Dave Portnoy responds to Barstool-Fox Sports deal rumors amid FS1 shake-up

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has responded to growing rumors that his company is nearing a major media deal with Fox Sports.

According to a report by Front Office Sports journalist Ryan Glasspiegel, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and Barstool are allegedly finalizing a partnership that would feature both Barstool content and Portnoy himself on FS1 programming.

The rumored deal includes Portnoy potentially joining FS1’s “Big Noon Kickoff” college football pregame show, while Barstool Sports content would fill programming gaps left by FS1’s recent cancellation of several shows—including Breakfast Ball, The Facility, and Speak—amidst a network shake-up that also saw the departure of host Joy Taylor.

Portnoy addressed the speculation on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), dismissing the news as “nothing more than rumors at this point.” In trademark Portnoy style, he also took a jab at his critics, especially Ohio State fans, saying, “All the crying from Columbus is making me feel like it’s Thanksgiving Day weekend again and Michigan is pounding a hapless Buckeye team into the mud.”

Portnoy, an outspoken University of Michigan supporter, has frequently taunted Ohio State, further fueling rivalry-related tensions surrounding the potential move.

While the deal remains unconfirmed, the timing of the report coincides with FS1’s ongoing restructuring, hinting at a strategic shift in content direction. Should the partnership be finalized, it would mark a significant media crossover and bring Barstool’s controversial yet popular brand into the Fox Sports ecosystem.