Oklahoma State fined $50K over anti‑Mormon chants at BYU game

On Feb. 8, 2026, the Big 12 announced a $50,000 fine against Oklahoma State after students directed anti‑Mormon chants at BYU during a men’s basketball game in Stillwater. The incident followed Oklahoma State’s 99‑92 upset of No. 16 BYU, a result that nevertheless drew criticism because of the crowd behavior. BYU coach Kevin Young publicly expressed his disappointment at hearing the chants and described the impact on his family and players. Oklahoma State accepted the conference ruling and said it would not appeal.

Key Takeaways

• The Big 12 fined Oklahoma State $50,000 on Feb. 8, 2026, for anti‑Mormon chants by fans at the Stillwater game. The league described the chants as inappropriate and targeted.
• Oklahoma State defeated No. 16 BYU 99‑92 in the game; BYU coach Kevin Young reported that the student section chanted “F the Mormons.”
• Oklahoma State accepted the ruling and announced it will not appeal; university president Jim Hess condemned targeting or demeaning behavior.
• This marks at least the fourth time in the past year the chant has surfaced at BYU events; Arizona, Colorado and Cincinnati incidents occurred in the same period.
• Colorado’s program was previously fined $50,000 and publicly reprimanded by the conference; Arizona and Cincinnati issued apologies for separate incidents.
• BYU athletic director Brian Santiago said he received an apology from Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg and that Big 12 administrators are treating the matter seriously.

Background

The chant targeting Mormons has a repeated history at games involving Brigham Young University, spanning basketball and football matchups. Conference officials and several universities have confronted the issue over the past year, with responses ranging from apologies to monetary penalties. The Big 12 has framed such chants as violating its conduct standards because they single out religion and demean individuals for their beliefs. College athletic conferences increasingly face pressure to enforce spectator conduct rules as part of broader efforts to curb hateful or discriminatory behavior at events.

Universities must balance free‑speech protections with policies that prohibit harassment and hateful conduct; the Big 12’s fines reflect one enforcement route available to conferences. Public reprimands and fines aim to create institutional incentives for schools to educate fans and tighten in‑venue controls. For BYU, a faith‑based institution, repeated occurrences carry reputational and emotional weight for players, coaches and the university community. Athletic departments and conference offices have been expected to document incidents and show follow‑through to prevent recurrence.

Main Event

The incident occurred in Stillwater during the Feb. 4, 2026 game in which Oklahoma State beat No. 16 BYU 99‑92. After the final horn, BYU coach Kevin Young said he heard chants from the Oklahoma State student section that targeted his faith, a comment he raised publicly in postgame remarks. The Big 12 opened an investigation into what it described as “inappropriate chants” and concluded the behavior violated conference standards.

On Feb. 8 the conference issued a $50,000 fine to Oklahoma State and released a statement that it would not tolerate conduct that targets or demeans others. Oklahoma State issued its own statement accepting the ruling, acknowledging that the religious reference did not meet its expectations. The university said it would cooperate with campus leaders to address fan conduct and would not appeal the fine.

Oklahoma State president Jim Hess reiterated that targeting or demeaning behavior has no place at the university and committed to working with students and fans to align event atmospheres with institutional values. BYU athletic director Brian Santiago, who was not in Stillwater for the game, said he received an apology from Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg and indicated confidence that Big 12 administrators were treating the issue seriously. The conference’s action follows earlier disciplinary steps taken after similar episodes involving other programs.

Analysis & Implications

The Big 12’s decision to fine Oklahoma State $50,000 signals a stronger, more consistent stance by conferences against targeted chants that single out protected characteristics, including religion. Financial penalties are designed to push university athletic departments to invest in fan education, stadium security and clearer penalties for individuals. Recurrent incidents at BYU events suggest that ad hoc apologies alone have not stopped the chant’s recurrence, pressing conferences to apply more formal remedies.

For Oklahoma State, the fine is both a reputational and financial expense; it also places pressure on campus administrators to demonstrate concrete action beyond statements. Universities commonly couple institutional fines with internal disciplinary reviews, fan‑education campaigns and changes to game‑day operations, such as altered student section policies or targeted communications. The public nature of Big 12 enforcement may deter other programs’ fans, but it also raises questions about consistent enforcement across conferences and sports.

At a broader level, repeated incidents raise legal and ethical questions about the line between protected speech and harassment at public events. While courts have recognized wide protections for speech, institutions have leeway to enforce codes of conduct for privately regulated spaces such as ticketed venues. If conferences increasingly treat targeted chants as punishable conduct, schools will need clear, documented processes to investigate and respond, including consistent criteria for fines and remedial actions.

Comparison & Data

The table summarizes public actions tied to the derogatory chant over the past two seasons. Monetary fines by conferences have been applied in some cases but not all; several institutions opted to issue apologies. This mixed pattern of responses may complicate efforts to establish uniform deterrence across conferences and schools. Tracking incidents, outcomes and subsequent campus measures will be important to assess whether fines reduce recurrence.

Reactions & Quotes

League and campus leaders framed the incident as unacceptable and emphasized corrective steps. BYU and Oklahoma State officials communicated directly in the days following the game.

“The Big 12 Conference will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others.”

Big 12 Conference (official statement)

The conference cited standards of conduct and the need to protect participants and fans from targeted harassment.

“I think their fans should be proud, but it would be great if some class was warranted.”

Kevin Young, BYU head coach

Young said the chant hurt him personally and noted his responsibility as a parent when discussing the episode with his children.

“The reference to religion did not meet our standards and expectations. Oklahoma State respects the Big 12’s decision and will not appeal the fine.”

Oklahoma State Athletics (statement)

Oklahoma State accepted the fine and signaled intention to work with students and fans to prevent repeat occurrences.

Unconfirmed

• Whether the university has identified or will discipline individual students involved in the chants remains unreported and thus unconfirmed.
• Any additional measures beyond the $50,000 fine—such as mandatory education programs, ticketing restrictions, or stadium bans—have not been publicly detailed.

Bottom Line

The Big 12’s $50,000 fine of Oklahoma State underscores an escalating, institutional approach to chants that demean religious groups. Repeated incidents at BYU events have prompted conference enforcement, but the effectiveness of fines alone is unclear without accompanying campus‑level reforms and fan education. Universities facing similar episodes must pair penalties with proactive programs to change student culture at games and provide clear expectations for acceptable conduct.

For fans, athletic departments and conference officials, the episode highlights the reputational risk when crowd behavior crosses into targeted harassment. How Oklahoma State implements follow‑up measures—whether through student discipline, public education or operational changes—will be a key indicator of whether the sanction reduces recurrence at future games.

Sources

• ESPN — sports media (original report)
• The Associated Press — news agency (used for additional information)