The Big 12 dropped a $100,000 fine on UCF, a direct consequence of “discriminatory chants” hurled by fans during their insane double-overtime victory against BYU last Saturday. Forget the thrilling 39-31 win that saw BYU tumble six spots in the polls, this penalty is making waves far beyond the scoreboard, signaling a new era of enforcement from the conference.
That Wild Win Comes With a Price Tag
Saturday’s game was pure chaos. UCF pulled off a stunning upset against a top-10 ranked BYU squad, winning 39-31 in double-overtime. You’d think the focus would be on the incredible field storming and the sheer joy of a massive victory, right? Wrong. The Big 12 launched a full review and, on Wednesday, hit UCF with that hefty $100,000 fine for those “discriminatory chants” aimed squarely at BYU fans during and after the game.
The conference’s statement made it clear: they reviewed the “discriminatory chants directed at BYU” and, even though UCF apparently followed “pregame protocols” and even took action during the game, pulling fans “responsible for the conduct,” the school is still on the hook. That $100,000 isn’t going into Big 12 coffers, by the way. It’s earmarked for “student education initiatives.” The Big 12 hammered home their stance, saying “Discriminatory behavior has no place in the Big 12.” They’re committed to a “respectful environment” and discriminatory conduct “will not be tolerated.”
New Rules Are Here, And They’re Stiff
So, what exactly were these chants? While the Big 12 kept the specifics under wraps, reports are out there. News 6 stated the crowd was chanting “(Expletive) the Mormons,” and On3 described them as “anti-LDS in nature.” It’s not a new problem either. Opposing fans have given BYU grief before, leading to apologies. Colorado State had to apologize earlier this season for similar derogatory chants, and back in 2025, Cincinnati’s athletic director apologized after their fans did the same at Nippert Stadium.
The big news moving forward? The Big 12 is implementing serious new rules for “discriminatory conduct.” From now on, a first incident in a game will trigger at least a $100,000 fine, just like UCF got, plus a formal warning. That warning gives the institution a shot to clean up its act and prevent more issues. But get this: if there’s “a second confirmed incident during the same game,” we’re talking about an “in-game competitive penalty.” Yeah, you read that right. Your team could get penalized on the field because of your fans. The conference also made it clear that “future discriminatory conduct will come with more severe penalties for repeat offenses.” This isn’t just about fines anymore, folks. The Big 12 is putting teams on notice.
What does this mean for the rest of the college football season? Every school in the Big 12 needs to be crystal clear with their fan base: hate speech has consequences, and they’re going to hit the scoreboard now. Expect more vigilance from stadium staff and some serious warnings issued before games. Teams are now literally on the hook for their fans’ behavior in a whole new way, and you can bet coaches and ADs are going to be making that message loud and clear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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