Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has once again found himself at the centre of a social media storm, this time over his eyebrow-raising college football rankings. Fans and analysts alike have been left scratching their heads at his unconventional selections, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to mock his choices.
Portnoy’s Controversial Picks
Portnoy, known for his unfiltered opinions, released his pre-season rankings for the 2024 NCAA football season, and they’ve raised more than a few eyebrows. Among his most contentious picks was placing an unranked team in the top 10 while sidelining traditional powerhouses.
"This has to be a joke," one fan tweeted, while another added, "Portnoy either knows something we don’t or he’s completely lost the plot."
Backlash from the Football Community
Sports analysts were quick to dismiss Portnoy’s rankings as unserious, with ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit calling them "completely detached from reality." Meanwhile, rival sports personalities have seized the opportunity to poke fun at the polarising media figure.
Despite the backlash, Portnoy remains defiant, doubling down on his selections in a follow-up video. "I don’t care what the so-called experts say—I call it how I see it," he declared.
Why This Matters
While Portnoy’s rankings may seem like harmless fun, they highlight the growing influence of non-traditional voices in sports commentary. As social media continues to blur the lines between fandom and analysis, debates like these are becoming increasingly common—and divisive.
Will Portnoy’s predictions prove prophetic, or will they go down as one of the biggest misfires in college football history? Only time will tell.
