The Big 12 Conference has fined the University of Central Florida $100,000 and implemented new, stricter policies to combat discriminatory behavior at athletic events, following anti-Mormon chants by UCF fans directed at the BYU Cougars during a recent football game. The conference announced Wednesday that the fine will be allocated to student education initiatives.
The incident occurred before and during UCF's upset victory over BYU, where video evidence captured fans chanting offensive slurs targeting BYU's religious affiliation. While UCF personnel removed some individuals responsible for the chants, the Big 12 stated that discriminatory behavior has no place within the conference.
New Conference Policies
Under the updated conference-wide policy, the first confirmed instance of discriminatory conduct will result in an automatic minimum $100,000 fine and a formal warning to the institution. This allows the school to address the behavior and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Subsequent offenses within the same game will incur competitive penalties. For football, this could mean a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. In basketball, it would translate to an unsportsmanlike two-shot technical foul. Furthermore, individuals ejected for such conduct will be prohibited from attending all athletic events for the remainder of the academic year, in addition to facing any applicable university policies.
The Big 12 emphasized that while good-natured rivalries and fan banter are part of college sports, insulting a team's religion crosses a line. The conference aims to balance spirited competition with a respectful environment.