Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is set to make his debut as one of the hosts of Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff. However, he faces a pretty significant problem ahead of his debut.
Over the summer, Portnoy, a noted University of Michigan alum and unabashed Michigan football fan, was announced as a new panelist on Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff pregame show, which broadcasts from campus sites on Saturday mornings during football seasons.
Given Fox’s contract with the Big Ten, Big Noon Kickoff often finds itself at The Ohio State University, one of the top programs and biggest brands in all of college football. It sounds like that’s going to be a problem going forward.
Dave Portnoy Joins ‘Big Noon Kickoff’
Earlier this summer, Portnoy was officially added to the cast of “Big Noon Kickoff,” though he admitted earlier this month that he didn’t know exactly what his role would be.
“If we’re being honest, I don’t even know how they’re using me yet,” Portnoy said via Awful Announcing earlier this month. “I don’t know that I’m on the panel… I’m going to be there every week. I will say, it appears to me by the media coverage people think I am the center of attention, but I don’t think that’s how it’s going. I don’t know how we’re being used yet.”
His role may not be solidified just yet, but it’s now becoming clear where he *won’t* appear.
Ohio State Reporter Suggests Portnoy Ban
On Monday afternoon, noted Ohio State football insider and longtime reporter Austin Ward of 97.1 The Fan in Columbus reported on his show, The Beat with Austin & Birm, that Portnoy is “not welcome” in Ohio Stadium.
“There’s a legitimate conversation going about if Big Noon thinks that they’re gonna continue to be able to finish their shoe inside The Horseshoe, Dave Portnoy is not welcome in The Horseshoe. Like, period,” Ward said on his show.
Big Noon Kickoff often finishes its pregame show inside the stadium of its on-campus site just before the start of the game. With Big Noon heading to Columbus for the season-opening showdown between Ohio State and Texas, that could be a problem for Portnoy.
Portnoy Won’t Appear in Ohio Stadium
On Monday evening, Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports added to Ward’s comments, reporting more definitively that Portnoy will not be present in Ohio Stadium for the end portion of the show.
“Portnoy will still appear on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, but not for the end of the show inside the stadium, a source said,” Glasspiegel reported. “One source said Fox anticipated having issues with Portnoy and Ohio State and that the network’s original plan did not include him entering the stadium.”
It’s not clear why exactly Ohio State objects to Portnoy’s presence aside from his Michigan affiliation, but it is clear that he will not be in Ohio Stadium.
Portnoy Offers His Reaction
Following the report from Front Office Sports, Portnoy had a rather cheeky reaction, posting a photo of himself wearing a fake mustache, implying that he was prepared to sneak into the stadium amid the apparent ban.
https://t.co/iZtAt2rGDw pic.twitter.com/V5NotTorNy
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) August 26, 2025
Infamous Michigan staffer Connor Stallions, who was the ringleader of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal that made headlines in 2023, had a comical reaction, too, asking Portnoy if he needed tickets.
A Problem Going Forward
This could be a significant problem for Portnoy and Big Noon Kickoff going forward.
As previously mentioned, Big Noon regularly travels to Columbus ahead of Ohio State games. In fact, Big Noon has broadcast its show from Ohio State more than it has from any other location in the country.
If Portnoy is truly banned from even setting foot inside Ohio Stadium, that could limit his ability to do his job for Fox.
