The Big 12 has hit UCF with a $100,000 fine after what the conference called “discriminatory chants” aimed at BYU during Saturday’s game, and it’s now laying out stiffer punishments for any repeat incident.
UCF’s 39-31 double-overtime win over the Cougars was one of the biggest shocks of Week 8, but the aftermath turned messy after the field storming and the crowd’s reaction drew the conference’s attention. On Wednesday, the Big 12 said it had reviewed what happened and determined that UCF would be fined, even though the school followed “pregame protocols” and took action during the game by removing fans “responsible for the conduct.”
The league said the money will go to “student education initiatives.”
“Discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12,” the conference wrote. “The Big 12 remains committed to providing a respectful environment for student-athletes, coaches and fans. Discriminatory conduct will not be tolerated, and the Conference will continue working with its member institutions to prevent such behavior and ensure meaningful consequences when incidents occur.”
The conference did not identify the chant by name, but reports pointed to vulgar anti-LDS language from the crowd. According to News 6, “(Expletive) the Mormons” was chanted by fans, and On3 described the language as “anti-LDS in nature.”
The Big 12’s response is not limited to this week’s fine. The conference also said future discriminatory conduct will bring tougher consequences, including for repeat offenses in the same game.
Under the new policy, a first incident at a game will carry a minimum $100,000 fine, along with a formal warning that gives the school a chance to address the behavior right away. If a second incident happens during the same game, the punishment can escalate to an in-game penalty, such as “a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty in football or an unsportsmanlike two-shot technical foul in basketball,” plus as much as another $500,000 in fines.
The Big 12 added that fans ejected for discriminatory conduct will be banned from all conference athletic events for the rest of the academic year.
Similar apologies have surfaced in the past after opposing fans directed derogatory chants at BYU. Earlier this season, Colorado State apologized for such chants, and in 2025 Cincinnati’s athletic director apologized after similar behavior at Nippert Stadium against the Cougars, according to ESPN.
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