Dave Portnoy calls out Ross Bjork, trolls Ohio State over reaction to Jamie Pollard tweet

After Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard called out Ohio State over the Dave Portnoy controversy, Buckeyes AD Ross Bjork gave a live reaction. Maybe adding more fuel to the fire, Bjork again said the decision to keep Portnoy outside of Ohio Stadium came from FOX. At the same time, he did not fully understand Pollard’s point.

“You really need to ask FOX,” Bjork said via Front Office Sports Today. “The thing is, we never had to react to anything because FOX said ‘This is exactly what we’re going to do.’ And we said, ‘Okay, great. We’ll see you guys on Saturday, we’ll see you guys on game day.’ So, I haven’t seen that tweet. Jamie, he’s a good friend, I’ve known him for a long time. So, I’ll have to check out what he means by ‘Iowa State is not Ohio State.’”

Shortly after, Portnoy took to social media in an attempt to help out Bjork. He quickly reminded Bjork where his allegiance stands as well, something Ohio State fans know all too well.

“Hey @RossBjorkAD I think he means they are welcoming me into the stadium and not forbidding me into the stadium,” Portnoy said via X. “That’s the Michigan degree talking.”

Hey @RossBjorkAD I think he means they are welcoming me into the stadium and not forbidding me into the stadium. That’s the Michigan degree talking. https://t.co/ymxaLeXxKb

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) September 3, 2025

Based on his own social media posts, Pollard is thrilled to have Portnoy in Ames. Obviously, there is the tweet that started this whole thread, one where the Iowa State AD took a shot at Ohio State. Pollard later retweeted Portnoy, explaining where the Barstool pregame show would take place.

No matter who is town, a fun atmosphere should be brewing. Iowa State is set to host the Iowa Hawkeyes in a critical early-season rivalry game. It’s a game the Cyclones have not won inside Jack Trice Stadium since 2011. Matt Campbell‘s squad is looking to break a lengthy drought.

Dave Portnoy, Big 12 reportedly in discussion of working together

Brett Yormark and the Big 12 want in on Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports as a whole. According to Ross Dellenger, the conference’s decision-makers are offering the controversial pundit a “blank canvas” for engagement across their league’s campuses.

“Interesting: Brett Yormark and Big 12 ADs held a 40-minute call today with Dave Portnoy, offering him a ‘blank canvas’ of engagement opportunities and emphasizing their full support of integrating the Barstool brand across league campuses, starting this week with Iowa State-Iowa,” Dellenger posted on X.

On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report