Why Portnoy and Barstool Sports Left Big Noon Kickoff

Fox Sports has ended its association with Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports on Big Noon Kickoff, according to reporting identified by The Athletic and The New York Times. The decision has attracted attention because of Portnoy’s prominent sports-media profile and his public criticism of Ohio State coach Ryan Day.

The confirmed development is that Portnoy and Barstool are no longer involved with the Fox college football program. The reason for the decision remains unclear.

Portnoy said, “I don’t blame them,” while also claiming that Day’s “temper tantrums” contributed to his removal. He later said he had not realized Day was “this soft.” Those comments represent Portnoy’s account, not an independently confirmed explanation from Fox, Day, or Ohio State.

The available reporting does not establish that Day directly asked Fox to remove Portnoy. It also does not include a detailed official statement explaining Fox’s decision. Source 1

What Happened?

Fox’s relationship with Portnoy and Barstool Sports on Big Noon Kickoff has ended, according to the supplied reports. The summaries do not clarify whether the change resulted from a contract decision, an editorial adjustment, a disagreement over content, or another factor.

They also do not establish whether Portnoy held a formal recurring role, appeared through a partnership, or participated under another arrangement. For that reason, the most accurate description is that Fox ended its association with Portnoy and Barstool. Calling the decision a firing, a permanent ban, or a direct response to Ryan Day would go beyond the available evidence.

The Athletic and The New York Times were identified as sources for the initial report. Other coverage, including reports associated with USA Today and Hindustan Times, focused on Portnoy’s reaction and his comments about Day. Source 3

The reports describe three connected developments:

1. Fox ended Portnoy and Barstool’s involvement with Big Noon Kickoff.
2. Portnoy said, “I don’t blame them.”
3. Portnoy connected his removal to alleged reactions from Ryan Day.

The first point concerns Fox’s programming decision. The third remains an allegation from Portnoy and has not been independently established in the supplied material.

What the Reporting Does Not Establish

The available reports do not establish:

• Fox’s specific contractual or editorial reasoning.
• Whether the decision came from Fox executives, the show’s producers, or another partner.
• Whether the separation is permanent.
• Whether Day contacted Fox or requested Portnoy’s removal.
• Whether Fox acted because of a particular Ohio State-related incident.
• Whether Fox, Day, or Ohio State issued a detailed response.

These unanswered questions should remain separate from the reported fact that Portnoy and Barstool are no longer involved with the show.

Why the Split Matters

Portnoy is closely associated with Barstool’s personality-driven approach to sports coverage. The company built its identity around strong opinions, humor, fan culture, and commentary that often differs from traditional sports television.

Fox’s national broadcasting operation serves a broader purpose. A network pregame show must manage relationships with conferences, schools, coaches, players, advertisers, and viewers. That can create tension between provocative independent commentary and conventional broadcast expectations.

Portnoy’s involvement could attract Barstool’s established audience and younger viewers. It could also create controversy when criticism involved active coaches or major college programs. That tension may help explain the broader significance of the split, but it is not a confirmed reason for Fox’s decision.

Big Noon Kickoff is a prominent Fox college football program tied to the network’s Saturday schedule. Personnel changes can therefore raise wider questions about which voices a national network wants representing its coverage and how much independence outside personalities receive.

The development also reflects a broader trend in sports media. Digital companies compete with television networks for audience attention, while television programs use internet personalities to reach viewers who may not follow traditional studio shows. Such partnerships can expand reach but create disputes over tone, authority, and accountability.

For Barstool, the Fox association provided exposure to traditional college football viewers. Losing that connection could reduce its presence in a major network environment, although the company continues to operate through its own digital channels and other media relationships.

Portnoy’s Response

One report quoted Portnoy as saying, “I don’t blame them” after Fox removed him and Barstool from Big Noon Kickoff. Source 7

The statement suggests that Portnoy acknowledged Fox’s authority to make the programming decision. It does not show that he agreed with the circumstances or accepted a particular explanation.

Portnoy also reportedly said that Day’s “temper tantrums” led to his removal. The reporting does not verify what interactions took place, whether Day complained to Fox, or whether Fox considered such a complaint. It also does not establish that Day had authority over the show’s personnel.

Portnoy later said he had not realized Day was “this soft.” The remark personalized the disagreement and intensified the public dispute. Source 5

The difference between a reported allegation and a confirmed fact is important. The end of the Fox-Barstool relationship is the reported event. The claim that Day caused it is Portnoy’s explanation.

The Ryan Day Connection

Ryan Day is the head football coach at Ohio State, one of college football’s most prominent programs. Because Ohio State operates under intense national scrutiny, disputes involving Day can quickly spread through sports media.

A USA Today report described Portnoy criticizing Day after Barstool was excluded from Big Noon Kickoff. The supplied summary dates that report to October 3, 2026. Source 3

The reported sequence was:

1. Fox ended Portnoy and Barstool’s involvement with Big Noon Kickoff.
2. Portnoy discussed the decision publicly.
3. He attributed the move to alleged reactions from Day.
4. He criticized Day using the phrases “temper tantrums” and “this soft.”

The supplied summaries do not independently verify the alleged interactions or show that Day formally directed Fox to act. There is no confirmed evidence that Day filed a complaint, demanded Portnoy’s removal, controlled the show’s talent decisions, or objected to a specific Barstool segment.

The accurate formulation is that Portnoy blamed Day’s alleged reactions for his removal. It is not accurate to state as fact that Ryan Day got Portnoy fired or ordered Fox to remove Barstool.

What Fox Has Said

The clearest point across the supplied coverage is that Fox’s association with Portnoy and Barstool on Big Noon Kickoff has ended. Source 9

The provided material does not explain whether Fox acted because of an editorial strategy, an expired or revised agreement, complaints about coverage, a change in format, sponsor concerns, or an Ohio State-related incident. Each possibility remains unconfirmed.

Conclusion

Fox and Big Noon Kickoff are no longer working with Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports, according to the supplied reports. That is the confirmed development.

Portnoy said, “I don’t blame them,” but blamed Ryan Day’s alleged reactions for his removal. He also criticized Day by saying he had not realized the coach was “this soft.” Those comments explain Portnoy’s position, not Fox’s verified reasoning.

No supplied source establishes that Day ordered the removal, formally complained to Fox, or controlled the program’s talent decisions. Until Fox, Day, Ohio State, or the original reporting provides direct evidence, the alleged Ryan Day connection must remain unconfirmed.

The split highlights the tension between national sports broadcasting and provocative digital media. It also shows how quickly a programming decision can become a public college football controversy when a high-profile personality responds directly to coaches, networks, and fans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports no longer on Big Noon Kickoff?

The supplied reports say Fox removed them from the program. The available summaries do not provide Fox’s specific reason.

Did Ryan Day get Dave Portnoy removed?

Portnoy claimed that Day’s “temper tantrums” contributed to his removal. The available reporting does not independently confirm that Day requested or caused Fox’s decision.

What did Portnoy say about Ryan Day?

Portnoy reportedly said that Day’s “temper tantrums” contributed to his removal and that he had not realized Day was “this soft.”

Is Barstool permanently finished with Big Noon Kickoff?

The supplied sources report that the partnership ended, but they do not establish whether the separation is permanent or whether Barstool could return in another format.

Has Fox responded to Portnoy’s criticism?

The provided summaries do not include a detailed public response from Fox addressing Portnoy’s claims or explaining the decision.