upset on the road against the Buckeyes?

Corso brings an 8-2 record into Saturday’s selection. After incorrectly picking LSU to beat Alabama in Week 11, Corso got back in the saddle with a win in Week 13, correctly selecting the Georgia Bulldogs to beat Tennessee.