The Ohio State football program is one of the most powerful programs in the country. If they were to throw their weight around, they would be able to have more influence in the Big Ten and on how things go. They rarely throw away through their full weight around on issues.
FOX continues to make decisions that the Ohio State Buckeyes don't fully like, but they still can't seem to get the network to stop putting them at noon for every single game. The Buckeyes are playing the biggest season opener at home in program history, and it's at noon because of FOX.
FOX also made the decision to hire Barstool founder and noted Michigan fan Dave Portnoy for their Big Noon Kickoff Pregame Show. He hasn't worked for them yet, and he's already found himself banned from attending the Shoe for the first game this season because of his antics.
The Ohio State football program bans Dave Portnoy from The Shoe
According to Front Office Sports, the university has made the decision to ban Portnoy from stepping foot inside the Shoe. In Week 1, the Barstool college football show won't be in Columbus anyway, so it's not a massive issue. Still, this shows that Portnoy is not welcome in Columbus.
A lot of people at Ohio State were not happy that FOX decided to hire Portnoy. Hiring Michigan fans or former Michigan players is not an issue; when that person has made some enemies from things he's said and done, that's the problem. That's why the Buckeyes don't want him in the Shoe.
With the number of games that the Buckeyes will likely be playing on FOX this year, this could be a problem for them if Ohio State keeps him away from the Shoe for every game this year. They are going to have to alter their plans, for the show is going to work all season long.
Portnoy has been as vocal as any Michigan fan about his disdain for Ohio State and that TTUN did not cheat when they won a national championship in 2023. Both of those things have rubbed a lot of people at Ohio State the wrong way. That's clearly why Portnoy won't be in the Shoe this weekend.
It remains to be seen how FOX will deal with this in the coming weeks, but one of the most prominent Michigan fans will not be at the Shoe.