Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy officially announce partnership with Fox Sports, Big Noon Kickoff

On Thursday, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy announced that his company is officially partnering with Fox Sports and Big Noon Kickoff. Reports of a partnership between the two first surfaced on Wednesday. Portnoy provided more details in a message posted to his social media.

“Emergency Press Conference – Barstool Sports is Proud to announce a new wide wide-ranging partnership with Fox Sports,” Portnoy wrote on X. “This is the 1st time in our illustrious and notorious history that we’ve got a TV partner we believe in and believes in us. I can’t wait to see what we create together.”

Portnoy will join Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram, Chris “The Bear” Fallica and host Rob Stone on the weekly pregame show. Hall of Famer Charles Woodson appears on special occasions due to his NFL obligations.

Portnoy is a massive Michigan fan and supporter of the school’s athletic programs. He was reportedly instrumental in Michigan’s recruitment of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood last year. Now, Portnoy will have an even larger platform to discuss his Michigan fandom and Big Ten football.

“The days of kicking Michigan when we’re not around is over. I will be there, so we beat you on the field and we beat you in the booth,” Portnoy said in a video posted to X. “Barstool has a lot of Big Ten people, it’s not just me. Big Cat — Wisconsin; safety school, Wisconsin. Iowa — no offense. School after school. Indiana, beautiful campus. Cignetti put a cigarette out.

“We have all the schools covered, but only one school matters, and that’s Michigan. We’ve ruled that conference with an iron fist for the past decade, and now it will continue in between the white lines and on the desk. So all you people out there who think you’ve got the last word on Michigan, those days are over.”

FS1 announced cancellations of shows Breakfast Ball, The Facility and Speak this week. Pardon My Take is Barstool’s most popular show and one of the most listened-to podcasts in the world. Hosts Big Cat and PFT Commenter (Dan Katz and Eric Sollenberger) are expected to be involved in Barstool’s partnership with Fox Sports.

The move by Fox Sports is undoubtedly the network’s latest effort to compete with ESPN’s College GameDay, which has long been the most popular pre-game college football show. College GameDay added its own splash of personality back in 2019 when Pat McAfee joined the show.

Barstool Sports has its own pre-game show on Saturdays, the Barstool College Football Show. It’s unclear how Barstool’s partnership with Fox Sports and Big Noon Kickoff will affect the Barstool College Football Show‘s future. Dave Portnoy will make his debut on Big Noon Kickoff when the show covers the Week 1 matchup between Ohio State and Texas on Aug. 30.