Meet Fox's star-studded 'Big Noon Kickoff' crew for 2026, from Urban Meyer to Dave Portnoy

In recent years, Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" has slowly closed the gap on "College GameDay" in the battle for college football's top pregame show.

Fox benefits from scheduling its best game of the day for noon ET, building a brand around a must-watch matchup to open the Saturday slate. As part of that brand, Fox has brought in some of college football's biggest names while challenging "College GameDay" by traveling to different campuses each week and tapping into the college atmosphere.

As the network looks to continue that momentum, "Big Noon Kickoff" will bring back its panel from the 2025 season, offering a range of perspectives. And as long as the Big Ten remains a powerhouse conference, Fox will have plenty of opportunities to showcase some of the sport's best teams each week.

Meet the cast of "Big Noon Kickoff" for the 2026 season.

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'Big Noon Kickoff' cast 2026

Rob Stone

Stone is a Fox Sports staple, cementing himself as the network's anchor for college football, college basketball and soccer coverage. He has been with Fox since 2012 and has been part of the network's ascent in college football coverage.

Urban Meyer

Meyer is the most notable name on the desk, as the three-time national championship-winning head coach has found his voice in the media. Since Fox frequently broadcasts Ohio State games, Meyer's status as a former Buckeyes head coach adds to what he can bring to the broadcast.

Brady Quinn

One of two quarterbacks on the panel, Quinn was a star at Notre Dame and has become a prominent voice for Fox's college football coverage. He joined Fox ahead of the 2019 season and is one of the panel's longer-tenured members.

Matt Lienart

Leinart is the other former quarterback who, unlike Quinn, has a national championship and a Heisman Trophy on his ledger. The former USC star has also become a steady presence on Fox's college football coverage since joining the network.

Mark Ingram

The final regular member of the panel is Ingram, the former Alabama running back who also is a former Heisman Trophy award winner. Of everyone on the crew, Ingram retired from football most recently, doing so following the 2022 season. 

Dave Portnoy

Portnoy joined "Big Noon Kickoff" for the 2025 season to provide more of a fan's perspective and as part of Barstool Sports' partnership with Fox Sports. Portnoy is a Michigan fan, which directly plays against Meyer's Ohio State lean.

Chris "The Bear" Fallica

Fox brought in Fallica from ESPN in 2023 to become the network's gambling and research analyst for its college football coverage. "The Bear" used to hold the same role on "College GameDay" before he jumped to a competitor.

Tom Rinaldi

Rinaldi is a highly-respected reporter who's move from ESPN to Fox was a big deal in the media landscape. As always, he serves as a sideline reporter and is at the heart of several long-form stories over the course of the college football season.

Rob Gronkowski

While Gronkowski largely works for Fox's NFL coverage, he will assist with college football during select weeks throughout the year. The former Arizona tight end always provides an entertaining personality and perspective to the broadcast.

Charles Woodson

Similar to Gronkowski, Woodson will frequently hop from NFL coverage to "Big Noon Kickoff," especially during Michigan games. Woodson will make it three former Heisman Trophy winners on the coverage, but he's also the only former defensive player on the crew.

Joel Klatt

Klatt is part of Fox's top broadcast crew, alongside Gus Johnson, so he will be on hand before to help preview his game before going to call it. Klatt has taken control as Fox's top college football analyst throughout the year as well, beyond just calling games.

Jenny Taft

Taft is Fox's No. 1 sideline reporter, so she will also help preview the network's main game for the day before taking a bigger role during the game itself. She has been with Fox Sports since 2011 as one of the longest-tenured members of the network's college football coverage.

Dan "Big Cat" Katz

On days when Portnoy doesn't join "Big Noon Kickoff," Katz will fill in as the resident fan perspective. Katz is a Wisconsin fan who provides a different kind of fan perspective than Portnoy typically does.

RANKINGS: All 138 FBS teams | All 138 FBS coaches 

"Big Noon Kickoff" Schedule 2026

While Fox decides where "Big Noon Kickoff" will be each week based off the flow of the season, the network has confirmed four locations for the season already. Here is where "Big Noon Kickoff" will be to begin the 2026 season: