David Samson believes Dave Portnoy never fit on Big Noon Kickoff. The former MLB executive shared his view Monday on Nothing Personal with David Samson.
What We Know: Portnoy joined Big Noon Kickoff in 2025 through a partnership between FOX Sports and Barstool Sports. However, friction surfaced immediately between conference schools and Portnoy’s inclusion on the program. Portnoy didn’t appear inside Ohio Stadium for his debut last year, a decision that sparked a public dispute with Ohio State. Now, Portnoy is no longer part of the show just over a year later. Samson reflected on the news Monday during his Nothing Personal with David Samson program.
What They Said: (All quotes via Nothing Personal w/David Samson):
David Samson believes Dave Portnoy on Big Noon Kickoff was never going to work: “Dave Portnoy doing the pregame show on Big Noon Kickoff didn’t work from the minute he appeared. The reason it didn’t work is that what makes Dave Portnoy interesting is not appealing to the audience that is the establishment watching Big Noon Kickoff. Dave Portnoy is not bringing in a different demographic because of his popularity to the Big Noon Kickoff. What he will do is bring a different set of demographics to his shows, and social media. But to an established pregame show, it’s the equivalent of putting Dennis Miller in the booth of Monday Night Football. It was doomed from the start.”
David Samson doesn’t believe FOX Sports removed Dave Portnoy because Ohio State demanded it: “Do I think Ohio State would have called FOX Sports to complain about things that [Dave] Portnoy was saying? I do. Do I think that FOX Sports then removed Portnoy because of what Ohio State asked them to do? I don’t. FOX Sports removes Portnoy for the sole reason that the fit was not worth it. Period.”
David Samson said Dave Portnoy’s inclusion didn’t fit with why people watch Big Noon Kickoff: “It didn’t mix well with the other hosts. It didn’t mix well with the audience. It didn’t set the tone that [Dave] Portnoy wants to set with his shows. Bringing that tone to the pregame show is not at all interesting for those watching. You can imagine why people are watching Big Noon Kickoff. Let me think. Portnoy not a part of that.”
What Remains Unclear: The full details of Portnoy’s exit remain unclear. It’s also unknown whether FOX will respond to Samson’s explanation of the happenings regarding Portnoy’s exit.
What It Means: Samson’s take frames the split as a branding issue rather than a political one. In his view, Portnoy’s audience lives on Barstool shows and social media, not establishment pregame TV. He even compared the move to putting Dennis Miller in the Monday Night Football booth. As a result, FOX may favor traditional fit over viral reach going forward.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
