Portnoy Booed on Fox Big Noon Kickoff Amid Stadium Ban Controversy

Dave Portnoy drew a chorus of boos and renewed controversy when he made his first appearance on Fox's Big Noon Kickoff on Saturday in Columbus, days after reports surfaced that he had been barred from entering Ohio Stadium for the season opener between Ohio State and No. 1 Texas. The Barstool Sports founder, a vocal University of Michigan alum, appeared on the pregame show outside the main field set and taunted Buckeye fans before kickoff, while a separate dispute continued over who ordered him kept off the stadium floor.

Front Office Sports initially reported that Ohio State had banned Portnoy and his Barstool crew from the Horseshoe. Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork pushed back on that characterization, saying it was Fox's decision to limit who would be on the main desk and that only desk talent typically are allowed on the field during the network's in-stadium broadcasts. A Big Ten spokesperson said the league was informed by Fox that Portnoy would not appear on Big Noon Kickoff's main stage inside any conference school's stadium this year.

Portnoy disagrees. In a nearly six-minute video posted on social media wearing a Michigan cap, he accused Ohio State of pressuring...