Former Ohio State OT Kirk Barton Loses Media Credential From Program, per Report

The onetime All-Big Ten performer is accused of stealing Buckeyes team secrets while working as credentialed media.

Editors’ note, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this article misstated that Barton had been banned by the Ohio State football program. In fact, he had media credentials revoked by the school’s athletic department.

A former Ohio State football standout is no longer allowed to cover the team as credentialed media.

Kirk Barton, a former first-team All-Big Ten offensive tackle who played for the Buckeyes from 2003-07, reportedly revealing team secrets, such as formations, schemes and personnel changes, while working for the website Buckeye Scoop. The news was first reported Wednesday by the website Meet at Midfield, which acquired relevant documents via a Freedom of Information Act request. 

Barton and associate Ken Stickney allegedly used unauthorized access to the Buckeyes’ internal football video system to acquire the information. Barton and Stickney were found to be in violation of Ohio State’s closed football practice policy in August 2021, and their credentials were revoked by the school. Both continue to write for Buckeye Scoop.

Although Ohio State practices and scrimmages typically are open to former players, Barton was escorted out of a scrimmage in March, according to Meet at Midfield.

Barton, who also served as an assistant coach for the Buckeyes from 2010 to ’12, now appears to have burned his official connections to the program.

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