Dave Portnoy is pointing the finger at Ryan Day and Ohio State after news broke that he and Big Cat were being removed from Big Noon Kickoff.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that the pair were getting sacked from the FOX pregame show. Portnoy then went on social media and claimed Day pushed the Big Ten and FOX to cut him loose.
“Just was told @AndrewMarchand is about to release an article saying I’ve been put on ice for @BNKonFOX I havent seen the article yet and he didnt call me for a quote but i can sum it up this way
Ohio State and Ryan Day bitched and moaned to the Big 10 and threatened Fox…”
Portnoy has spent plenty of time taking shots at the Buckeyes, and now he’s trying to blame them for the fallout. Ohio State fans, for their part, should be happy they won’t have to keep seeing him on Big Noon Kickoff, especially with so many of the Buckeyes’ games airing on FOX and pulling plenty of viewers to that show instead of College GameDay.
Ohio State has always denied any claim that it had a problem with Portnoy being part of the Big Noon setup. The program, at least publicly, has been more focused on football than on whatever Portnoy is saying.
The Buckeyes are in Iowa City this week to face the Hawkeyes, with GameDay on campus there as well. Pat McAfee remains a loud presence on that show, but he’s not a troll in the same way Portnoy is. For Ohio State fans, the bigger annoyance on the other side is Desmond Howard, who almost never says anything nice about the Buckeyes.
With Portnoy out of the mix, Buckeye fans will get more Urban Meyer on the FOX desk. FOX is not changing its main Big Noon lineup, so Meyer remains alongside Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram, and Rob Stone.
Meyer has established himself as one of the strongest analysts on TV. His film work and coaching perspective make his segments worth watching, and he offers a sharper football breakdown than Portnoy ever did on FOX.
Portnoy may try to launch another college show with Barstool, as he has before, but he won’t be on FOX’s airwaves anymore. For Big Ten fans, that’s a clear win.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Faces New Pressure In The Game
Michigans uneven start has changed the temperature around the rivalry long before the teams get to late November. After the loss to Minnesota, the Wolverines are sitting at 3-2 and still trying to sort out their offense, with Bryce Underwoods play at quarterback and the running game both part of the problem. Instead of arriving as a clear College Football Playoff threat, Michigan looks more like a team searching for answers, which adds a different kind of edge to the buildup.
For Ohio State, that makes the annual showdown feel even less forgiving. When Michigan is not peaking, the Buckeyes are expected to handle business, and anything short of that invites a familiar round of frustration from their own fan base. The rivalry has always carried pressure, but this version brings a twist: Ohio State is being asked to beat a Michigan team that has not looked like a contender, and that can make the margin for error feel even smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Have A Smarter Way To Stream Iowa This Weekend
With Ohio State set to meet Iowa on Oct. 3, plenty of Buckeyes fans will be looking for the easiest way to catch the game without relying on a traditional cable bundle. The streaming options are fairly broad, with services such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV MySports all offering different combinations of live channels, pricing and trial offers for viewers trying to line up the right setup before kickoff.
For fans who want a more tailored approach, the key is matching the service to the channel carrying the game and balancing that against the monthly cost and any free trial window. Some platforms lean on channel-rich packages while others aim at viewers who only need a narrower live-sports option, so the best choice may come down to how long someone wants to keep the subscription and whether they need more than just this one matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Enters Brutal October With A Top Four Doubt
Ohio State heads into a punishing October with plenty of talent and just enough unease to keep the conversation going. The Buckeyes are sitting at No. 5, and while they have shown dominant stretches against Power 4 competition, the early read has not been spotless. There is still real confidence in the top-end pieces, and the offense has produced at a strong clip under new play-caller Arthur Smith, but the broader picture has been a mix of impressive bursts and lingering questions.
Desmond Howard added to that skepticism ahead of the Week 5 game against Iowa, casting doubt on whether Ohio State has enough consistency to climb above its current spot. The coming stretch will tell a lot, because this is the kind of schedule that exposes whether a team is truly built for a top-four finish or simply looks the part in flashes. For the Buckeyes, the month ahead is less about style points and more about proving the whole operation can travel through one of the toughest slates in the country. [Read more 🡒]