David Samson: Fox dumped Portnoy because the fit stunk, not because of Ohio State

David Samson thinks the Ohio State noise is a smokescreen. On the latest episode of *Nothing Personal*, the Meadowlark Media founder said he does believe Ohio State would have called Fox to complain about Dave Portnoy — but he does not believe that call is why Fox dropped him.

“Fox removed Portnoy for the sole reason that the fit was not worth it, period,” Samson said.

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported there was “no smoking gun” other than the constant challenge of uniting Fox’s traditional show with Barstool’s persona. Portnoy claimed Ohio State demanded Fox remove him from Big Noon Kickoff, and later told Front Office Sports that OSU said it would “make your life hell if you keep working with Dave Portnoy.”

That alleged demand and threat are not independently confirmed — they come only from Portnoy.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Friday, Fox Sports moved on from having Dave Portnoy on Big Noon Kickoff after a season and a half.

Portnoy often trolled Ohio State during his appearances and has made several unsubstantiated accusations against the football program and head coach Ryan Day over the years. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported there was “no smoking gun” other than the constant challenge of uniting Fox’s traditional show with Barstool’s persona, citing Portnoy’s many “disputes over his presence at Ohio State home games.”

Reports last year said Portnoy was banned from being in the stadium, according to Marchand. That ban is not confirmed by Portnoy or Ohio State in the source.

Portnoy was more specific in his own announcement, saying Ohio State had demanded Fox remove him. He pushed that further on Monday, claiming to Front Office Sports that OSU told Fox it would “make your life hell if you keep working with Dave Portnoy.” That alleged demand and threat come only from Portnoy.

Meadowlark Media’s David Samson isn’t buying it. On the latest episode of Nothing Personal, he said Portnoy tried to get ahead of the news “in a way that only he can because he’s got really good PR people inside his head.”

“My guess is this was a long time coming,” Samson said.