Dave Portnoy Blames Ryan Day After Getting Pulled From FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff
Dave Portnoy says Ryan Day and Ohio State pressured the Big Ten and FOX into pulling him off Big Noon Kickoff, reigniting a years-long feud just as the Buckeyes kicked off at Iowa.
Ryan Day doesn’t need a live microphone to spark a national college football firestorm. Hours before No. 5 Ohio State kicked off a top-15 showdown at No. 14 Iowa on Saturday, Dave Portnoy revealed that FOX had pulled him from “Big Noon Kickoff,” and the Barstool Sports founder didn’t hesitate to name who he believes is responsible.
Day has turned Ohio State into one of the sport’s most dominant programs since taking over in 2019, compiling an 82-12 record that stands as the best winning percentage among any active FBS head coach. He’s steered the Buckeyes to five College Football Playoff appearances in that span, cementing Columbus as a perennial contender and himself as one of the most scrutinized — and polarizing — figures in the sport.
Portnoy’s Fiery Accusation
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Friday night that Portnoy would no longer appear on FOX’s marquee college football pregame show. Portnoy fired back on social media almost immediately, laying the blame squarely on Day and the Buckeyes. “Ohio State and Ryan Day bitched and moaned to the Big Ten and threatened Fox till they had no choice,” Portnoy wrote, framing his removal as the result of behind-the-scenes pressure from the program.
Both Ohio State and FOX Sports declined to comment when reached by The Athletic. It’s not the first time Portnoy has accused Day of trying to limit his access. Before Ohio State’s season opener against Texas last year — Portnoy’s own debut on “Big Noon Kickoff” — he claimed the Buckeyes had him banned from Ohio Stadium entirely. Ohio State denied that account at the time, saying the restriction for the final hour of the broadcast was FOX’s call, not the program’s, since Portnoy wasn’t part of the show’s “main desk.” He still appeared during the outdoor portion of that broadcast.
The history runs deeper. A vocal Michigan fan, Portnoy has repeatedly needled Day over the years, including arranging a plane to fly a banner reading “Extend Ryan Day #GoBlue” over the stadium ahead of Ohio State’s 2024 College Football Playoff game against Tennessee — a dig that came after Michigan had reeled off four straight wins in the rivalry. Portnoy also amplified theories, later debunked by the NCAA, suggesting a private investigation firm owned by Day’s brother played a role in exposing Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal in 2023.
Buckeyes Push Forward in Iowa City
Whatever the real reasoning behind FOX’s decision, Portnoy’s run on “Big Noon Kickoff” is over after less than two seasons, though he’ll remain a fixture on FS1’s “Wake Up Barstool.” Day, meanwhile, has bigger concerns than a media squabble. Ohio State carried a 3-1 record into Saturday’s road trip to face a 4-0 Iowa squad at Kinnick Stadium, with ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasting live from Iowa City to underscore the magnitude of the matchup.
The drama swirling around Day entering kickoff is a reminder of just how much attention follows the Ohio State program every single week, on and off the field. With bettors already circling the Big Ten slate, plenty will be watching the line move throughout the day — a trend worth tracking for anyone using a DraftKings promo code to get in on Saturday’s action. For a program that has become accustomed to playing under a microscope, Saturday’s trip to Iowa is just the latest example of Ohio State generating headlines before the opening whistle even sounds.
As the Buckeyes chase another Playoff berth under Day, episodes like the Portnoy fallout are unlikely to fade quietly. The two sides have sparred publicly for years, and with Ohio State back in the national spotlight, this latest chapter figures to keep playing out long after Saturday’s final score is in. Fans looking for the broader betting context around major college football showdowns can also check out resources like the odds and probability calculator while tracking how the market reacts to this week’s slate of ranked matchups.