Kris Budden Responds to Dave Portnoy’s BYU Graphic Accusation

Kris Budden, an ESPN sideline reporter, recently addressed an accusation made by Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports. Portnoy claimed that Budden exhibited “glee” during an ESPN segment discussing BYU’s College Football Playoff (CFP) chances ahead of the Big 12 Championship.

Kris Budden Responds to Dave Portnoy’s BYU Graphic Accusation

Portnoy shared a screenshot on social media, showing Budden alongside a graphic that indicated BYU’s CFP odds: a 99.9% chance of securing a spot with a win against Texas Tech, and merely 0.8% with a loss. He remarked, “How happy is ESPN to openly report this crime? Look at the glee on her face!”

Clarification from Budden

Contrary to Portnoy’s interpretation, Budden was discussing practice adjustments related to slow starts that the BYU team had struggled with throughout the season. During her report, she elaborated on how the coaching staff had adjusted practices that week, coining the term “stretch and go” to signify their dedication to achieving a strong start.

She stated, “They have struggled with slow starts all year, but primarily also on early kickoffs, so they have rearranged their practices all this week.” Budden emphasized that the match was treated like a playoff game, noting the significance of winning that Saturday.

In her defense, Budden pointed out that listeners could clarify the situation by tuning in. She tweeted back at Portnoy, strongly asserting, “You could actually listen to the television where I was talking about their week at practice, and had nothing to do with their chances at the playoffs.”

Context of the Situation

Many have pointed out that Portnoy likely misunderstood the broadcast. He had been a vocal supporter of BYU following a previous visit in October, where he became “Provo Dave.” During the tightly contested playoff race, his concerns about perceived conspiracies heightened.

This isn’t the only instance where BYU has found itself in a challenging position regarding media portrayal. Earlier this week, the school responded to a chyron on ESPN’s Get Up program that remarked whether BYU could “steal” a CFP berth from teams like Notre Dame or Miami, despite having better metrics.

• BYU’s CFP odds: 99.9% win vs. Texas Tech, 0.8% loss.
• Portnoy’s claim was based on a misinterpretation of Budden’s expression.
• Budden emphasized practice adjustments, not playoff chances.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, situations like these underscore the ongoing scrutiny ESPN faces regarding perceived biases in its broadcasts. As sports fans analyze every detail, reporters like Budden are simply doing their jobs amid a heated playoff discussion.