Dave Portnoy said late Saturday that he will not appear on Fox’s college football show Big Noon Kickoff next week, a development that puts his recently announced content deal with the broadcaster in doubt.
Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, posted on X — the platform formerly known as Twitter — that he would not be on Big Noon Kickoff next week and that there would be "no #askdave segment for next week." His post concluded: "No further questions at this time."
Portnoy entered into a content agreement with Fox in July and had been scheduled to appear on the network’s weekly college football program during the current season. The announcement came as the college football season was underway; Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff is a high-profile pregame show that draws national audiences.
Moments before his post, Portnoy recorded a video reaction to Michigan’s 24-13 loss to Oklahoma in which he described himself as "dejected." At the end of that clip, he alluded to tension with Fox, saying: "It was just a bad night to be a Michigan Wolverine, to be me. I got my Big Noon Kickoff guys, who I've known for 15 minutes, are now texting me just... and I guess when you're g" — an unfinished remark in the posted footage.
Fox and Barstool did not immediately respond to requests for comment. There has been no public statement from the network confirming the status of the partnership or explaining why Portnoy will not appear next week.
The content agreement announced in July positioned Portnoy to deliver segments and content tied to college football coverage, including an "#askdave" fan segment. The deal reflected Fox’s broader strategy of incorporating personalities with built-in digital audiences into linear sports programming. Portnoy’s weekly appearances were intended to bridge Barstool’s online following with Fox’s broadcast viewership.
Portnoy has been a polarizing media figure, and his presence on national television has drawn attention from both supporters and critics. Media partnerships involving on-air personalities sometimes evolve quickly, and changes can be prompted by contractual, editorial or reputational considerations. Neither Fox nor Barstool disclosed such details on Saturday.
The timing of Portnoy’s announcement follows two weeks of the college football season in which Fox has presented Big Noon Kickoff as part of its weekend lineup. Industry observers said that if the absence continues, producers would need to adjust the show’s format or substitute segments while preserving the program’s schedule of analysis and features.
Portnoy’s social post did not indicate whether his absence was temporary or permanent, and his comment "No further questions at this time" left the matter unresolved. The network’s upcoming broadcast schedule lists Big Noon Kickoff among its Saturday telecasts; Fox typically posts on-air lineups closer to game day.
The episode adds to an ongoing conversation about how traditional broadcasters integrate digital-first personalities into mainstream sports coverage and the operational challenges such arrangements can present. For now, viewers and partners will be watching for any official statement from Fox or Portnoy clarifying the arrangement and whether he will return to the program in coming weeks.