One of the loudest and most notorious Michigan fans on the internet is likely to become a part of FOX's Big Noon Kickoff.
Per a report from Front Office Sports, Dave Portnoy, a Michigan alumnus and founder of the sports media and entertainment company Barstool Sports, FOX is nearing a deal with Portnoy that would include appearances on the show.
EXCLUSIVE: Fox Sports is nearing an expansive deal with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy that would include him appearing on Big Noon Kickoff, sources told FOS.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 16, 2025
The deal would also involve Barstool content being featured on FS1.
Story by @sportsrapport
Barstool Sports content will also receive airtime on FS1 as part of the deal, per the report.
Portnoy, who's built a reputation for antagonizing Ohio State fans over the years, will likely have a strange dynamic with former Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer, also a part of Big Noon's coverage team. Portnoy is also active with Michigan on the NIL front, contributing to the reported $10.5 million deal that helped the Wolverines land five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood.
The story of how I met the Ellisons, Bryce Underwood flipped to Michigan, and the future of Michigan NIL changed forever pic.twitter.com/g7chi35bs9
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 26, 2024
FOX, the Big Ten's top broadcasting partner and the most frequent network for OSU games, currently has a lineup of Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram and Chris “The Bear” Fallica with host Rob Stone for Big Noon.
Ohio Stadium has hosted Big Noon 11 times since the show was founded in 2019. The show is set to be on Ohio State campus for the 12th time in Week 1 – with a good chance that Portnoy is in tow – when the Buckeyes play Texas in a likely top-five matchup.
