Big 12 fines UCF over fan chants aimed at BYU religion

The Big 12 Conference has fined the University of Central Florida $100,000 after fans chanted an offensive slur referencing BYU's religious background before the Knights' overtime upset of the previously undefeated Cougars. The conference also announced a new, escalating penalty structure for discriminatory conduct at athletic events, effective immediately.

The game in Orlando was one of the most surprising results of the season. UCF rallied in the fourth quarter, with a blocked field goal, a goal-line stop and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty setting up overtime, and the Knights then needed two overtime periods to finish the result. BYU had arrived in Orlando coming off a major win over Notre Dame in Provo that had reshaped the College Football Playoff picture and placed the Cougars among the top two teams. They entered the game as a clear favorite, and the loss ended a perfect record that had made them one of the sport's most talked-about teams. The final stages of the game also drew a field storming by UCF supporters once the result was decided.

The controversy began before kickoff. Video from inside Acrisure Bounce House showed a number of UCF fans chanting « f--- the Mormons », a reference to BYU's affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The chant drew attention because it targeted the religious background of the opposing school rather than anything that happened on the field. Some of the fans were removed by security during the game, and the university acted on the conduct as it occurred.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the Big 12 said it recognized the pregame protocols UCF followed and the immediate actions it took during the game, including the removal of some of the individuals responsible. The conference nonetheless stated that « discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12 ». UCF was fined $100,000, with the money directed toward student education initiatives intended to address the conduct and its causes.

The new conference-wide policy sets out escalating consequences for discriminatory conduct at athletic events. The first incident of this kind carries an automatic minimum $100,000 fine, along with a formal warning to the institution, which is allowed to immediately address the behavior and prevent further incidents. A second confirmed incident in the same game would result in a competitive penalty, such as a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty in football or an unsportsmanlike two-shot technical foul in basketball. Anyone ejected for similar conduct will be barred from all athletic events for the rest of the academic year and will be subject to the university's fan and student conduct policies.

The policy applies across the conference, so it is not limited to UCF or to football. The penalties are structured to apply to the institution that hosts the incident, which places responsibility on schools to manage their own crowds. For fans, the practical effect is that a single confirmed incident can now cost a school far more than the price of a ticket section's worth of goodwill, while repeat conduct within a game triggers penalties that affect the competition itself.

UCF returns home Friday night to host Baylor, an opportunity for the home crowd to show a different side after the Orlando incidents. BYU hosts Arizona State on Halloween in Provo.

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Derek Weston

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Derek Weston covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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