Imagine the thrill of a historic upset on the gridiron—Ohio State has just handed Michigan its first defeat in five long years, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown. But here's where it gets controversial: Dave Portnoy, the outspoken voice of Barstool Sports, is boldly opting out of covering the Big Ten Championship Game on Fox's Big Noon Kickoff. If you're new to college football rivalries, think of it like this: Ohio State and Michigan are bitter enemies, much like feuding families in a blockbuster movie, and this loss flips the script in a big way.
Credit: Barstool Sports
For the first time in half a decade, the Ohio State Buckeyes triumphed over the Michigan Wolverines in a commanding 27-9 victory on Saturday's football battlefield. This win propels the unbeatable Buckeyes forward, positioning them to defend their national title in next Saturday's Big Ten Championship against the equally flawless Indiana Hoosiers, who also boast a perfect 12-0 record. It's shaping up to be a breathtaking finale to outstanding seasons for both teams in the conference.
Yet, fans tuning in to Fox's coverage won't spot Michigan enthusiast Dave Portnoy on the Big Noon Kickoff platform. In a surprising move, Portnoy has chosen to sit this one out.
He shared this news directly on X (formerly Twitter), posting: 'I would like to announce that I will not be at the Big 10 championship with @BNKonFOX (https://twitter.com/BNKonFOX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Good luck to all the teams involved.' This tweet, dated November 29, 2025, came hot off the heels of the OSU-UM clash.
As Portnoy himself noted in his X update: 'I would like to announce that I will not be at the Big 10 championship with [Big Noon Kickoff],' followed by 'Good luck to all the teams involved.' To put this in perspective for beginners, Big Noon Kickoff is Fox's pre-game show for college football, where experts chat and hype up the action—think of it as the appetizer before the main meal of the game.
This marks the conclusion of Portnoy's inaugural season with the Big Noon Kickoff team, part of a fresh alliance between Fox Sports and Barstool Sports that kicked off this year. But here's the part most people miss: there are several layers to unpack here that might explain his absence.
For instance, it's plausible that Portnoy wasn't originally slated to appear in Fox's broadcast lineup for this event. Throughout the season, he hasn't been a fixture on every Big Noon Kickoff episode. And intriguingly, he previously alleged that the Big Ten conference itself didn't want him involved in the show during the pivotal Week 11 matchup between Ohio State and Penn State. Could they feel the same about this championship clash, especially without Michigan in the picture? It's a point worth pondering—does the conference see him as too polarizing for such a high-stakes game?
Additionally, the logistics of the day add another twist. The Big Ten title game kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET, with only a few other contests on the schedule beforehand. This scarcity of early action might mean there's simply not as much need for Portnoy's commentary, particularly since Michigan, his favorite team, isn't participating. If you're wondering about football scheduling, it's like planning a party—too many guests early on can overshadow the main event, so sometimes you trim the lineup.
And this is where controversy truly brews: the official Big Noon Kickoff account actually reposted Portnoy's announcement, which some might view as a clever ploy to stir up excitement around what could otherwise be a minor detail. Barstool Sports has a reputation for these buzz-generating stunts, reminiscent of how they've amplified debates or events for attention in the past. Is this a genuine scheduling conflict, or a calculated move to keep Portnoy's name in the headlines? Critics might argue it's just publicity, while fans could see it as respecting boundaries or avoiding potential drama.
What do you make of this? Do you believe Portnoy is being unfairly kept at arm's length by the conference, or is this a savvy decision to dodge unnecessary controversy? Could his absence actually heighten the buzz around the game? Share your opinions in the comments—I'm curious to hear if you agree, disagree, or have your own take on why this matters in the world of sports entertainment!
