Dave Portnoy's insertion into Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” hasn’t come without controversy.
That’s par for course for the Barstool Sports founder, who has been accused of sexual misconduct on multiple occasions. The 48-year old also is alleged to have made “racist, anti-Black, anti-Arab and Islamophobic” comments that prompted the American Anti-Arab Discrimination Committee to call for a boycott of Barstool Sports in 2022.
Portnoy’s latest dispute involves his alma mater’s most notable rival, Ohio State, which will kick off the season with a home game against Texas on Saturday. Portnoy was expected to be in attendance for the matchup as a part of Fox’s pregame crew. At present, it is unclear if that will end up being the case.
With that, here’s what you need to know about Portnoy’s status ahead of Saturday’s game.
MORE: Revisiting Lee Corso's 1999 perfect 'GameDay' headgear record that lifted ESPN show to iconic status
Is Dave Portnoy banned from Ohio State?
Portnoy's allegiance has come into question ahead of Fox's broadcast of Ohio State vs. Texas on Saturday. On Monday, Front Office Sports reported that the Buckeyes barred Barstool Sports from its campus and its founder Portnoy from Ohio Stadium.
A source close to Fox told Front Office Sports that the network wanted to avoid potential issues with Portnoy and initially did not plan to allow him inside the stadium during the conclusion of its “Big Noon Kickoff” show.
Portnoy, a Michigan graduate and frequent Ohio State critic, has long been a target of Buckeyes fans. Former linebacker Bobby Carpenter said Portnoy is “not welcome inside the Horseshoe.”
MORE: Sporting News 2025 college football Preseason All-America team
On Tuesday, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork told The Athletic that Portnoy hasn't been banned from Ohio Stadium. In a statement, Ohio State said that Fox opted against making Portnoy a part of "Big Noon Kickoff's" halftime and post-game crew, both of which will be granted in-stadium access.
"They informed us that David Portnoy is not part of their ‘main desk’ crew," the Buckey AD said.
On Tuesday, Portnoy posted a video on X claiming that he and Barstool Sports were banned from Ohio State's campus.
“We talked about being in Columbus and then we got word that Ohio State was not going to allow us to be on campus with ‘Big Noon Kickoff,’” he said. “Ross Bjork reverses it and says, ‘We didn’t ban them. That was all Fox’s decision.’ What is Fox going to say? This is a big partner with Ohio State and I’m not trying to f— the relationship.
“I feel bad that Fox is in the middle of it and I don’t want to create any issue, but then I look in the mirror and say, ‘Dave, 20 years you’ve been doing Barstool and you’ve been telling it how it is.’"
Fox announced its partnership with Portnoy and Barstool Sports in July. The network said it would air "The Barstool College Football Show" to lead into "Big Noon Kickoff", although it's unclear what role Portnoy would play in the program.
He quickly announced his presence on the program, making an impassioned plea to Ohio State fans to "shut up," ridiculing them for being incorrect in their assessment of the punishments that would be levied on Michigan's football program.
🗣️ @stoolpresidente is welcomed by loud Boos in Columbus pic.twitter.com/Q560cPH7hh
— Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) August 30, 2025
Fox's multi-year agreement with the Big Ten means that the Buckeyes are the network's ideal choice for its "Big Noon Kickoff" show. That will make primetime games that much harder for Ohio State to secure. All of the Buckeyes ranked home games this season will be played at 12 p.m. ET, including their rivalry matchup against Michigan.
What school did Dave Portnoy go to?
Portnoy attended Michigan, graduating in 1999 with a degree in education. He has remained a Wolverines die-hard in the years since his departure, routinely launching barbs at Ohio State fans and Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day.
MORE: What to know about Michigan's 'Champions Circle' behind $10.5M recruiting flip
Portnoy reportedly once facilitated a conversation between Bryce Underwood, billionaire Larry Ellison and Ellison's wife, Colin. That phone call reportedly proved fundamental to getting Underwood to flip his commitment from LSU to Michigan.