Big 12 levies $100,000 fine on UCF for fan chants directed at BYU

The Big 12 Conference announced on Wednesday that it has fined the University of Central Florida $100,000. The penalty follows derogatory chants aimed at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a football game against BYU last Saturday. The league stated that the funds will support student education initiatives.

Video circulating on social media captured UCF fans chanting an obscenity-laced slur before kickoff. University security personnel removed several fans from the stadium after the incident. Despite the disruption, UCF secured a victory in overtime.

The conference introduced a new conference-wide policy regarding discriminatory conduct at athletic events. Under these rules, a first confirmed incident triggers an automatic minimum fine of $100,000 along with a warning. If a second incident occurs at the same game, the offending school faces an in-game penalty.

In football, that in-game penalty could be a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. In basketball, it would result in a two-shot technical foul. The league noted that a $500,000 fine may also be imposed for such violations.

Fans ejected for this behavior are barred from athletic events for the remainder of the school year. They may also face further action under their university's specific fan or student conduct rules. The conference asserted that discriminatory conduct has no place in the Big 12.

Adam Widman, the UCF athletics spokesman, said in an email on Wednesday night that the school is reviewing its options. He confirmed the university was aware of the conference's decision. This fine is the latest in a series of penalties involving BYU opponents.

Colorado State apologized in September after similar chants. The Big 12 fined Oklahoma State $50,000 in February for chants at a basketball game. Colorado received a $50,000 fine a year earlier for a football game incident. No fines were assessed for comparable incidents at Arizona or Cincinnati in recent seasons.