{"id":992,"date":"2025-08-27T15:48:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/podcasts\/?p=992"},"modified":"2025-08-27T15:48:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:48:06","slug":"dave-portnoy-big-noon-kickoff-and-the-ohio-state-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/podcasts\/dave-portnoy-big-noon-kickoff-and-the-ohio-state-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Dave Portnoy, Big Noon Kickoff, and the Ohio State Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

The college football season hasn\u2019t even officially kicked off, yet controversy is already swirling around Fox Sports\u2019 Big Noon Kickoff<\/em> show. With ESPN\u2019s College GameDay<\/em> and Fox\u2019s flagship pregame program both set to broadcast live from Columbus, OH Saturday, all eyes were already on Ohio State.<\/p>\n

But, the spotlight has shifted to the newest addition to Fox\u2019s panel\u2014Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy\u2014and whether he\u2019s welcome inside Ohio Stadium for Saturday’s massive showdown<\/a> with #1 Texas?<\/p>\n

Fox Sports Welcomes Portnoy and Controversy That Follows<\/h2>\n

Fox Sports Lineup For Saturday’s 2025 Debut of Big Noon Kickoff<\/h3>\n

Fox announced earlier this summer that Portnoy would join host Rob Stone, alongside analysts Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram, Urban Meyer, and Brady Quinn on their coverage. The move immediately drew attention, as Portnoy has long been vocal in his criticism of Ohio State, despite hailing from Boston. Rumors began to swirl this week before the Buckeyes opening game to defend their 2024 title that Ohio State had banned Portnoy from appearing on the set inside the stadium for Saturday.<\/p>\n

Did Ohio State or Did They Not?<\/h3>\n

Ohio State has denied issuing any ban, with a spokesman clarifying that the decision was made by Fox executives. According to SI.com’s Ross Dellenger,<\/a> Fox determined Portnoy would not be seated at the main desk, and those contributors who aren\u2019t part of the primary panel, typically don\u2019t appear on the on-field set. Officially, the network framed it as a programming choice, though speculation grows that Ohio State\u2019s athletic department quietly influenced the move to preserve its relationship with Fox and ensure continued access to head coach Ryan Day and his players throughout the rest of the year for Fox.<\/p>\n

Critics, however, view the situation as weak on Ohio State\u2019s part. \u201cThis gives Big Noon<\/em> all the publicity they could have asked for,\u201d noted\u00a0 T.J. Rives in our “Last Word on Sports Media Podcast<\/a>. \u201cIf you\u2019re already worried about Portnoy stirring the pot, you\u2019re playing right into his hands,\u201d Rives continued.<\/p>\n

Hear T.J. and co-host Mike Gill discuss more on the debut controversy<\/a> on the pod by clicking play below:<\/p>\n