Report: Fox, Big Ten want Dave Portnoy to be conference fanboy to counter ESPN, SEC

On Thursday, Dave Portnoy announced Barstool Sports is partnering with Fox Sports and Big Noon Kickoff. As part of the partnership, Portnoy will be joining Big Noon Kickoff as a co-host. On Friday, Puck’s John Ourand revealed what Fox Sports hopes to gain by adding Portnoy to its weekly pre-game show.

“Fox executives see a chance to insert a big personality to their lineup, and to leverage Portnoy’s Michigan fandom, which dovetails naturally with their Big Ten rights package,” Ourand wrote. “After all, ESPN has a number of high-profile commentators, like Paul Finebaum, who openly advocate for the SEC, especially when it comes to getting teams in the College Football Playoff.

“(ESPN, of course, holds all of the SEC’s media rights through 2034.) In short, Fox executives and Big Ten officials wanted an on-air fanboy of their own.”

Portnoy will join Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram, Chris “The Bear” Fallica and Rob Stone on Big Noon Kickoff. While each of Portnoy’s co-hosts are widely regarded as respected voices in college football, they don’t have the same influence as a pundit like Paul Finebaum.

Moreover, they don’t have the personality of someone such as ESPN College GameDay‘s Pat McAfee. According to Ourand, Fox hopes Portnoy can bring both of these desired traits to Big Noon Kickoff, and reel in massive ratings as a result.

Portnoy will have no trouble being a “fanboy” for Michigan. The sports media mogul is an outspoken Wolverines fan and was reportedly instrumental in the football team landing five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood last year.

Alas, Dave Portnoy’s love for Michigan hasn’t exactly spread to other teams in the Big Ten over the years. While announcing Barstool Sports’ partnership with Fox Sports online, Portnoy blasted other Big Ten teams while claiming his addition to Big Noon Kickoff would prevent other media members from bad-mouthing Michigan.

“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.”