FOX's Big Noon Kickoff will be in Columbus for Saturday’s top-five matchup with top-ranked Texas and No. 3 Ohio State. However, the show's newly-acquired talent will reportedly be outside the Horseshoe.
According to an initial report by Front Office Sports' Ryan Glasspiegel, Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy was “barred” from Ohio Stadium. He'll do the show on campus, but won't be allowed to follow the rest of the crew inside during the game
“Ohio State is barring Barstool Sports from campus and its founder Dave Portnoy from entering Ohio Stadium for the school’s huge opening-week matchup against Texas on Saturday, sources told Front Office Sports,” Glasspiegel said. “Portnoy will still appear on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, but not for the end of the show inside the stadium, a source said.”
However, Ohio State officials refute the FOS report and say there was no ban placed on Portnoy. OSU athletic director Ross Bjork told Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger that "FOX decided Portnoy would not be on the main desk of Big Noon Kickoff and those not on the desk do not normally appear on the field." This was a decision made by the network and not by the university, Bjork added.
Portnoy has been one of Ohio State’s biggest rivals. The avid Michigan supporter has taken several shots at OSU over the years. It's unclear if that played into the university's decision to ban him or not. Nonetheless, the show goes on in Columbus in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Texas travels to meet Ohio State on Saturday in what's expected to be one of college football's biggest opening games in recent memory.
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