Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information to include a statement from Ohio State.
Newly named Fox Sports “Big Noon Kickoff” analyst Dave Portnoy will not be allowed inside Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30 in the lead-up to No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Ohio State.
But the barring isn’t coming from Ohio State itself.
According to a statement obtained by The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, Ohio State mentioned that Portnoy not joining the likes of former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer and Co. inside the stadium is a decision made by Fox Sports and not the university.
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“Ohio State routinely holds planning meetings with media partners and provides input regarding broadcast set-up, kickoff times and other matters,” Ohio State said in the statement. “During planning meetings with FOX regarding Big Noon Kickoff’s visit to campus this week, FOX representatives informed the department that the only talent who would be inside Ohio Stadium for the last hour of the show would be their main set/desk talent team. This group comprises their halftime and post-game shows, as well. They informed us that David Portnoy is not part of their “main desk” crew.”
Ohio State’s statement comes after Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said the university did not ban Portnoy from entering the stadium. In addition, a Big Ten spokesperson told Dellenger and Yahoo Sports that it “is the league’s understanding from Fox” that Portnoy will not appear on the main desk inside any Big Ten stadium that the show travels to this year.
The statement also comes than 24 hours after Front Office Sports reported that Ohio State was barring Barstool Sports from campus and the Michigan alum from entering The Shoe alongside the “Big Noon Kickoff” crew for the end of the pregame show.
Portnoy, known to be rather active on social media, went to X (formerly Twitter) late Monday night and quote-tweeted Front Office Sports’ report with a photo of him in disguise with a mustache and sunglasses. The tweet was then responded to by Connor Stalions, the former Michigan off-the-field analyst who was the catalyst behind the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal, with “You need tickets?”
Fox Sports announced back on July 17 that it struck a deal with the Barstool founder and media personality to be a new member of its pregame show desk. The deal between Fox Sports and Portnoy also included that Barstool content will start airing on Fox Sports 1, a first for the content company, and that a new Barstool daily morning show will be created on the network with Portnoy and other Barstool personalities.
Noted by its website, the Week 1 show of “Big Noon Kickoff” is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 30, in front of the Recreation and Physical Activity Center on Ohio State’s campus for Ohio State vs. Texas.
Ohio State opened as an early -1.5 point favorite against Texas on BetMGM, but has since gone up to a -2.5 point favorite on the sportsbook website.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Dave Portnoy banned from Ohio Stadium for ‘Big Noon Kickoff’?
