The Big 12 Conference fined the University of Central Florida (UCF) $100,000 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, following derogatory fan chants directed at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The incident occurred during a football game against Brigham Young University (BYU) on Saturday, October 24, 2026, which UCF won in overtime.
The conference also established a new league-wide policy to address discriminatory conduct, which Big 12 officials stated "has no place" in the conference. The fine against UCF marks the latest in a series of financial penalties issued by the Big 12 for fan behavior targeting BYU, which is the flagship institution for the church widely known as the Mormon church. UCF athletics spokesman Adam Widman stated Wednesday night that the university is reviewing its options regarding the decision.
According to the Big 12, the $100,000 fine will be used for student education initiatives. Video documentation shared on social media showed fans using an expletive in a chant against Mormons prior to the game's kickoff. University security removed several fans from the stadium during the event. The new conference policy mandates an automatic minimum $100,000 fine and a warning for a first confirmed incident of discriminatory conduct.
For individual fans, the concrete change is a mandatory ban from all athletic events for the remainder of the academic year if they are ejected for discriminatory behavior. On the field, the policy introduces real-time consequences. A second incident during a single event will now result in an in-game penalty, such as a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct foul in football or a two-shot technical foul in basketball.
The ruling sets a precedent for how collegiate athletic conferences manage religious and identity-based harassment in stadiums. Previous incidents at Oklahoma State and Colorado resulted in fines of $50,000, while Colorado State issued a public apology. The next test of this policy may occur as early as Saturday, October 31, 2026, when No. 8 BYU hosts Arizona State, followed by a game against Utah on November 7, 2026. All Big 12 member schools are now subject to these escalating financial and competitive sanctions effective immediately.