Barstool’s Dave Portnoy pulled from Fox’s ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ appearances, AP source says
Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports Exit Fox’s ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ Lineup
Bharatmorningnews.com – Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports are no longer expected to appear on Fox’s college football pregame program, Big Noon Kickoff, ending a short-lived on-air arrangement that began last fall.
A person familiar with the decision said the change has not yet been formally announced and requested anonymity because details had not been made public. Fox Sports declined to comment, while Ohio State directed questions involving Portnoy to Fox Sports.
The development removes one of college football’s most outspoken media figures from a show built around the Big Ten’s marquee Saturday matchup. Big Noon Kickoff is Fox’s pregame broadcast, regularly airing from campuses ahead of the network’s featured noon Eastern game.
Portnoy Blames Ohio State Pressure
Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and a University of Michigan graduate, addressed the situation on social media. He said Ohio State and Buckeyes coach Ryan Day had pushed Fox Sports to remove Barstool from the program.
“Juice wasn't worth the squeeze and frankly I don't blame them. Huge dollars at stake and you have Cryin Ryan throwing temper tantrums and making threats every few days on something I said,” Portnoy said in his post.
The comment reflects Portnoy’s highly visible antagonism toward Ohio State, one of Michigan’s fiercest rivals. He has frequently targeted the Buckeyes in his public commentary, making his presence around Ohio State football especially contentious.
Portnoy said last year that Ohio State had prevented him from entering Ohio Stadium before the Buckeyes’ season-opening game against Texas. Ohio State’s position was that planning discussions with Fox had established that only the show’s primary desk team would be inside the stadium, and Portnoy was not included in that group.
A Brief Partnership With Fox Sports
Barstool Sports joined the program following a partnership announcement with Fox Sports last fall. Portnoy’s appearances added a personality-driven element to a broadcast that otherwise relies on former players, analysts and traditional studio coverage.
The regular Big Noon Kickoff panel includes host Rob Stone along with analysts Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram and Chris “The Bear” Fallica. The show is a central part of Fox’s college football strategy, particularly as the network continues to feature Big Ten games in its most prominent Saturday window.
Fox has substantial financial and corporate ties to the conference. The network is the largest payer in a seven-year Big Ten media agreement shared with NBC and CBS. Fox also holds a 61% ownership stake in the Big Ten Network.
Those relationships make the atmosphere surrounding conference schools, coaches and game-day access especially significant. College football broadcasts rely on coordination between networks, athletic departments and host venues, covering everything from production logistics to where talent can work on campus. The Portnoy dispute highlights how quickly a high-profile personality can become part of those broader negotiations.
What the Change Means for the Show
The decision does not alter the core format of Big Noon Kickoff, which remains centered on game previews, player analysis, conference storylines and live campus coverage. Its main desk lineup continues to include familiar former college football stars and longtime television analysts.
For Portnoy and Barstool Sports, the departure ends a television opportunity that placed the company directly within one of the sport’s most visible weekly broadcasts. Barstool’s audience is accustomed to Portnoy’s unfiltered sports commentary, including his rivalry-based jabs at programs such as Ohio State.
That approach can generate attention, but it can also create tension when media personalities become part of an event’s official television presence. In this instance, Portnoy’s public conflict with Ohio State became intertwined with the practical questions surrounding access and the production of a major network pregame show.
Ohio State’s rivalry with Michigan provides the backdrop for much of the friction. The programs compete annually in one of college football’s most closely followed matchups, and the rivalry extends beyond the field through alumni, fans, coaches and media voices. Portnoy’s Michigan connection has made him a conspicuous participant in that broader debate.
No further details were provided about whether Barstool Sports could return to Fox programming in another capacity or whether the decision applies only to Big Noon Kickoff. For now, the show’s established desk team will carry on without Portnoy’s appearances as the college football season continues.
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