Dave Portnoy addresses Michigan NIL sponsorship after quarterback struggles, Illinois loss

Dave Portnoy chimed in regarding his NIL pledge to Michigan football following the Wolverines’ 21-7 loss against Illinois on Saturday. The Barstool Sports founder said in September that he would contribute $3 million to the program to help it secure a top quarterback every season.

Michigan has struggled at the QB position this year and made a change at starter for the second time this season as Jack Tuttle started against the Fighting Illini. Clearly it didn’t lead to better results as he threw for 208 yards and an interception in the loss.

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Portnoy took to X, formerly Twitter, after the game to assure Michigan fans he still plans to make good on his promise.

“To all Michigan fans,” he wrote. “I’m working on it.”

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Michigan began the season with Davis Warren as its starting quarterback but benched him after three games in favor of Alex Orji. However, Orji was then pulled in an eventual Week 7 loss against Washington after failing to get anything going on the first three drives.

The Wolverines are coming off of a national championship victory in 2023 but saw starting quarterback JJ McCarthy leave and become a first-round NFL Draft pick. They are now 4-3 (2-2 Big Ten) this season following the loss to Illinois.

Michigan will look to turn things around next week against rival Michigan State, but right now, it sure looks like it could use the NIL donation from Dave Portnoy.

Dave Portnoy confirms talks with Sherrone Moore after viral NIL comments over Michigan’s QB future

Portnoy revealed he’s had conversations with head coach Sherrone Moore since his viral comments. The Barstool Sports owner explained that he does have concerns about getting overly involved with NIL dealings, but that he’s willing to spend the money.

“My problem with the NIL, besides it’s a lot of money just to kind of throw out the window, but I’m willing to, like do it,” Dave Portnoy said. “I do not want to talk to other people. I don’t want to — I am not trying to get in the middle of the NIL, I do not want people I don’t know calling me, I don’t want to talk to this guy. I don’t want emails from that guy. I don’t want any of that. I don’t want any of that.”

Sherrone Moore did share some information with Dave Portnoy about how the process would work if he wants to help and spend millions of dollars on Michigan’s NIL operation.

“I had Daniella, my assistant, ‘Someone at Michigan wants —,’ no. I don’t want to talk to any of you,” Portnoy said. “I talked to Sherrone. I talked to him. I have his number, we talked. He told me the one guy I got to talk to. One guy to talk to, I’ve not talked to that person. I will, and then we’ll see.”

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.