The Big 12 hit UCF with a $100,000 fine after anti-religious chants from fans broke out during Saturday’s game against BYU.
The conference said those chants came during a 39-31 UCF win in double overtime at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium. BYU is founded and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
According to the Big 12, warnings were shown on the scoreboard throughout the game and the public address announcer also addressed the issue. Security then moved through the stadium to remove people involved in the chants.
Even with the penalty, the league noted that UCF had pregame protocols in place and reacted right away once the chants were identified, including ejecting the individuals responsible. The conference still made its position clear: “discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12.”
The money from the fine will be used for student education initiatives.
UCF responded in a statement to the Sentinel: “After becoming aware of the conference’s decision, we will be reviewing our options.”
The Knights’ upset of then-No. 2 BYU triggered a storm of celebration at the end, with fans rushing the field after the double-overtime finish. The Big 12 said UCF was not fined for the field storming because proper protocol was followed to allow the BYU team a safe, secure exit.
Along with the penalty, the Big 12 announced a new conference-wide policy on discriminatory conduct at athletic events. Under the updated rules, a confirmed first incident during a game brings a minimum $100,000 fine and a formal warning.
A second confirmed incident during the same game can lead to an in-game penalty - such as a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in football or a two-shot technical foul in basketball - and could also mean an additional $500,000 fine. Individuals ejected for discriminatory conduct will be barred from athletics events for the rest of the academic year.
The situation was not isolated. The source said BYU has been targeted by similar chants before, including reported incidents at Colorado State on Sept. 19 and at Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and Colorado last season.
In Other News...
UCF Faces A Dangerous Baylor Twist With Bowl Hopes Rising
Baylors trip into this week already comes with a different feel after the Bears parted ways with David Aranda and handed the program to interim coach Joe Klanderman. For UCF, it adds another layer to a matchup that already mattered plenty, with the Knights trying to keep their momentum rolling after a recent upset win and move one step closer to bowl eligibility.
Scott Frost has already pointed to Baylors defense as a real challenge, and the coaching change only sharpens the uncertainty around what UCF will see on Friday. The Knights also have a little extra motivation from last seasons Space Game loss, while a few key pieces may be trending in the right direction as game time approaches, leaving the injury picture worth watching as the week goes on. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Defense Faces A Harsh Baylor Test In The Space Game
UCF heads into its Space Game matchup with Baylor already trying to manage a thin defensive margin, and the timing could not be worse. The Knights are preparing to do it without senior linebacker Lewis Carter and without senior defensive back Demari Henderson, two experienced pieces who have helped anchor the unit as the schedule tightens.
Hendersons absence is the bigger blow in the secondary, where UCF will need others to step into larger roles in a hurry. Antione Jackson and Jayden Bellamy are among the defensive backs who will be asked to absorb those snaps, and against a Baylor offense, the Knights will need that reshuffled group to hold up from the start. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Gets One Last Measuring Stick Against Kentucky
Kentucky will get one last tune-up against UCF before the games start counting for real, and for the Knights it is a chance to see how they stack up against a team still ironing out the edges of its preseason work. The Wildcats have been solid through their first two exhibition games, but the focus remains on cleaning up defensive rebounding and sharpening player efficiency, the kind of details that often separate a good preseason from a useful one.
For UCF, the matchup offers a clear measuring stick against a high-major opponent with regular-season prep in its sights. The game will be on SEC Network at 6 p.m. ET, and Kentucky is using it as the final exhibition step before opening against Manhattan, which adds a little more urgency to whatever the Wildcats want to test in Orlando. [Read more 🡒]