Sports

OSU Barring Dave Portnoy From Entering Ohio Stadium With Rest Of ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ Crew: Report

#Dave Portnoy
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Earlier this summer, Fox announced a partnership with Barstool Sports that would see founder Dave Portnoy, and other Barstool personalities, appear on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff. Despite the season not even starting yet, the partnership is already running into issues.

According to reports, when the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns face off on Saturday, August 30, Dave Portnoy will not be allowed to enter Ohio Stadium with the rest of the Big Noon Kickoff crew.

While Front Office Sports reports that Portnoy will still appear on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff that day, he will not feature in the end of the show segment from inside the stadium.

Ohio State University barring Dave Portnoy from entering their stadium with the rest of the Big Noon Kickoff crew

“The Barstool College Football Show, which on a number of occasions will lead into Big Noon, will no longer run as Barstool previously planned, a source said. In announcing the partnership, Fox said that the Barstool show will be on the road with Big Noon for ‘select’ dates.”

“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.” [via Front Office Sports]

At the time the deal between Fox and Barstool was announced, it was reported that Fox wants Portnoy to be a “Big 10 fanboy” and serve a similar function to Paul Finebaum at ESPN, who essentially serves as a cheerleader for the SEC.

Given that Portnoy is barred from entering the stadium for the August 30 game against the Texas Longhorns, that would likely remain the case on November 1 when OSU hosts Penn State (if that’s where Big Noon Kickoff winds up that weekend). Luckily for Portnoy, however, his alma matter Michigan will be hosting “The Game” this year between the historic rivals on November 29.

Update: Yahoo Sports’ claims that FOX decided that Portnoy would not appear on the main desk of Big Noon Kickoff and was not banned by Ohio State.