Big 12 levies $100,000 penalty on UCF for fan chants

The Big 12 Conference announced Wednesday that it has fined UCF $100,000 for derogatory chants aimed at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during last weekend’s football game against BYU.

The league stated that the penalty will fund student education initiatives. This action follows the release of a new conference-wide policy that establishes escalating consequences for discriminatory conduct. The Big 12 said such behavior has no place in its competitions.

Under the updated rules, a first confirmed incident at an athletic event triggers an automatic minimum fine of $100,000 and a formal warning. A second incident during the same game results in an in-game penalty, such as a 15-year unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in football or a two-shot technical foul in basketball. The conference may also assess a fine of $500,000 for subsequent infractions.

Fans removed from games for this conduct are banned from attending events for the remainder of the school year. They also remain subject to the specific fan or student conduct policies of their respective universities.

Video shared on social media showed UCF fans chanting “(expletive) the Mormons!” before kickoff on Saturday. University security officials removed some spectators from the venue. UCF won the match in overtime.

Adam Widman, a UCF athletics spokesman, said in an email on Wednesday night that the university would be reviewing its options after learning of the conference decision.

UCF joins a list of recent schools penalized for similar fan behavior toward BYU. Colorado State issued an apology in September after fans targeted the team and the church. Oklahoma State paid a $50,000 fine in February following chants during a men’s basketball game. Colorado received a $50,000 fine a year prior for similar incidents at a football game. Arizona and Cincinnati experienced comparable events during the 2024-25 season and November 2025, respectively, but neither school was fined. BYU, currently ranked No. 8 with a 6-1 record, hosts Arizona State on Saturday before playing at No. 6 Utah on Nov. 7.