College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will kick off the 2025 college football season in Columbus, Ohio, before the National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns in a College Football Playoff Semifinal rematch. Live from outside St. John Arena on Ohio State's campus to start GameDay's 39th season – the unofficial start to college football Saturdays each week. 

The visit to Ohio State marks the 26th time the Buckeyes will host College GameDay, extending their own record for the most by any program, and will be the first time since 2014 that the reigning National Champions will be featured on the first GameDay road show of the season. Ohio State has a 45-21 record when appearing on the pregame show and is 19-6 when hosting College GameDay. Overall, this will be the fifth meeting all-time between Texas and Ohio State on the program, with the series tied 2-2.

The show marks a send-off for one of college football's most beloved personalities as Lee Corso makes his final appearance after 38 seasons on College GameDay. Corso has been part of the show since it debuted in 1987, and he has entertained crowds on more than 70 college campuses and other game sites. Entering his final telecast, Corso has made 430 headgear picks all-time, including picking the Buckeyes a record 45 times. The 90-year-old will make his final headgear pick back where he began the tradition, donning Ohio State's Brutus Buckeye mascot head in Columbus on October 5, 1996.