Desmond Howard claims FOX hiring Dave Portnoy is an attempt to 'offset' Pat McAfee on College GameDay

Desmond Howard took a bit of a shot, respectfully of course, at Big Noon Kickoff when asked about the competition for College GameDay. Howard, a Heisman Trophy winner, has been a mainstay on ESPN’s flagship pregame show every weekend during the college football season.

But Big Noon Kickoff is making moves as FOX goes into a different direction this Fall. While the pregame show has certainly made its mark, especially owning the aptly named noon window with massive games each week, they want to jazz up the show even more. 

FOX struck a deal with Barstool Sports to bring on Dave Portnoy to the pregame show, seemingly as a counter to Pat McAfee on ESPN. Not only that, their daily programming during the week will be done with Barstool personalities such as Big Cat and PFT Commenter, the hosts of Pardon My Take. 

“This must be their move to try and offset what we have with [Pat] McAfee, I’m assuming,” Howard said, via Barrett Sports Media. “They want to compete. I like those guys. To me, our competitor has been the NBA on TNT because we’re always battling against them for the Sports Emmy. No disrespect to those guys (Big Noon Kickoff), I’m sure they do a fantastic job.”

Again, Howard appreciates the guys on the other network, but it’s telling when he says GameDay looks at an entirely different sport as competition. Ironically, the NBA on TNT’s Inside The NBA is now going to be licensed by ESPN as the pre and postgame show this coming season.

Desmond Howard throwing shade at Big Noon Kickoff?

FS1 announced cancellations of shows Breakfast Ball, The Facility and Speak last month 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.

Howard knows what ESPN has in McAfee and Nick Saban, particularly the two’s relationship. It remains to be seen how the Barstool influence aids the FOX coverage this Fall.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. 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.