Dave Portnoy’s planned trip to London for Saturday’s Big Noon Kickoff ended before it ever got off the ground, and the reason was as painful as it sounds.
The Barstool Sports founder was supposed to travel to Wembley Stadium for the first-ever Union Jack Classic between Arizona State and Kansas, but a serious dental emergency kept him in the United States. Portnoy later appeared on the FOX pregame show by video, with a large bandage wrapped around his head, and laid out just how bad the situation had gotten.
He said he cracked several teeth, developed an infection, and had to go in for emergency dental treatment. According to Portnoy, doctors found a “double tooth infection” and pulled multiple teeth to address it. He also said one side of his face was numb after the procedure.
“Top of the morning to you over there in London. Listen, I wish I could be there.
I was playing on video, I couldn’t wait. Unfortunately got a couple fractured teeth.
Infections in my mouth. Emergency dentist.
They couldn’t have me flying,” Portnoy told the Big Noon Kickoff panel.
Even with the pain, Portnoy said he still wanted to make the trip. His doctors, though, told him not to get on a plane.
“I can’t feel a side of my face. And I still said I gotta be there, I gotta tough it out,” Portnoy said.
“So Big Noon Kickoff, I’ll be back next week… Like I said, I want to play hurt. I wanted to lay it all on the line for you guys… Player safety first in the Big Twelve.”
Later, Portnoy posted a photo of one of the teeth that had been removed and added, “We lucky I’m alive!”
With Portnoy stuck back home, FOX still brought the rest of the Big Noon Kickoff crew to London for the game. Arizona State and Kansas both entered the matchup at 1-1 after losses the previous week.
Arizona State had fallen 48-20 to No. 9 Texas A&M, while Kansas dropped a 38-21 decision to No.
20 Missouri.
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Kansas Just Turned A Winnable Trip Into A Bowl Pressure Problem
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The frustration only grew because the game never quite felt out of reach for long, yet the sun-splashed trip turned into a reminder of how costly small decisions can be in tight spots. At 1-2, Kansas now has a tougher road ahead and very little room to waste if it wants to line up the wins it needs for bowl eligibility. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads To Wembley With A New Offensive Concern
Kansas heads to Wembley Stadium with the kind of injury uncertainty that can reshape a game plan before the first snap. Backup quarterback Cole Ballard and starting tight end Carson Bruhn have both been ruled out after getting hurt against Missouri, and Kansas also listed several other players as unavailable, including Jaylen Mason, Kory Amachree, Justin Thurman, Trevon McAlpine and Grady Seyfert, with some of those absences stretching beyond this week.
That puts extra pressure on the depth chart against Arizona State, where Kansas will have to lean on less experienced options in key spots. Chase Jenkins is next up behind Isaiah Marshall at quarterback, while Jailen Butler is first in line at tight end, making this trip to Wembley as much about adaptation and survival as it is about the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Gets Timely Injury Relief Before A Huge Test At Wembley
Kansas got a welcome dose of injury relief heading into a major stage, with the Jayhawks set to face Arizona State in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium. Wide receiver Cam Pickett and linebacker Bam Crouch are both in line to return to more regular roles after dealing with recent availability issues, giving the roster a little more stability before a trip that already carries plenty of spotlight.
Pickett missed the season opener and was eased back in with limited snaps in the next game, while Crouch sat out the previous matchup because of a shoulder injury. Even with those reinforcements, Kansas is still managing some significant absences, as starting tight end Carson Bruhn and backup quarterback Cole Ballard remain unavailable for the game. [Read more 🡒]