Dave Portnoy’s Alleged Employment at Fox Sports Sparks Dispute with Ohio State Supporters

Dave Portnoy might become the next face of FOX Sports if hired following the latest string of high profile exits.

Dave Portnoy’s Alleged Employment at Fox Sports Sparks Dispute with Ohio State Supporters

Dave Portnoy (Image via IMAGO)

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Fox Sports is making significant moves ahead of the college football season, which kicks off in August. According to Front Office Sports, Fox Sports wants to add the founder of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy, to their Big Noon College Gameday lineup.

The announcement triggered a lot of Ohio State fans. They voiced their opposition to his rumored addition to the Big Noon lineup.

From their point of view, Portnoy’s allegiance to Michigan might sour their viewing experience. Portnoy waited an hour before writing his reply on X.

It contained a hint about the Fox Sports deal and a cheeky dig at the Buckeyes fans.

These [signing a Fox Sports contract] are nothing more than rumors at this point. But all the crying from Columbus is making me feel like it’s Thanksgiving Day weekend again and Michigan is pounding a hapless Buckeye team into the mud for the billionth straight year.

Dave Portnoy tweeted

His Michigan genes egged Portnoy to make fun of the Wolverines’ eternal rivals (sorry, Michigan State) even more.

Why can’t we beat Michigan!!!! Wah, wah, wah… Why does Big Noon Kickoff want Dave “Michigan Man” Portnoy wah, wah, wah!

A famous blogger (Daily MSU) who creates Spartan content on various social media platforms replied, “This exact tweet is why no one wants you on Big Noon We already have enough characters in sports media; we want more people who can actually talk the spot at a high level.”

Fox Sports is walking on eggshells at the moment. Viewers are still trying to piece together the reason behind the recent string of firings.

Controversial figures Joy Taylor and Craig Carton left Fox Sports after the recent string of layoffs. Taylor, former host of Speak, remains in high demand despite the negativity surrounding her tenure on FS1.

Fox Sports wants Dave Portnoy to headline the Big Noon kickoff

The offseason is the time for athletes to take a break from football for a couple of months and enjoy life. It’s the opposite for football fans. The long pause between two seasons feels like torture.

Dave Portnoy’s Alleged Employment at Fox Sports Sparks Dispute with Ohio State Supporters
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy in center (Image via IMAGO)

Even though there’s a large variety of sports to watch on TV, none come close to generating the hype that college football brings. Fox Sports introduced the Big Noon College Football window in 2019 to capitalize on the hype surrounding college football.

Traditionally, college football schedule makers stack all the games of the major schools together in the afternoon or the evening. To capture the viewers of Michigan, Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, and several other SEC, Big 12, and Big 10 schools, the network introduced the Big Noon Kickoff pregame show.

Popular faces in football, coach Urban Meyer and retired NFL players Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, and Mark Ingram, covered all the games in detail.

FOS’ Ryan Glasspiegel reported that Dave Portnoy could become part of the panel. Before Glasspiegel’s article went live on Sunday, popular sports insider BackAftaThis tweeted,

I’m told that the Fox suits are looking at Barstool personalities to replace at least one of the FS1 shows that got canceled today. This same source told me that Skip Bayless was out at Fox a week before it was announced, so do with this information what you will.

Bayless mutually agreed to leave FS1’s Undisputed in August last year after the show’s ratings and viewership plummeted following the exit of Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.

The network may be aiming to emulate the same business model as its rival, ESPN. In May 2023, the worldwide leader in sports announced the inclusion of YouTube’s famed Pat McAfee Show, hosted by former NFL punter Pat McAfee and his buddies. McAfee reportedly earns around $17 million per year.

Portnoy could bring either Pardon My Take or Bussin’ with the Boys podcast with him to Fox Sports. Despite dismissing it as a rumor, a rumor only gains momentum if it contains some truth.

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