FOX Sports appears ready to make a high-profile addition with Barstool Sports and founder Dave Portnoy just days after cancelling three of its weekday programs on FS1.
According to Front Office Sports, the network is nearing a deal that would add Portnoy as a commentator on the network’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show and potentially introduce Barstool-branded content across FS1 programming as part of a licensing deal similar to what ESPN has accomplished with The Pat McAfee Show and The Rich Eisen Show.
The report states the deal is not finalized, and a FOX Sports spokesperson declined to comment.
If completed, Portnoy would join a Big Noon Kickoff cast that includes Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram, Chris “The Bear” Fallica, and host Rob Stone. College Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson also makes recurring appearances throughout the season.
Since launching in 2019, FOX has leaned heavily into the Big Noon window, betting that premier games earlier in the day could siphon attention away from ESPN’s longstanding College GameDay. With this potential move, FOX Sports may be attempting to counter ESPN’s addition of Pat McAfee—who is a former Barstool personality.
Portnoy, a Michigan alum, is no stranger to the FOX audience, having made multiple appearances on FOX News and FOX Business Network. His presence could offer FOX another avenue into attracting a younger audience demographic to their programming which Barstool Sports has traditionally dominated.
Once the report gained steam on social media, Portnoy took to X to address the situation. He said that the report is just a rumor at this stage. However, he did not deny that there was smoke to the fire.
The timing of the Portnoy-Barstool news comes just days following a broader programming shakeup at FS1. Earlier this week, the network cancelled three weekday shows—Breakfast Ball, The Facility, and Speak with no word on what the network’s plans are to replace the programming.
The report states that Barstool Sports is expected to help fill that void on FS1, possibly through a licensing arrangement. No specifics have been identified as to current Barstool Sports programs that could make the leap to television, or if new collaborative programs could be developed.
Barstool Sports attempted to work with ESPN in 2017 on the Barstool Van Talk program hosted by Big Cat and PFT Commenter. The program only lasted a single episode before it was pulled.
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Thank goodness for writing someone else. There’s really not enough people on that show. So I guess everyone will get to say one sentence and then it’ll be time for the game? Perfect.