Ohio State football public enemy No. 1 is headed back to Columbus next week

Death, taxes and Big Noon Kickoff coming to Columbus, Ohio as often as possible. When one of the best teams in the country plays in the Big Ten at a place like Ohio State, it is only natural for FOX to want its college football pre-game show to be out, front and center in front of The Horseshoe more often than not. Frankly, it has not mattered the opponent, as Penn State is a complete shell of itself.

While getting Big Noon is still a pretty big deal these days, that means another thing comes along with it, too. Once again, Michigan alum and the face of Barstool Sports in Dave Portnoy will be back in and around Columbus. El Presidente has not added to the pre-game show as much as FOX would have hoped. He is the Pat McAfee FOX Sports had at home to attempt to bring in that kind of viewer.

Ohio State should beat Penn State by all the points in the world next week, but one game looms large.

Ohio State may be the best team in the country, but the Buckeyes still have a Michigan problem, one that gave them the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff a year ago. To be quite frank Ohio State should clobber Portnoy's alma mater this season, as the Buckeyes' biggest threat in the Big Ten is not even on the schedule just yet... Indiana looks to be legit, especially with how easily it can score points.

For now, the most un-welcomed person in Columbus will be back in the Ohio state capital yet again.

Dave Portnoy coming back to Ohio State for Penn State is ... a choice

Look. This is a helmet game if there ever was one. The hammer vs. nail rivalry that is Ohio State vs. Penn State could conceivably draw a number on the pre-game show. FOX choosing this game as its featured one of the weekend may indicate that it does not believe another one in the Big Ten or Big 12 can move the needle as much as this one can. If only Penn State was a better football program...

The other big thing here is Big Noon might not come back to Columbus again this season... The Buckeyes' two other home dates are against UCLA and Rutgers. Not going to move the needle there. They have two other road games at Purdue and at Michigan to end the season. The Michigan date in Ann Arbor screams Big Noon if there ever was a game. This might be all about Portnoy being a troll.

In the end, there may not have been a better or more logical choice. While all the Big Ten games for Week 10 have been assigned, the Big 12 is still in a state of flux. What this really boils down to is do you think Cincinnati at Utah or Arizona State at Iowa State would draw a more compelling crowd? The answer is no, and that is why Big Noon Kickoff will be in Columbus, with Portnoy and all next Saturday.

The fact Penn State cratering could not keep Big Noon away this week is just a sign of the times...