Big 12 fines UCF $100,000 over anti-LDS chants at the BYU upset and sets automatic penalties for future cases

The conference said Wednesday it had finished reviewing chants aimed at BYU during UCF's double-overtime win Saturday. A new league rule brings a $100,000 minimum fine for a first incident and an on-field penalty for a second.

The Big 12 Conference fined the University of Central Florida $100,000 on Wednesday over chants directed at BYU during the Knights' home upset of the then-No. 2 Cougars last weekend, and it announced a league-wide rule that makes penalties for that kind of fan conduct automatic.

UCF beat BYU 39-31 in double overtime on Saturday, Oct. 24. In its statement, the conference said it had completed its review of "discriminatory chants directed at BYU" during the game. The league did not quote the chants. Yahoo Sports, in a story first published by The Sporting News, cited reporting by Orlando's News 6 and On3 that described the chanting as anti-LDS.

The conference credited UCF for following pregame protocols and for removing some of the people responsible during the game, WFTV reported. The money will go to student education initiatives, the league said, adding that "discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12."

UCF athletics told WFTV it is aware of the decision and "will be reviewing their options."

What changes for every Big 12 venue

Under the new policy, as described by Yahoo Sports:

A first incident at a game brings a fine of at least $100,000 and a formal warning that gives the school a chance to address the behavior.
A second confirmed incident in the same game brings an in-game penalty, such as a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flag in football or a two-shot technical foul in basketball, and may carry an added $500,000 fine.
Fans ejected for discriminatory conduct are barred from all Big 12 athletic events for the rest of the academic year.

The penalties are written for basketball as well as football. UCF is not the first school to face the issue: Cincinnati's athletic director apologized for similar chants at a 2025 game against BYU, Yahoo Sports noted.

Sources

wftv.com

Yahoo Sports

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